Let’s Talk About Family Trauma
It’s a kind of trauma that can impact peoples’ family dynamics, relationships, and mental health.
Clinically Reviewed By: Don Gasparini Ph.D., M.A., CASAC
January 23, 2024
Table of Contents
When members of a family unit endure a traumatic event — including abuse, neglect, loss, or other harmful circumstances — it can result in family trauma, marked by emotional or physical distress in response to the event or circumstance.
Like all types of trauma, family trauma can have a lasting effect on people, particularly affecting their family relationships. It can also cause behavioral and mental health issues, relationship difficulties, and even physical health problems. Even if they endure the same traumatic event, members of a family unit won’t necessarily respond the same way to family trauma.
Below, we delve into common causes of family trauma, how traumatic childhood experiences take a toll on relationships, and how to heal from family trauma.
What is family trauma
As mentioned, family trauma refers to distressing experiences or events that affect one or more members within a specific family unit. It causes lasting emotional consequences and relationship issues for those directly affected in the family.
Another concept that often comes up when talking about family trauma is intergenerational trauma (also known as ancestral trauma), which is trauma transmitted across generations. It often stems from historical events, systemic issues, or cultural oppression, affecting families over time. While all intergenerational trauma involves families, not all family trauma is necessarily intergenerational.
What are the common causes of family trauma?
A range of events and experiences can cause family trauma. Also, people react differently to experiences, so what’s traumatic for one family may not be for another. Some common causes of family trauma, though, include:
- Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, including domestic violence
- Emotional or physical neglect
- Divorce or separation
- Loss or death of a family member
- Mental health issues experienced by a family member
- Financial struggles
- Cultural or religious conflicts
What are the symptoms of family trauma in children?
Children experiencing family trauma often display a range of emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms. People have different trauma responses, though, so not all children will display the same family trauma symptoms. That said, some common symptoms of family trauma in children are as follows.
Heightened anxiety or fear, persistent sadness, and mood swings are all examples of emotional distress in children resulting from childhood trauma. Some children may feel angry and irritable, having outbursts directed at peers, siblings, or adults, whereas others may develop emotional numbness and become detached. This range of emotions demonstrates the many ways family trauma can impact a child’s emotional well-being.
Children enduring family trauma may show signs of regression, meaning characteristic of a younger age. This can include baby talk, clinginess, bedwetting, thumb-sucking, and nightmares.
Trauma, including family trauma, often manifests in physical symptoms, data shows. This can include headaches, stomachaches, changes in appetite leading to weight loss or gain, and fatigue or low energy levels.
Academically, children affected by family trauma may experience a decline in school performance. Difficulty concentrating and increased school absences may further highlight the challenges they are facing in coping with the family-related stressors.
Children enduring family trauma may isolate themselves from peers, face difficulties in forming or maintaining relationships, and show a reluctance to participate in various activities. These social behaviors can be a reflection of the emotional toll that family trauma takes on a child’s social interactions.
How can family trauma affect relationships?
Research consistently shows that trauma, including family trauma, can affect people’s relationships. Children learn about the world, including their relationship approach, by observing and imitating caregivers, data shows. This means that, if left unaddressed, the effects of family trauma can impact a child’s ability to build healthy relationships in and outside their family unit.
According to one article, psychological trauma — including but not limited to relational trauma, betrayal trauma, attachment trauma, and developmental trauma — can specifically take a toll on family relationships. Similarly, a study of adults found that emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and sexual abuse during childhood are linked to specific problems in adult relationships.
There’s long been a link between attachment style and childhood trauma. Experiencing trauma in early childhood can greatly disrupt the ability to form secure attachments, data shows, making people more prone to develop a dismissive attachment style or anxious attachment style.
However, family trauma doesn’t have to define your relationships. Research shows that people can change their attachment styles when they set goals to do so, demonstrating how anyone can move toward more secure attachments and healthy relationships.
What should families do after a traumatic experience?
After a traumatic experience, families may benefit from taking several supportive steps to cope and heal. The specific steps depend on the nature and severity of the trauma, and how individuals and families navigate and recover can be influenced by support systems, coping mechanisms, and resilience. Here are some general suggestions.
Build a support network
Respect individual coping styles
Seek professional support
Build a support network
After a traumatic experience, building a strong support network helps in sharing the emotional burden. It also offers diverse perspectives and resources that contribute to the family’s overall resilience and recovery. Family members can consider reaching out to friends, relatives, or community support groups.
