November 1, 2024 • 28 mins
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Have you ever wondered how trauma leaves its mark not just on our minds but also on our bodies and even our genes? Join me, Kapri, as we uncover the unseen impacts of trauma, challenging the notion that it's only a psychological burden. We'll explore how trauma can disrupt brain functions, leading to hypervigilance and emotional numbing while also manifesting in physical ailments like chronic pain and digestive issues. Through this journey, we'll delve into the concept of intergenerational trauma, examining how it can be passed down through behaviors and epigenetic changes and the vital role culturally informed healing strategies play in addressing the scars of historical oppression.
Reflecting on childhood, our guest shares the delicate balance of growing up with a father who was often absent due to work and a mother who wore the dual hats of love and discipline. These dynamics shaped their emotional processing and cautious approach to communication. Together, we'll explore the enduring process of healing from these early experiences, acknowledging the imperfections of our parents and ourselves. As we recount stories of resilience and creative coping during difficult times, this episode invites you to consider how childhood environments shape our adult lives and the ongoing journey toward healing and understanding.
Find Reframing the Membrane: Crossing Boundaries @ https://www.reframingthemembrane.com/
Disclaimer: This podcast serves solely for informational and entertainment purposes. It is not intended to replace professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor does it substitute for a relationship with a licensed mental health clinician. Always consult your physician before deciding about your physical or mental health.
Help Resources:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- National Helpline
- Find a Psychiatrist
- Find Treatment
- ANXIETY & DEPRESSION ASSOCIATION (ADAA) Find a Therapist
- FIND A CBT Therapist
- Self-Help Book Recommendations
References:
- American Psychological Association. (2020). Understanding the impact of trauma on brain and body. American Psychological Association.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kapri (00:00):
Hello and welcome.
I'm your host, Kapri.
Today, we'll explore trauma asa full-body experience.
Trauma is not just an emotionalor mental event.
It profoundly affects the body,health and genetic makeup.
We'll explore how traumamanifests physically, discuss
the faces of trauma andintroduce the science of
epigenetics.
(00:20):
By the end of this episode,you'll better understand how
trauma is stored and what ittakes to heal from it.
Trauma is commonly misunderstoodas a purely psychological
phenomenon, but in reality, itencompasses both mind and body.
The American PsychologicalAssociation defines trauma as an
event or series of events thatoverwhelms an individual's
(00:42):
capacity to cope, oftenresulting in long-lasting
feelings of helplessness andfear.
These experiences can lead tosignificant changes in the brain
, impacting areas such as theamygdala, which is involved in
emotional regulation, thehippocampus, responsible for
memory, and the prefrontalcortex, which governs
decision-making and impulsecontrol.
(01:03):
When these brain structures areaffected, trauma survivors may
experience symptoms such ashypervigilance, flashbacks,
difficulty concentrating andemotional numbing.
However, trauma doesn't juststay in the brain.
It also has a lasting effect onthe body, keeping the nervous
system in a heightened state ofarousal that contributes to
(01:23):
physical symptoms.
These symptoms can persist longafter the traumatic event has
ended, impacting overall healthand quality of life.
Trauma can seep into every partof our being, manifesting in
physical symptoms that often gounexplained.
Research has shown thatunresolved trauma may lead to
chronic health conditions suchas persistent pain, digestive
(01:45):
issues, heart problems orautoimmune disorders.
These physical manifestationsare signals our bodies send us,
indicating the need for deeperemotional healing.
Did you know that intraditional Chinese medicine,
emotions are thought to beclosely connected to physical
health and the organs?
Anger, for example, isassociated with the liver, grief
(02:07):
with the lungs and fear withthe kidneys.
When emotions are unprocessed,they can cause disruption in
these organ systems, leading tophysical ailments.
Western medicine isincreasingly recognizing this
ancient understanding of themind-body connection.
I once collaborated with acolleague who endured chronic
back pain for years.
(02:27):
Despite various medicalinterventions, the pain
continued Eventually.
We considered that her physicaldiscomfort could be tied to
unresolved emotional trauma.
Through trauma-informedtherapies and body-focused
practices, she could process heremotions, resulting in a
significant reduction of herpain.
This experience highlightedthat physical symptoms can often
(02:49):
be the body's way of signalingunresolved emotional challenges.
Recognizing somatic symptoms oftrauma is essential.
How do we identify when traumais manifesting in our bodies?
A wide range of symptoms canoccur, but here are several to
monitor.
Chronic muscle tension or painmay manifest as tightness in the
shoulders, neck or lower backthat resists typical treatments.
(03:13):
Digestive problems can arisefrom trauma affecting gut health
, potentially resulting inissues such as IBS, acid reflux,
gerd or persistent stomach pain.
As IBS, acid reflux, gerd orpersistent stomach pain,
unexplained fatigue and lowenergy can occur when the
nervous system remains in flightor fight mode.
