Dr. Nicole LePera
Dr. Nicole LePera

@Theholisticpsyc

11 Tweets 34 reads Jan 27, 2023
How Generational Trauma Shows Up In Families:
1. Alcoholism or substance use:
Using substances to cope is a common response when we don't have the ability to self regulate and haven't been modeled healthy coping mechanisms.
2. Emotional abuse:
Emotional abuse (name calling, shaming, insulting) is often repeated when we haven't learned healthier ways to communicate and interact.
3. Financial abuse:
Financial abuse can look like: taking credit cards out in other families names, stealing money, lying about paying bills, extreme control of money or anything else where the abuse of finances impacts the family unit negatively.
5. Shame-based beliefs
Trauma creates core beliefs that are shame based like: "I'm not lovable" "I'm unworthy" "No one cares about what I have to say." These beliefs are passed down, generationally
6. Chronic fight or flight
Long term trauma (C-PTSD) can keep us stuck in fight or flight responses. We might be highly emotionally reactive, unable to cope with stress, and may feel chronically on edge.
7. Hypervigilance
A symptom of fight or flight response where we look for every change of mood, tone, facial expression and might scan the room to see if anyone is mad or upset with us. This is a safety adaptation.
8. Dysfunctional Relationships
We are modeled what relationships look like through the relationships we witness as children. If we witnessed: toxic relationships, domestic violence, or saw emotional neglect, these patterns tend to repeat in adulthood.
9. Emotional boundary violations
Boundary violations look like: getting children to take sides in relationship issues, telling children negative things about the other parents, acting like a child is a peer, making a child responsible for the home.

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