Intergenerational Trauma: Can You Inherit Trauma from Your Ancestors?

When discussing trauma, much of the conversation focuses on the abuse, loss, violence, or traumatic event experienced by a single person. But what happens when pain extends beyond the individual? What if the anxiety, emotional distress, or hypervigilance comes from something bigger than the self? Welcome to the complex world of intergenerational trauma.

At Wellington Counseling Group, with offices in Chicago and Northbrook, we help individuals explore how their history—including family history—may be influencing their current experiences. Understanding the intergenerational effect of trauma can be a powerful first step towards breaking the cycle for your family and finding a new way forward for yourself..

What Is Intergenerational Trauma?

Intergenerational trauma is the transmission of traumatic experiences from one generation to the next. Studies show that a person doesn’t have to directly experience a traumatic event to feel its impact. For example, the child or grandchild of a trauma survivor might show signs of anxiety, depression, or emotional dysregulation—without fully understanding the cause.

This concept is backed by growing research in epigenetics, a field that studies how environmental factors—like trauma—can influence how our genes function without altering the genetic code itself. Through a process called epigenetic inheritance, the effects of trauma can potentially be passed down biologically to future generations.

How Trauma Is Transmitted Across Generations

Trauma is not passed down in the same way as eye color or height, but it can shape how families function and how we, as individuals, relate to the world. There are several key ways this transmission occurs:

1. Behavioral and Emotional Patterns

When a parent has experienced trauma, they may struggle with emotional regulation, attachment, or trust. These difficulties can show up in their approach to parenting, resulting in the unintentional passing down of fear, anxiety, or hypervigilance.

2. Family Narratives and Silence

Family stories play a big role in how people understand themselves. Sometimes, when past traumas are not talked about, families can carry unspoken grief, loss, or pain. This silence can create confusion or emotional distance in younger generations, who may sense something is wrong but don’t have the language or context to name it. Without this knowledge, negative emotions can turn inward, resulting in shame, blame, and disconnection

3. Biological Pathways

As we look beyond environmental factors, emerging research suggests that trauma can also leave a biological “mark” on the body. Stress can affect hormonal regulation, body mass, and even immune function in parents and offspring—potentially influencing epigenetic inheritance.

In studies of children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, for instance, researchers found elevated stress hormones and changes in gene expression—despite those descendants not having experienced the Holocaust themselves.

Recognizing the Signs

How can we know if we’re experiencing intergenerational trauma? Some individuals may carry emotional or psychological burdens that don’t seem to match their life experiences. 

Look for signs including: 

• Persistent anxiety or fear with no clear source
• Difficulty trusting others or forming close relationships
• A strong sense of guilt or responsibility
• Chronic feelings of sadness, anger, or emotional numbness
• Recurring patterns of family conflict or estrangement

If you or someone in your family has ever been puzzled by emotional reactions that feel “bigger than the moment,” it might be worth considering whether parental trauma or earlier family wounds could be part of the story.

What You Can Do About It

The good news is that while trauma can be passed down, so can healing. Awareness is the first—and most important—step.

1. Seek Professional Support

Working with a mental health professional can help you explore generational patterns, process inherited pain, and begin to rewrite your story. At Wellington Counseling Group, our therapists specialize in trauma-informed care and can guide you through this process with compassion.

2. Understand Your Family History

Learning about your family’s past—both spoken and unspoken—can provide valuable context. Conversations with relatives, reading historical accounts, or even journaling can help piece together how the past might be influencing the present.

3. Break the Cycle Intentionally

Healing doesn’t mean pretending the past didn’t happen—it means giving it a place, making space for your feelings, and choosing how to move forward. 

You can learn how to:

• Set healthy boundaries
• Practice mindfulness and emotional regulation
• Learn new parenting patterns
• Speak more openly about your experiences

By doing this work, you’re not just healing yourself—you’re helping end the cycle and prevent the transmission of trauma to future generations.

Final Thoughts

Intergenerational trauma reminds us that we are deeply connected to the people who came before us, while also showing our capacity for change. You may not be responsible for the pain you inherited, but you do have the opportunity to understand and heal from it.

If you’re ready to explore your own story and how it may connect to generational patterns, contact Wellington Counseling Group today to schedule a session in Chicago or Northbrook. Our clinicians are here to help you uncover the past, find your voice, and move toward a future with more clarity and peace.