This prolonged state drainsenergy reserves, often leading
(03:35):
to chronic exhaustion andrecurring headaches, including
migraines and tension headaches.
Such symptoms indicate stressand possible trauma stored in
the body.
It's crucial to recognize thesesignals, as they often serve as
distress messages that thetrauma persists within us.
Our bodies retain memories ofall experiences, even when our
(03:56):
minds attempt to move on fromthe traumatic events.
After a brief break, we willdelve into the manifestations of
trauma.
Are you ready to make adifference in your community?
In our Speak Out Advocacyseries, we're here to empower
you to use your voice for change.
Whether improving access tomental health care, reducing
stigma or shaping importantsocial policies, this series
(04:18):
provides the tools to create alasting impact.
If advocating for better care,breaking down barriers or
transforming mental healthservices speaks to your heart,
this is the perfect space tolearn and take action.
Do you have a topic you'repassionate about or need support
advocating for yourself orothers?
We'd love to hear from you.
Text the show to share yourthoughts.
(04:40):
Just check the details in theshow notes.
Together, let's build acommunity that fosters change.
Keep enjoying reframing themembrane.
Trauma extends beyond individualexperiences.
It can impact entire familiesand communities.
Known as generational trauma orintergenerational trauma, this
phenomenon involves the transferof trauma from parents to
(05:03):
children and even grandchildren.
Phenomenon involves thetransfer of trauma from parents
to children and evengrandchildren.
This inheritance happensthrough behavioral patterns and
biological alterations thatshape how future generations
manage stress and difficultemotions.
A vital concept inunderstanding this transfer is
epigenetics, which involveschanges in gene expression
without modifying the DNAsequence, which involves changes
(05:24):
in gene expression withoutmodifying the DNA sequence.
These changes can be triggeredby factors like stress, trauma
or nutritional deficienciesinfluencing which genes are
activated or deactivated.
Research on the descendants ofenslaved individuals and
Holocaust survivors has shownthat trauma-related epigenetic
changes in stress-related genescan manifest in their offspring.
(05:46):
As a result, these children mayexhibit increased stress
responses, anxiety or depression, even without direct exposure
to the trauma themselves.
Trauma knows no bounds in itstransmission.
For instance, black orAfrican-American communities
bear the weight of trauma linkedto the legacy of slavery,
segregation and systemic racism,resulting in persistent health
(06:09):
disparities.
Similarly, indigenouspopulations have been deeply
impacted by colonization, forcedrelocations and cultural
erasure is unique, encompassingcontinuous exposure to
race-related stressors such asdiscrimination, microaggressions
and systemic inequalities,which can build up over time and
(06:31):
span generations.
This topic warrants furtherexamination, which we will
discuss in more detail inupcoming episodes.
Comprehending the connectionbetween generational and racial
trauma is vital for interruptingcycles of stress and
facilitating healing withinfamilies and communities.
Responding to these traumaforms necessitates culturally
(06:55):
informed strategies thatacknowledge experiences of
discrimination and historicaloppression while paving the way
for healing.
Let me share a personal storyoppression while paving the way
for healing.
Let me share a personal story.
I grew up in a time whendiscipline often involved
corporal punishment usingwhatever was handy extension
cords, tree branches or belts.
The prevailing belief was thatchildren should be seen and not
(07:16):
heard, expected to be invisiblein the presence of adults.
This wasn't just enforced by myparents, it was a community
effort.
The so-called village Teachers,neighbors and family members
felt responsible for correctingany behavior they deemed
inappropriate.
However, what constitutedinappropriate varied based on
the observer.
(07:36):
I vividly remember the sting ofthose beatings.
There were instances when theextension cord left my skin
blistered and open and oozingand, to make matters worse, I
was placed in a hot bathtubafterward, intensifying the pain
.
My mother would say with ablend of authority and regret
(07:56):
this hurts me more than it hurtsyou.
As a child, it was difficult tocomprehend how someone who
loved me could cause suchsuffering, while it was
difficult to comprehend howsomeone who loved me could cause
such suffering.
Nonetheless, I learned to copeand foster resilience within my
mind, body and spirit to endurethose experiences at a very
early age.
In hindsight, I realized mymother was doing what she knew
(08:18):
and what was done to her,because I knew she loved me
deeply.
But in her world, punishment ofthis kind was a way to raise a
child, just as it had been forprevious generations and just as
she had experienced.
This cycle is steeped in history, tracing back to the suffering
of enslaved individuals.
(08:39):
The tactics employed by slavemasters to control and
dehumanize people were inherited.
Tactics employed by slavemasters to control and
dehumanize people were inherited, becoming embedded in our
culture and family traditions,often without awareness to their
origins.
My mother recounted herchildhood experiences of needing
to behave a certain way aroundthe white side of the family to
(08:59):
avoid severe repercussions.
