What Is Generational Trauma?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can often feel like an individual burden, something people wrestle with in isolation. However, trauma doesn’t always begin or end with one person—it can run deeper, spanning generations within a family. Generational trauma refers to how the experiences of one generation can ripple through and affect the lives of the next.

If you’re on a path to recovery from substance abuse or seeking PTSD treatment, understanding and addressing generational trauma can be a key step in healing. Looking to heal and reclaim your life? Connect with ALANA Recovery today to learn more about how our team can help.

What To Know About Trauma

Trauma is how we respond to deeply distressing or overwhelming experiences. It can come from many different situations—childhood neglect, losing someone suddenly, natural disasters, or acts of violence. Trauma affects both our minds and bodies, changing how our brains work and impacting our emotional health.

The truth is that trauma is far more common than we often realize. About 70% of adults in the United States—equivalent to 223.4 million people—have encountered at least one traumatic event in their lifetime.¹ These experiences can have lasting effects if not appropriately addressed.

What Are the Types of Trauma?

Trauma isn’t one-size-fits-all. It can manifest in different forms depending on the cause and how it impacts a person. The most common types include:

• Acute trauma – Results from a single, isolated event, such as a car accident or sudden loss.
• Childhood trauma – Occurs during the formative years, often at the hands of a caregiver or in early relationships.
• Chronic trauma – Develops from repeated, prolonged exposure to distressing events, such as domestic violence or ongoing abuse.
• Complex trauma – Occurs when someone is exposed to multiple traumatic events, often during early development.
• Complex trauma – Consists of multiple traumatic experiences over an extended period, such as ongoing abuse or neglect.
• Vicarious trauma – Affects those who witness or hear about traumatic events, such as first responders or therapists.
• Generational trauma – The effects of trauma can endure across generations within a family. This can occur from systemic events like war, displacement, or oppression.

What Is Generational Trauma?

Generational trauma, also known as intergenerational trauma, refers to the transmission of trauma from one generation to the next. This doesn’t mean the trauma itself is passed down physically, like genetics, but instead, its emotional and psychological markers.

For example, if a parent experienced severe neglect or abuse in childhood, they might struggle to form secure attachments with their own children. These patterns can create an environment where children may develop their own emotional wounds, even if they didn’t directly experience the initial trauma.

Research in epigenetics has suggested that trauma can even influence biological responses, such as heightened stress sensitivity, making individuals more prone to anxiety or depression.²

Generational trauma often goes unnoticed, as people may not connect their behaviors or struggles with events from their family’s past. However, recognizing generational trauma is the first step in breaking the cycle and working toward healing.

Does All Trauma Lead to PTSD?

Not everyone who goes through trauma will develop PTSD, even though it can be a risk factor. It really depends on the person—their situation, how they cope, and the support they have around them. PTSD is a mental health condition that can happen after someone experiences or witnesses something traumatic. Symptoms like flashbacks, avoidance, heightened anxiety, and intrusive thoughts characterize it.

Approximately 6% of the U.S. population will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. With proper treatment, many people recover and no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Each year, about five out of every 100 adults in the U.S. are affected by PTSD, and in 2020 alone, roughly 13 million Americans were living with the condition.³ Addressing trauma early and seeking appropriate treatment can prevent it from escalating into PTSD.

Can Trauma Co-Occur with Addiction?

Absolutely. Trauma and addiction are deeply connected. Many people who experience trauma often turn to substances as a way to numb emotional pain or escape intrusive thoughts. Sadly, many people turn to substances as a way to cope, which often leads to substance use disorders (SUDs) and creates a difficult cycle to break.

Studies show that many individuals living with SUDs and serious mental health challenges have a history of trauma. Among them, 60% of women and 30% of men report a history of physical trauma, while 47% of women and 17% of men disclose a history of sexual trauma.⁴ These numbers show that a history of trauma can heighten the susceptibility of individuals with SUDs to developing co-occurring psychiatric conditions, including PTSD.

When trauma and addiction co-occur, this is known as a dual diagnosis. Addressing both issues simultaneously is critical in healing from trauma and helping individuals achieve lasting recovery.

How Dual Diagnosis Treatment Can Help

Dual diagnosis treatment addresses substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. When both issues are addressed at the same time, people can better understand the root causes of their struggles and find healthier ways to cope.

Some key parts of dual diagnosis treatment include:

• Integrated therapy – Therapy sessions that address both trauma and substance use together.
• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) – Medications to manage withdrawal symptoms and stabilize mental health conditions.
• Trauma-focused therapy – Approaches like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) or trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) help individuals process their trauma.
• Support groups – Peer support in a safe environment fosters healing through shared experiences.

If substance use has become a part of how you manage trauma, know that recovery is possible. ALANA Recovery provides outpatient addiction treatment tailored to your unique needs—and recognizes that trauma may play a significant role in addiction. If needed, we integrate PTSD treatment into our mental health and substance use programs. Whether through cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), or other evidence-based approaches, we’ll help you process trauma at your own pace.

We also offer specialized dual diagnosis treatment to address underlying trauma and other co-occurring mental health conditions. We aim to give you the tools and support to lead a fulfilling, sober life. With a compassionate team, we create a safe, judgment-free space where healing can begin. By combining therapy, medication, and community support, clients are empowered to reclaim their lives.

Take the First Step Toward Healing From Trauma with ALANA Recovery in Georgia

Healing from trauma, whether personal or generational, may feel like an uphill climb—but you don’t have to do it alone. Addressing trauma can improve your mental health, relationships, and recovery from substance use. ALANA Recovery is here to walk this path with you.

If you or a loved one is struggling, reach out today to explore how our treatment programs can help you move forward. Contact our supportive team online or call 770.759.7474 to take the next step toward a brighter future.

Footnotes:

1. National Council for Mental Wellbeing – How to Manage Trauma
2. Frontiers in Psychiatry – Epigenetic Modifications in Stress Response Genes Associated With Childhood Trauma
3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – How Common Is PTSD in Adults?
4. Journal of Interpersonal Violence – Trauma, Gender, and Mental Health Symptoms in Individuals With Substance Use Disorders