One person’s trauma can affect the mental health of future generations
Symptoms passed down genetically
Intergenerational trauma can have far-reaching consequences, even for those who did not directly experience the original trauma.
According to Hlonipa Nyaba, founder of HoldHerHand, a mental health organisation, traumatic events can cause dysregulation of the nervous system, leading to a range of physical and emotional symptoms.
These symptoms can then be passed down through generations, even if people have not directly experienced the original trauma.
To help address this issue, Nyaba is establishing a wellness centre in Komani that will offer mental health support to local residents.
She sites Mindhealth360.com describing the nervous system as “a complex collection of nerves and specialised cells known as neurons that transmit signals between different parts of the body. “It is essentially the body’s electrical wiring.”
Nyaba said trauma has the ability to attach itself to one’s DNA.
“This leads to intergenerational trauma like diabetes or high blood pressure which is genetically passed down to the offspring,” she said.
Trauma passed on to generations has physical and societal impacts on upcoming generations, which include over- or under-reacting to events —a person can experience thoughts, feelings, and behaviour which is out of proportion to the event.
“Most often that over- or underreaction is a manifestation of mental health symptoms such as depression, anxiety, sleep issues, irritability, and exhaustion.
“Then there are the toxic behaviours such as outbursts of rage, passive aggression, lying, feeling shut down, being vindictive or particularly argumentative which can all create more issues in the community and interpersonally,” Nyaba said.
These symptoms are common in countries that experienced a history of colonial oppression. Anger and violence are the most frequently displayed intergenerational traumainduced behavioural issues.
“As South Africans, I’m certain we all know how that affects us both on a familial and societal front. What’s also prevalent in society is our individualismbased mindset which neglects our innate design to aspire towards preserving community,” Nyaba said.
She believes that tending to one's “dysregulated” nervous systems will mean using available tools to reverse intergenerational trauma.
These interventions should extend beyond individual therapy and should include community-based outreach, advocacy, and healing practices.
“Healing of the land” is an important aspect of the process.
“Talk therapy is not enough, we need to explore different types of remedying. Individually we need to go within, develop self-awareness, invest in self-development, practice self-care and engage ourselves with self-therapy, all while cultivating community.
“Together we need to work as a collective, engaging in remedying practices such as slowing down and recreational activity as a community.
“Xhosa people need to return to the old practices and ways of ubuntu.”
This leads to intergenerational trauma like diabetes or high blood pressure which is genetically passed down to the offspring