Her life was influenced by thechallenges of being part of a
mixed-race family during a moreperilous era than today.
Consider the cultural conflictwhen a white Frenchman had
children with a black woman,resulting in my grandfather, in
a time marked by harsh racialdivides.
(09:19):
On the other side, mygrandmother of Blackfeet Indian
ancestry bore children with mygrandfather of Blackfeet Indian
ancestry, for children with mygrandfather.
These blended identitiesinfluenced my family's
experiences, carrying forward alegacy filled with both richness
and trauma.
The struggle to navigate theseidentities, intensified by
social racial divisions, left alasting impact.
(09:43):
Gaining insight into how trauma,behaviors and cultural
expectations are transmittedacross generations has
facilitated my journey offorgiveness, healing and
personal growth.
It required education andself-awareness to unpack my
experiences and consciously seekto break these cycles.
Therefore, it is crucial toreframe the membrane, as trauma
(10:05):
does not vanish.
It leaves remnants within ourhistory, culture, mind, body and
spirit.
It passes through generations,influencing our identities, and
may hinder our capacity toflourish unless we actively
reclaim and reframe it as wemove forward in this discussion,
I invite you to consider yourexperiences with trauma, whether
(10:27):
you have personally faced it orobserved it.
What steps are you taking toheal and break this cycle?
Feel free to text the show withyour reflections.
Remember our voices matter.
Speaking up and expressingourselves can be a
straightforward yet impactfulstep toward healing.
I also understand thatreflecting on trauma may evoke
(10:48):
challenging emotions or evencause you to revisit those
experiences.
If you require support, pleasetake a look at the show notes
for local resources near you.
Let's take a moment to stretch,breathe and let go.
When we return, we'll hear froma mental health and wellness
advocate who will share insightson generational trauma from his
(11:09):
perspective.
If you're able, begin by sittingor lying down comfortably.
Focus on one muscle group at atime, starting with your feet.
Tense the muscles for 5 to 10seconds, then release.
Move up the body, repeatingthis process for each muscle
group.
Move up the body, repeatingthis process for each muscle
group.
Notice how your body feelsafterward and observe any
(11:30):
changes in relaxation or tension.
Now let's try a quick breathingexercise.
You may already be familiarwith the 4-7-8 technique, but if
this is new for you, keep yourmouth closed and breathe in
through your nose while countingto 4.
Hold your breath for sevenseconds.
(11:50):
Then now slowly exhale throughthe mouth for eight seconds.
Repeat once more.
Try these quick exercises overthe next week and let me know
(12:11):
how you're doing.
Find these exercises in theshow notes.
Now let's continue ourdiscussion.
Welcome back.
We're here with Jersey Mike.
Mike, welcome to the show.
Mike (12:23):
Thank you for having me.
Kapri (12:25):
You're welcome.
Tell us how has traumainfluenced your life or the
lives of those around you?
Mike (12:30):
Okay, so my experience with trauma starts at a young
age.
You know Not to blame myparents, but they pushed the
trauma on me that they had, butthey did it differently.
Nobody wants to do it the sameway.
You know, my parents hadparents that worked hard and
(12:56):
they instilled in them thatthere may not be enough, that
you have to save or you may nothave enough, but when you have
something you need to get it inabundance.
My parents were strict, so theyspanked me and I think it made
me a better person, but it alsomade me not want to be as strict
(13:18):
with my kids.
But I wanted them to do better,of course, them to do better,
of course.
I know that I was, uh, verystrict with them, but I didn't
spank them as much.
That's just inside the house.
That's how you make it out thefront door, out the side door,
(13:38):
out the back door, out to playout with your friends.
School was a whole other trauma.
The trauma there was trying tofit in, trying to fit in with an
IQ that most kids didn't haveand made fun of before.
You know, having two-parenthome was something that you know
(14:01):
I wanted to hide, because mostof my friends that did have it
understood and most of the restof the school didn't.
So you know, some of the otherkids said no, they teased us,
they thought we were soft, youknow, but not realizing that
we're growing up in the samesituation.
And then when you get outsideof that, then that's how the
(14:25):
world looks at you.
You know, everything is finewhen you're a little kid you're
cute, you're harmless, you'renot a threat.
But for me, I wasn't gonna staya kid.
You know, I was gonna be anadult.
I couldn't just be a man, I hadto be a black man.
And being a black man you're athreat to everyone and
(14:47):
everything just about.
And then you learn how you'reautomatically criminalized.
When two years ago you would goto a function and you know the
cops would give you candy, youcome back with a little fuzz on
your lip and they look at youlike a statistic, like somebody
(15:07):
they need to put handcuffs on,somebody that needs to be pulled
over because you have to bedoing something wrong, somebody
who's not going to get a breakfor the benefit of the doubt,
somebody who needs to be watchedin the store even though you
have money in your pocket, andnot a kleptomaniac.
