Intergenerational Trauma
How to Begin Healing It
Sometimes the pain we carry isn’t just our own. It’s the unspoken grief of a parent who never healed. It’s the quiet anger of a grandparent who faced hardship and never talked about it. It’s the weight of family patterns—addiction, secrecy, broken relationships—that seem to repeat, even when we try to avoid them.
This is what intergenerational trauma looks like. It’s trauma passed down like an invisible heirloom, shaping how we see the world, respond to stress, and connect with others. But the good news is: just as trauma can be passed down, healing can be, too.
Signs of Intergenerational Trauma
Intergenerational trauma often shows up in subtle but powerful ways. You may notice:
- Repeated patterns of addiction or destructive behaviour in your family.
- Difficulty expressing emotions or trusting others.
- Deep-rooted anxiety, anger, or fear that doesn’t seem tied to your own experiences.
- A tendency to avoid conflict, numb pain, or push people away.
These patterns are often learned behaviours, shaped by generations before us who were doing their best to survive.
Breaking the Cycle
The first step to healing is awareness. When you start recognising these patterns, you can choose differently. You can decide that the story stops with you. Healing intergenerational trauma often involves therapy, where you learn to untangle which feelings are truly yours and which were inherited from the past. It means learning healthy ways to cope, communicate, and love, so you can live fully and break the cycle for the next generation.
For many, addiction is one of the ways intergenerational trauma shows up. Substances become a way to numb pain that’s been carried for decades. Recovery isn’t just about putting down the drink or the drug; it’s truly about facing the deeper wounds that addiction was covering up.
When you heal these wounds, you’re not just healing yourself; you’re healing your family tree. You’re creating space for your children (and their children) to grow up free from the pain that once felt inevitable.
We can help!
At Eagles View, we understand the deep roots of trauma and how they fuel addiction. Our team uses trauma-informed therapy, family counselling, and holistic healing to help individuals face the past and build a new, healthier future. We walk alongside you as you break the cycle, offering a safe place where healing can begin—not just for you, but for generations to come.
We believe that Hope is the foundation on which recovery begins. We inspire individuals to engage in their treatment to achieve a better tomorrow. With hope, all things are possible.