Respect individual coping styles
Recognize that individuals within the family may cope with trauma differently. Respect and support diverse coping styles, understanding that everyone has their own pace of healing.
Establishing a sense of routine and normalcy can be stabilizing for family members. Consistent routines can provide a sense of security during challenging times.
Emphasize the importance of self-care for each family member. This includes taking time for relaxation, engaging in activities they enjoy, and prioritizing their physical and mental well-being.
Seek professional support
Encourage family members to seek professional help, such as therapy or counseling, to address the emotional impact of the trauma. A mental health professional can provide guidance and coping strategies.
Therapy for family trauma
Therapy for family trauma often incorporates different approaches and modalities to address and heal emotional wounds within the family. It is typically collaborative, involving active participation from all family members to create a safe environment for processing experiences, enhancing coping skills, and rebuilding healthier connections. Treatment may consist of family, individual, and couples therapy to ensure all family members feel supported.
Therapeutic modalities are chosen based on the family’s specific needs and dynamics. For instance, families with young children may incorporate play therapy, whereas others utilize trauma-focused approaches like trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Ultimately, it’s up to a family and mental health professional to determine the best approach for family trauma therapy.
How Charlie Health can help with family trauma
If your family is struggling with family trauma, Charlie Health is here to help. Charlie Health’s virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) provides more than once-weekly mental health treatment for young people and families dealing with complex mental health conditions, including trauma. Our expert clinicians incorporate evidence-based therapies into individual counseling, family therapy, and group sessions. With this kind of holistic treatment, managing family trauma is possible. Fill out the form below or give us a call to start healing today.
Hebu tuzungumze juu ya Trauma ya Familia Ni aina ya trauma ambayo inaweza kuathiri watu 'dynamics ya familia, mahusiano, na afya ya akili. "Mwanzoni mwa mwaka wa 2020, Don Gasparini, PhD, M.A., CASAC, aliandika: ""Wakati wanachama wa kitengo cha familia wanapokabiliwa na tukio la kiwewe, ikiwa ni pamoja na unyanyasaji, kupuuzwa, kupoteza, au hali nyingine zenye madhara, inaweza kusababisha majeraha ya familia, iliyoonyeshwa na shida ya kihisia au kimwili kwa kujibu tukio au hali." Kama ilivyo na aina nyingine za majeraha, majeraha ya familia yanaweza kuwa na athari ya kudumu kwa watu, hasa kwa mahusiano yao ya familia. Pia inaweza kusababisha matatizo ya tabia na ya akili, matatizo ya mahusiano, na hata matatizo ya afya ya kimwili. Hata kama wao kuvumilia tukio moja traumatic, wanachama wa kitengo cha familia si lazima kujibu kwa njia ile ile kwa trauma ya familia. Chini, tunachunguza sababu za kawaida za majeraha ya familia, jinsi uzoefu wa utotoni unavyoathiri mahusiano, na jinsi ya kupona kutokana na majeraha ya familia. Trauma ya familia ni hali ya kihisia ambayo hutokea kwa mtu mmoja au zaidi katika familia. Inasababisha matokeo ya kudumu ya kihisia-moyo na matatizo ya uhusiano kwa wale walioathiriwa moja kwa moja katika familia. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""trauma ya kizazi"" ni ""trauma ya kizazi"" ambayo ni ""trauma ya kizazi"" ambayo ni ""trauma ya kizazi.""" Mara nyingi hutokana na matukio ya kihistoria, masuala ya mfumo, au ukandamizaji wa kitamaduni, unaoathiri familia kwa muda. Ingawa majeraha yote ya kizazi kwa kizazi yanahusisha familia, si majeraha yote ya familia ambayo ni ya kizazi kwa kizazi. Ni nini kisababishi cha kawaida cha majeraha ya familia? Matukio na mambo mbalimbali yanaweza kusababisha majeraha ya familia. Pia, watu huitikia mambo kwa njia tofauti-tofauti, kwa hiyo jambo linaloweza kumsumbua mtu mmoja huenda lisimshambulie mtu mwingine. "Kama matokeo ya matatizo ya kihisia, ""madhara ya kihisia"" au ""madhara ya kihisia"" ya familia, kama vile unyanyasaji wa kimwili, unyanyasaji wa kihisia, au unyanyasaji wa kimwili, ""madhara ya kihisia"" au ""madhara ya kihisia"" ya familia, ""madhara ya kihisia"" au ""madhara ya kihisia"" ya familia, ""madhara ya kihisia"" au ""madhara ya kihisia"" ya familia." Mara nyingi watoto wanaopatwa na majeraha ya familia huonyesha dalili mbalimbali za kihisia-moyo, za tabia, na za kimwili. Hata hivyo, watu huitikia mshtuko kwa njia tofauti-tofauti, kwa hiyo si watoto wote watakaokuwa na dalili zilezile za mshtuko wa familia. Hata hivyo, dalili za kawaida za majeraha ya familia kwa watoto ni kama ifuatavyo. Hofu au hofu iliyoongezeka, huzuni ya kudumu, na mabadiliko ya hisia-moyo ni mifano ya matatizo ya kihisia-moyo kwa watoto yanayotokana na majeraha ya utotoni. Watoto wengine wanaweza kuwa na hasira na hasira kali, na kuwa na hasira kali kuelekea wenzao, ndugu, au watu wazima, ilhali wengine wanaweza kuwa na hisia zisizofaa na kujitenga. Mzunguko huu wa hisia unaonyesha njia nyingi ambazo majeraha ya familia yanaweza kuathiri ustawi wa kihisia wa mtoto. Watoto wanaovumilia majeraha ya familia waweza kuonyesha ishara za kurudi nyuma, ikimaanisha sifa ya umri mdogo. Hilo laweza kutia ndani kuzungumza kwa njia ya mtoto mchanga, kushikamana naye, kunyunyizia kitandani, kunyonya kidole gumba, na kuota ndoto mbaya. Matatizo, kutia ndani matatizo ya familia, mara nyingi huonekana katika dalili za kimwili, rekodi zaonyesha. Hii inaweza kujumuisha maumivu ya kichwa, maumivu ya tumbo, mabadiliko ya hamu ya kula ambayo husababisha kupoteza au kupata uzito, na uchovu au viwango vya chini vya nishati. Kimsingi, watoto walioathiriwa na majeraha ya familia wanaweza kupata kupungua kwa utendaji wa shule. Ugumu wa kukaza fikira na kuongezeka kwa kutokuwepo shuleni kunaweza kuonyesha zaidi changamoto wanazokabili katika kukabiliana na mkazo unaohusiana na familia. Watoto wanaovumilia majeraha ya familia wanaweza kujitenga na wenzao, kukabiliwa na ugumu wa kuunda au kudumisha mahusiano, na kuonyesha kukataa kushiriki katika shughuli mbalimbali. Tabia hizi za kijamii zinaweza kuwa tafakari ya athari ya kihisia ambayo majeraha ya familia huchukua kwenye mwingiliano wa kijamii wa mtoto. Maumivu ya familia yanaweza kuathirije mahusiano? Utafiti unaonyesha mara kwa mara kwamba majeraha, kutia ndani majeraha ya familia, yanaweza kuathiri mahusiano ya watu. Watoto hujifunza kuhusu ulimwengu, ikiwa ni pamoja na mbinu yao ya mahusiano, kwa kuchunguza na kuiga watunzaji, data inaonyesha. Hii inamaanisha kwamba, ikiwa haijashughulikiwa, athari za majeraha ya familia zinaweza kuathiri uwezo wa mtoto wa kujenga mahusiano mazuri ndani na nje ya kitengo cha familia. Kulingana na makala moja, majeraha ya kisaikolojia - kutia ndani lakini si ya kipekee kwa majeraha ya mahusiano, majeraha ya usaliti, majeraha ya kushikamana, na majeraha ya ukuzi - yaweza hasa kuathiri mahusiano ya familia. Kwa mfano, utafiti uliofanywa katika watu wazima ulionyesha kwamba unyanyasaji wa kihisia-moyo, kutojali, na unyanyasaji wa kingono wakati wa utotoni unahusiana na matatizo fulani katika mahusiano ya watu wazima. Kwa muda mrefu kumekuwa na uhusiano kati ya mtindo wa kushikamana na majeraha ya utotoni. Ugonjwa