So there's different levels toit and you know, even before all
(15:28):
of this, like I was sayinginitially about my parents, you
know there's their parents andtheir parents' parents that just
passed trauma along, you know,in DNA.
I just believe that and youknow it's a lot to deal with.
You know, sometimes some of us,or maybe all of us, are born
(15:51):
with PTSD.
I don't know if that answersyour question, but that's what I
think of when I think of traumain my life, at least to that
point.
Kapri (16:05):
Thank you for sharing a painful part of your story.
It's clear those experiencesimpacted your life.
You mentioned not wantingothers to know that you grew up
in a two-parent household.
Could you explain why that was?
And also when you spoke aboutyour parents passing on trauma.
Tell us a bit more about thatand how it shaped your
upbringing.
Mike (16:24):
Well, I mean, it was very similar to anybody else's
household.
My father worked mostly night.
My mother was fortunate enoughto work from home to take care
of us.
You know, eventually she wentback to work, but she made that
sacrifice so she could instillcertain things in us, and some
of those things were hardlessons.
Instill certain things in usand some of those things were
(16:45):
hard lessons.
My mother was not.
I always think my mother was nota typical woman.
I'm sure everybody thinks this,but my mother was not a typical
woman.
She would get dressed and, youknow, look like a diva.
But if she was on the phone andyou made too much noise, you
(17:06):
know that phone would be thething that you remember when you
see her on it.
You don't make noise.
She would knock you outside thehead with it.
You know that telephone bookwould become a weapon and you
might only get hit once.
But once was enough, at leastit should have been.
They hit once, but once wasenough, at least it should have
(17:26):
been.
I always remember that, sayingI'll knock some sense into you
or I'll knock you into next week.
Well, I may still be in nextweek because of some of that,
and then she would make surethat they were on the same page.
So when my father did come home,he knew everything that
happened and she wanted him tobe on the same page with her.
(17:49):
So sometimes you get it twice.
For one thing, of course, weall do stuff that we get away
with.
Never thought my parents weretrying to abuse me, but I knew
if I got caught doing somethingthat I would get it twice as bad
.
And when I say my household waslike most, my father was not
there most of the time he wasaround on the weekend.
(18:10):
He was awake on the weekendbecause he was busy earning a
living.
You know, most of the time, youknow, I would see him on my way
to school.
Sometimes he, you know, walkedme to halfway down the street
and be like all right, just cutthrough there, you'll be fine.
Yeah, I would imagine.
You know, a lot of people didnot, you know, see their father
(18:32):
until the weekend and they weremostly raised by their mothers,
which, in my opinion, you know,has its own concerns, especially
for a young man.
I think, you know, women do thebest that they can.
It's just more natural, in myopinion, for a kid to be raised
by a father because it's goingto be more above.
(18:56):
Do this?
Do that more logical?
A lot of times women will bemore emotional, where my mother
really wasn't, when it came toraising us.
Like you know, she might havewent in the room and cried after
she beat us, but she would have, you know, she would give you
(19:17):
more than enough chances andwhen you went too far, that was
it, you know.
So, like I said, I grew up in astraight household where we
were expected to do what we weretold.
We were expected to be seen andnot heard.
Kapri (19:31):
The messages about your parents' roles and the idea that
children should be seen and notheard had a profound impact on
your emotional processing andchildhood experiences.
I also grew up in an era wherechildren were expected to be
seen and not heard.
How did this dynamic shape yourgrowth, and how do those
feelings resonate with you nowas an adult?
Mike (19:52):
As a child, I always had my responses prepared because I
had enough time to think aboutit.
Um, I didn't think about it toomuch because that was those were
the rules, and knowing that ifI would have said some of the
first things that came to mymind, that I would be
reprimanded.
(20:13):
You know, I was careful aboutwhat I said and more careful
about what I did.
Um, I think as an adult, Ithink I learned how to, or I
figured out that, you know, Ishould say what's on my mind.
I only have so much time here,so I should share what I'm
thinking.
(20:33):
I think it also made me thinkabout what I'm going to say and
maybe how it's going to bereceived and who's going to hear
it.
It also made me be much morecareful, which I think may be
one of the reasons why I'm stillalive.
It definitely felt like when Iwanted to say something and
chose not to because I didn'twant to rock the boat, so to
(20:56):
speak, or get my boat rocked.
Yeah, you walk in thattightrope and you know you wait
until an appropriate time.
Kapri (21:05):
Considering the impact of those experiences, how have you
managed to heal from the trauma?
What steps or methods haveaided you in progressing along
your healing journey?
Mike (21:15):
I believe I'm still in the process.
You know healing like you said,I agree, it's a lifelong
journey and you know as like youlike you said, I agree, it's a
lifelong journey and you know asyou go through life, you learn
what healing is.
You learn that your parentsaren't perfect.
Learn that you're not perfect.
