Ancestral trauma, also known as generational or intergenerational trauma, describes the way traumatic experiences can affect future generations. Traditionally, this has been understood through family dynamics, learned behaviours and shared beliefs. More recently, researchers have begun exploring whether some effects of trauma may also be reflected in epigenetic changes.
Epigenetics is the study of how environmental factors can influence gene expression without changing the DNA sequence itself. This is a rapidly evolving field of research that is helping scientists better understand how life experiences may affect the way our genes function.
One of the leading researchers in this area is Dr Rachel Yehuda, whose work examined Holocaust survivors and their children. Her research identified differences in epigenetic markers involved in the body’s stress response when compared with people who had no family history of Holocaust exposure. While these findings do not prove that trauma is inherited through epigenetics, they suggest that severe trauma may leave measurable biological changes that can extend across generations.
In clinical practice, I often see people carrying emotional patterns that don’t seem to fit their own life experiences alone. Whether these patterns arise through family relationships, learned behaviours or other influences, exploring them can provide valuable insight. For many people, recognising these patterns is an important step towards understanding themselves and creating their life beyond trauma.