Intergenerational Trauma: The Invisible Inheritance We Carry
Intergenerational trauma can feel like carrying an emotional weight they can’t fully explain. It is quiet, unspoken, yet deeply felt. Many of us grow up sensing patterns we didn’t choose: fear of conflict, difficulty trusting, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and even unexplained physical symptoms. And though these patterns may not have started with us, the responsibility of carrying them often lands on our shoulders. Within therapy at Coach for Mind, we see this often: people carrying emotional burdens rooted in the stories and survival patterns of their families. Intergenerational trauma shapes how we think, feel, relate, and respond. What Is Intergenerational Trauma? Intergenerational trauma refers to the emotional, psychological, and sometimes biological impacts of trauma that get passed down from one generation to the next. Trauma can create a "survival script" in a family, and that script is often subconsciously handed down. Dr. Rachel Yehuda studied desce...