I mean you probably know thatfirst, right, but uh, yeah, I
think I see like after knowing Imean being fortunate enough to
(21:39):
know my going through.
You know one of the one of themost horrific times in this
(22:07):
country.
You know where people losteverything.
People had nothing.
And you know if you have afamily of three.
You know how you're going tofeed yourself could be.
You know I just saw somethingnot too long ago where it was
saying you know that you survive, how you survive.
(22:30):
You know syrup sandwiches andyou know things of that nature
that most people would never goback and eat or admit that they
ate.
And one of the things I alwayssay when I'm joking is having
sleep for dinner and fortunatelyfor us, that usually only
(22:51):
happened when we did somethingreally bad.
We might have gotten spankedand it's like just go to bed.
I don't want to see you type ofthing.
But having sleep for dinner willput you in a different
perspective that next morning,um, but, like I was saying, you
know you can spend over 100years, from you know this, this
(23:15):
recent pandemic, back to thelast one, and in between there
there's been you know a lot thathappened to shape people and
change them and give them theirown trauma on top of what was
passed down.
You know like we can look at,like I was saying, like the
great depression, these worldwars, um, you know civil rights.
(23:40):
You know, first, what I callthe first free generation, which
is, I consider, my generation,and now you know, after, in my
lifetime, it seems like therecould be, you know, a generation
that doesn't know the type offreedom that I had.
Kapri (23:59):
Thank you for sharing your story and for your openness
about your experiences.
You described feeling likeyou're on a hamster wheel.
What advice or insights can youprovide to listeners who may be
experiencing something similar?
Mike (24:12):
You don't have a good friend to talk, to talk to
somebody you know a therapist orsomething or somebody that
doesn't know you.
But if it's not somebody thatyou know a therapist or
something or somebody thatdoesn't know you because if it's
not somebody that you canabsolutely trust, then it's got
to be somebody who doesn't knowyou that's not going to go back
and say anything to anybody justto get it out.
(24:34):
I mean, I think that helped mea lot when I accepted the fact
that I can't figure it out allon my own.
That was one major thing.
Yeah, just to have peoplearound you that you trust, that
(24:54):
you can talk to and share with.
I think that's where it starts.
Also, you know give yourselfgrace and you know forgive
people.
You know you have to.
If you can forgive people foranything, not necessarily forget
.
I think it takes the burden offof you because you don't have
(25:15):
to hang on to it anymore.
In order to heal, you have togive yourself grace, forgive
people and forgive yourself.
Kapri (25:24):
I deeply appreciate your presence and your willingness to
open up, trusting me to listenand care about your experiences.
Your thoughts on healing,highlighting the importance of
forgiving others, forgivingyourself and letting go of
trauma, are truly impactful.
You've demonstrated howreaching out to friends,
professional therapists or othersupport networks can
(25:45):
significantly alleviate theburden of trauma.
You're a friend of the show andwe would love to have you
return anytime to furtherexplore the connections between
mind, body and spirit.
Thank you once more for beingwith us.
Mike (25:57):
Thank you for listening and having me more, for being
with us.
Thank you for listening andhaving me and hopefully some of
what I said resonates withpeople and can help.
I think it's helped me becauseI thought about a few things
that I haven't thought about insome time.
Kapri (26:13):
You're welcome.
Thank you and take care and bewell.
That wraps up today'sdiscussion.
It's important to remember thattrauma impacts both our minds
and bodies, affecting ourphysical health and even our
genetics.
We highlighted the extensiveeffects of generational and
racial trauma and stressed thesignificance of identifying
(26:33):
trauma related physical symptoms.
A big thank you to our specialguest, Jersey Mike, for sharing
his insights today.
Don't hesitate to text the showyour comments or questions or
topic request.
In our next episode, we willexplore how practices like
somatic exercise and breath workcan help in releasing trauma.
Consider your own experiencesor those from your family's
(26:57):
history that may have shaped you.
Until next time, take care.
Hello and welcome.
I'm your host, Kapri.
Today, we'll explore trauma asa full-body experience.
Trauma is not just an emotionalor mental event.
It profoundly affects the body,health and genetic makeup.
We'll explore how traumamanifests physically, discuss
the faces of trauma andintroduce the science of
epigenetics.
(00:20):
By the end of this episode,you'll better understand how
trauma is stored and what ittakes to heal from it.
Trauma is commonly misunderstoodas a purely psychological
phenomenon, but in reality, itencompasses both mind and body.
The American PsychologicalAssociation defines trauma as an
event or series of events thatoverwhelms an individual's
(00:42):
capacity to cope, oftenresulting in long-lasting
feelings of helplessness andfear.
These experiences can lead tosignificant changes in the brain
, impacting areas such as theamygdala, which is involved in
emotional regulation, thehippocampus, responsible for
memory, and the prefrontalcortex, which governs
decision-making and impulsecontrol.
