Breaking the Cycle: The Impact of Intergenerational Trauma on Women's Nervous System Regulation
As autumn approaches in the Southern Hemisphere, it's time to celebrate Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival that's all about remembering and honoring those who've passed away. It's a time to be grateful for the year that's gone by, and prepare ourselves for the colder winter months ahead.
I've been thinking a lot about my ancestors and the impact they’ve had on my life. It’s a practice we in the West seem to have disconnected from, and one that is still very much alive in Eastern and indigenous traditions.
Connecting with our ancestors, and honouring them, isn’t just a spiritual “nice-to-do”, there’s also a strong scientific basis for remembering and connecting with our lineage. Even if you don’t have a connection with your blood-relatives (due to adoption or other reasons) your bloodline has passed along more than just your physical traits and genetics.
Likely, many of your behaviours, thoughts and life experiences are connected to patterns that have been passed along genetically through your lineage. This is known as “intergenerational trauma” or “ancestral trauma”.
Intergenerational trauma is a concept that explains how the effects of trauma can be passed down from one generation to another. This can impact your nervous system regulation and overall wellbeing, making it harder for you to cope with stress and anxiety.
For example, a mother who experienced abuse as a child might pass down a heightened sensitivity to stress to her children. This can lead to ongoing feelings of anxiety, stress, and hypervigilance that are hard to shake.
However, there are ways to heal from intergenerational trauma. You can develop new coping skills, such as mindfulness meditation or somatic exercises, that help to calm the body and reduce feelings of anxiety and stress.
According to Daniel Foor, author of "Ancestral Medicine: Rituals for Personal and Family Healing," there are several exercises that can help you heal from intergenerational trauma:
Gratitude practice:
Begin by acknowledging the positive aspects of your ancestral line. Think about the strengths, skills, and values that have been passed down through the generations. By focusing on the positive, we can create a foundation for healing and transformation.
Connect with your ancestors:
Set aside some time to connect with your ancestors through meditation, prayer, or other forms of ritual. You can also create an altar or shrine dedicated to your ancestors, and include pictures, candles, or other items that are meaningful to you.
Engage in ancestral healing:
Through meditation or guided visualization, ask your ancestors for guidance and support in healing from intergenerational trauma. You can also work with a therapist or healer who specializes in ancestral healing.
Build a relationship with your ancestral helping spirits:
According to Foor, we all have ancestral helping spirits who can guide us on our healing journey. You can connect with your helping spirits through shamanic journeying or other forms of spiritual practice.
Why it’s important to work on intergenerational trauma
Intergenerational trauma is not a personal weakness, but rather a result of systemic oppression and historical trauma. Women especially have been historical oppressed, demonised and marginalised. When we think of the systemic abuse and silencing of women’s voice through the ages, we can understand our own fears and perceived limitations with a new light.
By acknowledging and addressing the impact of intergenerational trauma on women's lives, we can work towards creating a more just and equitable society that supports the healing and wellbeing of all individuals.
It’s also important to remember that whilst our ancestors may have passed on traumas, they have also passed along gifts. So when working with our lineage to help us solve patterns that don’t seem to have a root cause in our present life, it’s important to focus on the light along with the shadow aspects.
This is a key part of the work we do in The Nurtured Nervous System, my 1:1 coaching program. If you’re interested in finding out more about this work head to the link below!
Ready to regulate your nervous system?
The Nurtured Nervous System is a 12-week, 1:1 coaching program designed to help women regulate their nervous system, develop healthy habits, and create the life they truly desire.