wa utata katika utoto wa mapema unaweza kuharibu sana uwezo wa kuunda vifungo salama, data inaonyesha, na kufanya watu kuwa na mwelekeo zaidi wa kuendeleza mtindo wa kiunganishi cha kukataa au mtindo wa kiunganishi cha wasiwasi. Hata hivyo, majeraha ya familia hayahitaji kufafanua mahusiano yako. Utafiti unaonyesha kwamba watu wanaweza kubadilisha mitindo yao ya uhusiano wakati wao kuweka malengo ya kufanya hivyo, kuonyesha jinsi mtu yeyote anaweza kusonga kuelekea uhusiano salama zaidi na uhusiano wa afya. Familia zinapaswa kufanya nini baada ya kupatwa na msiba? Baada ya tukio lenye kuhuzunisha, familia zaweza kufaidika kwa kuchukua hatua kadhaa za kutegemeza ili kukabiliana na kupona. Hatua maalum hutegemea asili na ukali wa majeraha, na jinsi watu binafsi na familia zinavyoweza kusafiri na kupona inaweza kuathiriwa na mifumo ya msaada, mifumo ya kukabiliana, na upinzani. Hapa kuna madokezo ya jumla. Kujenga mtandao wa msaada: Heshimu mitindo ya kukabiliana ya mtu binafsi Tafuta msaada wa kitaaluma Kujenga mtandao wa msaada Baada ya uzoefu wa kuumiza, kujenga mtandao mkubwa wa msaada husaidia kushiriki mzigo wa kihisia. Pia inatoa mtazamo mbalimbali na rasilimali ambazo zinachangia ujasiri wa jumla wa familia na kupona. Washiriki wa familia wanaweza kufikiria kuwasiliana na marafiki, watu wa ukoo, au vikundi vya utegemezo katika jumuiya. Heshimu mitindo ya mtu binafsi ya kukabiliana na hali hiyo Kutambua kwamba watu katika familia wanaweza kukabiliana na hali hiyo kwa njia tofauti. Heshimu na kuunga mkono mitindo mbalimbali ya kukabiliana na matatizo, ukitambua kwamba kila mtu ana mwendo wake mwenyewe wa kupona. Kuanzisha hali ya kawaida na ya kawaida kwaweza kuwa yenye kutuliza kwa washiriki wa familia. Mazoea ya kawaida yaweza kutoa hisia ya usalama wakati wa nyakati zenye changamoto. Mkae makini na umuhimu wa kila mwanachama wa familia kujitunza. Hii inatia ndani kuchukua wakati wa kupumzika, kushiriki katika shughuli wanazofurahia, na kuweka kipaumbele afya yao ya kimwili na ya kiakili. Tafuta msaada wa kitaalamu: Washauri washiriki wa familia kutafuta msaada wa kitaalamu, kama vile matibabu au ushauri, ili kushughulikia athari za kihisia za majeraha. Mtaalamu wa afya ya akili aweza kutoa mwongozo na mbinu za kukabiliana na hali hiyo. Matibabu ya Trauma ya Familia mara nyingi hujumuisha mbinu na njia tofauti za kushughulikia na kuponya majeraha ya kihisia ndani ya familia. Kwa kawaida ni ushirikiano, unaohusisha ushiriki wa kazi kutoka kwa wanachama wote wa familia ili kuunda mazingira salama ya usindikaji wa uzoefu, kuboresha ujuzi wa kukabiliana, na kujenga tena uhusiano mzuri. Matibabu yanaweza kuwa ya familia, ya mtu binafsi, na ya wenzi wa ndoa ili kuhakikisha kwamba washiriki wote wa familia wanahisi kuungwa mkono. Njia za matibabu huchaguliwa kulingana na mahitaji na mwenendo maalum wa familia. Kwa mfano, familia zilizo na watoto wadogo zinaweza kuingiza tiba ya kucheza, wakati wengine hutumia mbinu za kuzingatia majeraha kama vile tiba ya utambuzi wa tabia ya kujali na desensitization ya harakati za jicho na usindikaji (EMDR). Hatimaye, ni juu ya familia na afya ya akili mtaalamu kuamua mbinu bora kwa ajili ya tiba ya trauma ya familia. Charlie Health inasaidia na trauma ya familia Charlie Health's Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) hutoa matibabu ya afya ya akili zaidi ya mara moja kwa wiki kwa vijana na familia zinazoshughulika na hali ngumu za afya ya akili, pamoja na majeraha. Madaktari wetu wenye ujuzi huingiza tiba zinazotegemea uthibitisho katika ushauri wa kibinafsi, tiba ya familia, na vipindi vya kikundi. Kwa kutumia matibabu ya aina hiyo, ni rahisi kushughulikia majeraha ya familia. Jaza fomu hapa chini au tupigie simu ili uanze matibabu leo.