(01:03):
When these brain structures areaffected, trauma survivors may
experience symptoms such ashypervigilance, flashbacks,
difficulty concentrating andemotional numbing.
However, trauma doesn't juststay in the brain.
It also has a lasting effect onthe body, keeping the nervous
system in a heightened state ofarousal that contributes to
(01:23):
physical symptoms.
These symptoms can persist longafter the traumatic event has
ended, impacting overall healthand quality of life.
Trauma can seep into every partof our being, manifesting in
physical symptoms that often gounexplained.
Research has shown thatunresolved trauma may lead to
chronic health conditions suchas persistent pain, digestive
(01:45):
issues, heart problems orautoimmune disorders.
These physical manifestationsare signals our bodies send us,
indicating the need for deeperemotional healing.
Did you know that intraditional Chinese medicine,
emotions are thought to beclosely connected to physical
health and the organs?
Anger, for example, isassociated with the liver, grief
(02:07):
with the lungs and fear withthe kidneys.
When emotions are unprocessed,they can cause disruption in
these organ systems, leading tophysical ailments.
Western medicine isincreasingly recognizing this
ancient understanding of themind-body connection.
I once collaborated with acolleague who endured chronic
back pain for years.
(02:27):
Despite various medicalinterventions, the pain
continued Eventually.
We considered that her physicaldiscomfort could be tied to
unresolved emotional trauma.
Through trauma-informedtherapies and body-focused
practices, she could process heremotions, resulting in a
significant reduction of herpain.
This experience highlightedthat physical symptoms can often
(02:49):
be the body's way of signalingunresolved emotional challenges.
Recognizing somatic symptoms oftrauma is essential.
How do we identify when traumais manifesting in our bodies?
A wide range of symptoms canoccur, but here are several to
monitor.
Chronic muscle tension or painmay manifest as tightness in the
shoulders, neck or lower backthat resists typical treatments.
(03:13):
Digestive problems can arisefrom trauma affecting gut health
, potentially resulting inissues such as IBS, acid reflux,
gerd or persistent stomach pain.
As IBS, acid reflux, gerd orpersistent stomach pain,
unexplained fatigue and lowenergy can occur when the
nervous system remains in flightor fight mode.
This prolonged state drainsenergy reserves, often leading
(03:35):
to chronic exhaustion andrecurring headaches, including
migraines and tension headaches.
Such symptoms indicate stressand possible trauma stored in
the body.
It's crucial to recognize thesesignals, as they often serve as
distress messages that thetrauma persists within us.
Our bodies retain memories ofall experiences, even when our
(03:56):
minds attempt to move on fromthe traumatic events.
After a brief break, we willdelve into the manifestations of
trauma.
Are you ready to make adifference in your community?
In our Speak Out Advocacyseries, we're here to empower
you to use your voice for change.
Whether improving access tomental health care, reducing
stigma or shaping importantsocial policies, this series
(04:18):
provides the tools to create alasting impact.
If advocating for better care,breaking down barriers or
transforming mental healthservices speaks to your heart,
this is the perfect space tolearn and take action.
Do you have a topic you'repassionate about or need support
advocating for yourself orothers?
We'd love to hear from you.
Text the show to share yourthoughts.
(04:40):
Just check the details in theshow notes.
Together, let's build acommunity that fosters change.
Keep enjoying reframing themembrane.
Trauma extends beyond individualexperiences.
It can impact entire familiesand communities.
Known as generational trauma orintergenerational trauma, this
phenomenon involves the transferof trauma from parents to
(05:03):
children and even grandchildren.
Phenomenon involves thetransfer of trauma from parents
to children and evengrandchildren.
This inheritance happensthrough behavioral patterns and
biological alterations thatshape how future generations
manage stress and difficultemotions.
A vital concept inunderstanding this transfer is
epigenetics, which involveschanges in gene expression
without modifying the DNAsequence, which involves changes
(05:24):
in gene expression withoutmodifying the DNA sequence.
These changes can be triggeredby factors like stress, trauma
or nutritional deficienciesinfluencing which genes are
activated or deactivated.
Research on the descendants ofenslaved individuals and
Holocaust survivors has shownthat trauma-related epigenetic
changes in stress-related genescan manifest in their offspring.
(05:46):
As a result, these children mayexhibit increased stress
responses, anxiety or depression, even without direct exposure
to the trauma themselves.
Trauma knows no bounds in itstransmission.
For instance, black orAfrican-American communities
bear the weight of trauma linkedto the legacy of slavery,
segregation and systemic racism,resulting in persistent health
(06:09):
disparities.
Similarly, indigenouspopulations have been deeply
impacted by colonization, forcedrelocations and cultural
erasure is unique, encompassingcontinuous exposure to
race-related stressors such asdiscrimination, microaggressions
and systemic inequalities,which can build up over time and
(06:31):
span generations.
