Intergenerational trauma refers to the transmission of unresolved emotional wounds, grief, and pain from one generation to the next. These unprocessed experiences can subtly shape the thoughts, behaviours, and relationships of descendants, often without their conscious awareness. Psychoanalysis highlights how traumas can ripple across generations, influencing family dynamics and individual well-being. This understanding has expanded to include the interplay of culture, history, and identity in shaping these inherited emotional legacies.

French analysts Abraham and Torok described these transmissions as arising from mourning that has been denied or suppressed. This unacknowledged grief is often felt by children and grandchildren, who unconsciously carry fragments of their ancestors' unresolved struggles. Haydée Faimberg introduced the idea of a “telescoping of generations,” where a parent's unprocessed emotions permeate the child’s identity, leaving the child burdened with feelings and experiences that are not entirely their own. This dynamic can lead to a sense of being emotionally overwhelmed or disconnected from one’s authentic self.

Trauma disrupts a person’s ability to feel safe and form secure attachments, both essential for emotional stability. When a parent or grandparent has endured significant trauma, parts of their emotional world may become inaccessible, creating subtle yet impactful gaps in their relationship with their children. These gaps can leave children feeling a sense of emptiness or unspoken tension, which they may internalize as part of their own emotional experience. However, resilience within families often coexists with these challenges, offering hope for healing and growth.

Unresolved trauma can manifest through behaviours that unconsciously reenact the original pain, serving as a way of “remembering” when the mind cannot fully process the event. This reenactment can perpetuate the emotional burden across generations, but it also signals an opportunity for healing. Psychodynamic therapy aims to bring these unconscious patterns into awareness, allowing individuals to understand and work through the inherited emotions and behaviours that shape their lives.

Healing intergenerational trauma requires compassion, patience, and professional support. Psychotherapy provides a safe space to process unresolved grief, regulate emotions, and build healthier relationships. Through a collaborative and empathetic therapeutic relationship, individuals can learn to untangle their own experiences from the inherited pain of their ancestors. Family and couple therapies can further foster understanding and open communication, breaking cycles of silence and isolation. By embracing self-empathy and self-care, individuals can create a legacy of resilience and emotional well-being for future generations.