Intergenerational trauma is the transmission of trauma or its legacy, in the form of psychological pain from the generation experiencing the trauma to subsequent generations. Intergenerational trauma can be passed down from ancestors who may have suffered from unhealthy family dynamics, experienced adverse childhood experiences growing up, or who survived historical disasters or traumas. This may include personal trauma, such as child or domestic abuse, trauma experienced by a specific cultural, racial, or ethnic group, as well as trauma from major events like wars, slavery, the Holocaust, and colonial violence against Native Americans.
Just like when a physical wound is left unhealed, it continues to cause pain and can infect the whole body - the emotional injury from intergenerational trauma can impact the mind, body, and spirit, leaving the next generation susceptible to anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, and other emotional and mental health concerns. Intergenerational trauma can be passed down genetically or through emotional and behavioral reactions from one generation to the next in a family. Unhealed emotions can cause harm that spreads to other parts of our lives, hurting our family, friends, community members, and others. Eventually, this hurt can injure an entire lineage across years and generations.
Gaining a deeper understanding of and a commitment to mental wellness lays the groundwork for viewing intergenerational trauma in a new way, whether it’s healing from our own families’ history of trauma that has been passed down or considering the trauma of those we work with or support professionally. By breaking the cycle through tangible therapeutic practices, we can learn to pass down strength instead of pain to future generations.
For All Seasons will host a free community lecture by internationally acclaimed author Dr. Mariel Buqué, a first-generation Black Dominican psychologist and trailblazer in addressing intergenerational trauma, particularly within communities of color. Dr. Buqué has written "Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma," a comprehensive resource offering practical tools for transforming intergenerational pain into healing and abundance.
Dr. Mariel Buqué, author of "Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma," will speak at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, Maryland on October 29 at 6:30 p.m. followed by a question-and-answer period that will address Dr. Buqué’s work in helping reduce the recurrence of Intergenerational ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) within communities of color. A book signing will follow the lecture from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Reservations are required. For further information on the free lecture, visit https://breakthecycleevent.eventbrite.com/.
