Intergenerational trauma can occur when people or groups of people experience collective or historical trauma through horrific events such as war, genocide, slavery, colonization, forced displacement, natural disasters, terrorism, famine, and pandemics.Įxamples of such trauma include and are definitely not limited to the following: In Part 2, we will look at the movement from disconnection to connection.īapuamoyo Kambeya, APC, is a counselor at CHRIS Counseling Center – Gwinnett.The Far-Reaching Impact of Intergenerational Trauma from Historical Atrocities The traumatic impact has a transgenerational effect whereby one’s children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so on can experience psychological, neurobiological, cultural and social challenges as a result of the trauma that happened generations ago. Intergenerational trauma can be described as stemming from mass cultural and historical traumatic events such as the Rwandan genocide, the Holocaust and the institutionalized slavery of African people. The most recent human rights demonstrations to support the Black Lives Matter movement is in response to the deep and sprawling roots of disconnection, which leave a residue of distrust and fear across generations. They speak of radical disconnection and are strong reminders of how dangerous that is. The videotaped killings of unarmed Black men and women such as George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery have been jarring for many. How powerful would it be if it were commonplace for us to develop meaningful connections between races? What would our experiences as Americans be like if we did? What would life look like if we mattered to each other? I have found myself thinking of Brene’s quote and asking myself, “ How do the races get and stay connected when racial disconnection has been the norm for so long? And how has this disconnection contributed to the traumatization of communities across generations?” In thinking about Brene’s quote in relation to the recent unjust murders in the Black community, I am reminded of what it looks like when we drop the ball…when we disregard each other… when a state of disconnection is the norm. Connection requires us to push towards being our better selves as we honor and respect another’s emotional needs.

It feels good to matter to someone and to have people who matter to us.Ĭonnection takes work, patience, and time. We long to connect in those roles, which amplify a sense of purpose and add meaning to our life experiences. We want to be someone’s lover, someone’s spouse, someone’s parent, someone’s child or someone’s friend. We want to belong to something or someone. It invites a sense of security into our world…security about who we are and where we fit.Ĭonnection with others solidifies our sense of identity and belonging. Her quote reminds me that an authentic connection with others is comforting and reaffirming. Through her work on shame and vulnerability, we are able to get a closer look at aspects of the human condition that are often overlooked. “We’re hardwired for connection.” This is one of my favorite quotes from a shero in our field, Brené Brown.

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Intergenerational trauma quotes