This topic warrants furtherexamination, which we will
discuss in more detail inupcoming episodes.
Comprehending the connectionbetween generational and racial
trauma is vital for interruptingcycles of stress and
facilitating healing withinfamilies and communities.
Responding to these traumaforms necessitates culturally
(06:55):
informed strategies thatacknowledge experiences of
discrimination and historicaloppression while paving the way
for healing.
Let me share a personal storyoppression while paving the way
for healing.
Let me share a personal story.
I grew up in a time whendiscipline often involved
corporal punishment usingwhatever was handy extension
cords, tree branches or belts.
The prevailing belief was thatchildren should be seen and not
(07:16):
heard, expected to be invisiblein the presence of adults.
This wasn't just enforced by myparents, it was a community
effort.
The so-called village Teachers,neighbors and family members
felt responsible for correctingany behavior they deemed
inappropriate.
However, what constitutedinappropriate varied based on
the observer.
(07:36):
I vividly remember the sting ofthose beatings.
There were instances when theextension cord left my skin
blistered and open and oozingand, to make matters worse, I
was placed in a hot bathtubafterward, intensifying the pain
.
My mother would say with ablend of authority and regret
(07:56):
this hurts me more than it hurtsyou.
As a child, it was difficult tocomprehend how someone who
loved me could cause suchsuffering, while it was
difficult to comprehend howsomeone who loved me could cause
such suffering.
Nonetheless, I learned to copeand foster resilience within my
mind, body and spirit to endurethose experiences at a very
early age.
In hindsight, I realized mymother was doing what she knew
(08:18):
and what was done to her,because I knew she loved me
deeply.
But in her world, punishment ofthis kind was a way to raise a
child, just as it had been forprevious generations and just as
she had experienced.
This cycle is steeped in history, tracing back to the suffering
of enslaved individuals.
(08:39):
The tactics employed by slavemasters to control and
dehumanize people were inherited.
Tactics employed by slavemasters to control and
dehumanize people were inherited, becoming embedded in our
culture and family traditions,often without awareness to their
origins.
My mother recounted herchildhood experiences of needing
to behave a certain way aroundthe white side of the family to
(08:59):
avoid severe repercussions.
Her life was influenced by thechallenges of being part of a
mixed-race family during a moreperilous era than today.
Consider the cultural conflictwhen a white Frenchman had
children with a black woman,resulting in my grandfather, in
a time marked by harsh racialdivides.
(09:19):
On the other side, mygrandmother of Blackfeet Indian
ancestry bore children with mygrandfather of Blackfeet Indian
ancestry, for children with mygrandfather.
These blended identitiesinfluenced my family's
experiences, carrying forward alegacy filled with both richness
and trauma.
The struggle to navigate theseidentities, intensified by
social racial divisions, left alasting impact.
(09:43):
Gaining insight into how trauma,behaviors and cultural
expectations are transmittedacross generations has
facilitated my journey offorgiveness, healing and
personal growth.
It required education andself-awareness to unpack my
experiences and consciously seekto break these cycles.
Therefore, it is crucial toreframe the membrane, as trauma
(10:05):
does not vanish.
It leaves remnants within ourhistory, culture, mind, body and
spirit.
It passes through generations,influencing our identities, and
may hinder our capacity toflourish unless we actively
reclaim and reframe it as wemove forward in this discussion,
I invite you to consider yourexperiences with trauma, whether
(10:27):
you have personally faced it orobserved it.
What steps are you taking toheal and break this cycle?
Feel free to text the show withyour reflections.
Remember our voices matter.
Speaking up and expressingourselves can be a
straightforward yet impactfulstep toward healing.
I also understand thatreflecting on trauma may evoke
(10:48):
challenging emotions or evencause you to revisit those
experiences.
If you require support, pleasetake a look at the show notes
for local resources near you.
Let's take a moment to stretch,breathe and let go.
When we return, we'll hear froma mental health and wellness
advocate who will share insightson generational trauma from his
(11:09):
perspective.
If you're able, begin by sittingor lying down comfortably.
Focus on one muscle group at atime, starting with your feet.
Tense the muscles for 5 to 10seconds, then release.
Move up the body, repeatingthis process for each muscle
group.
Move up the body, repeatingthis process for each muscle
group.
Notice how your body feelsafterward and observe any
(11:30):
changes in relaxation or tension.
Now let's try a quick breathingexercise.
You may already be familiarwith the 4-7-8 technique, but if
this is new for you, keep yourmouth closed and breathe in
through your nose while countingto 4.
Hold your breath for sevenseconds.
(11:50):
Then now slowly exhale throughthe mouth for eight seconds.
Repeat once more.
Try these quick exercises overthe next week and let me know
(12:11):
how you're doing.
Find these exercises in theshow notes.
Now let's continue ourdiscussion.
Welcome back.
We're here with Jersey Mike.
Mike, welcome to the show.
Mike (12:23):
Thank you for having me.
Kapri (12:25):
You're welcome.
Tell us how has traumainfluenced your life or the
lives of those around you?
Mike (12:30):
Okay, so my experience with trauma starts at a young
age.
You know Not to blame myparents, but they pushed the
trauma on me that they had, butthey did it differently.
Nobody wants to do it the sameway.
You know, my parents hadparents that worked hard and
(12:56):
they instilled in them thatthere may not be enough, that
you have to save or you may nothave enough, but when you have
something you need to get it inabundance.
My parents were strict, so theyspanked me and I think it made
me a better person, but it alsomade me not want to be as strict
(13:18):
with my kids.
But I wanted them to do better,of course, them to do better,
of course.
I know that I was, uh, verystrict with them, but I didn't
spank them as much.
That's just inside the house.
That's how you make it out thefront door, out the side door,
(13:38):
out the back door, out to playout with your friends.
School was a whole other trauma.
The trauma there was trying tofit in, trying to fit in with an
IQ that most kids didn't haveand made fun of before.
You know, having two-parenthome was something that you know
(14:01):
I wanted to hide, because mostof my friends that did have it
understood and most of the restof the school didn't.
So you know, some of the otherkids said no, they teased us,
they thought we were soft, youknow, but not realizing that
we're growing up in the samesituation.
And then when you get outsideof that, then that's how the
(14:25):
world looks at you.
You know, everything is finewhen you're a little kid you're
cute, you're harmless, you'renot a threat.
But for me, I wasn't gonna staya kid.
You know, I was gonna be anadult.
I couldn't just be a man, I hadto be a black man.
And being a black man you're athreat to everyone and
(14:47):
everything just about.
And then you learn how you'reautomatically criminalized.
When two years ago you would goto a function and you know the
cops would give you candy, youcome back with a little fuzz on
your lip and they look at youlike a statistic, like somebody
(15:07):
they need to put handcuffs on,somebody that needs to be pulled
over because you have to bedoing something wrong, somebody
who's not going to get a breakfor the benefit of the doubt,
somebody who needs to be watchedin the store even though you
have money in your pocket, andnot a kleptomaniac.
So there's different levels toit and you know, even before all
(15:28):
of this, like I was sayinginitially about my parents, you
know there's their parents andtheir parents' parents that just
passed trauma along, you know,in DNA.
I just believe that and youknow it's a lot to deal with.
You know, sometimes some of us,or maybe all of us, are born
(15:51):
with PTSD.
I don't know if that answersyour question, but that's what I
think of when I think of traumain my life, at least to that
point.
Kapri (16:05):
Thank you for sharing a painful part of your story.
It's clear those experiencesimpacted your life.
You mentioned not wantingothers to know that you grew up
in a two-parent household.
Could you explain why that was?
And also when you spoke aboutyour parents passing on trauma.
Tell us a bit more about thatand how it shaped your
upbringing.
Mike (16:24):
Well, I mean, it was very similar to anybody else's
household.
My father worked mostly night.
My mother was fortunate enoughto work from home to take care
of us.
You know, eventually she wentback to work, but she made that
sacrifice so she could instillcertain things in us, and some
of those things were hardlessons.
Instill certain things in usand some of those things were
(16:45):
hard lessons.
My mother was not.
I always think my mother was nota typical woman.
I'm sure everybody thinks this,but my mother was not a typical
woman.
She would get dressed and, youknow, look like a diva.
But if she was on the phone andyou made too much noise, you
(17:06):
know that phone would be thething that you remember when you
see her on it.
You don't make noise.
She would knock you outside thehead with it.
You know that telephone bookwould become a weapon and you
might only get hit once.
But once was enough, at leastit should have been.
They hit once, but once wasenough, at least it should have
(17:26):
been.
I always remember that, sayingI'll knock some sense into you
or I'll knock you into next week.
Well, I may still be in nextweek because of some of that,
and then she would make surethat they were on the same page.
So when my father did come home,he knew everything that
happened and she wanted him tobe on the same page with her.
(17:49):
So sometimes you get it twice.
For one thing, of course, weall do stuff that we get away
with.
Never thought my parents weretrying to abuse me, but I knew
if I got caught doing somethingthat I would get it twice as bad
.
And when I say my household waslike most, my father was not
there most of the time he wasaround on the weekend.
(18:10):
He was awake on the weekendbecause he was busy earning a
living.
You know, most of the time, youknow, I would see him on my way
to school.
Sometimes he, you know, walkedme to halfway down the street
and be like all right, just cutthrough there, you'll be fine.
Yeah, I would imagine.
You know, a lot of people didnot, you know, see their father
(18:32):
until the weekend and they weremostly raised by their mothers,
which, in my opinion, you know,has its own concerns, especially
for a young man.
I think, you know, women do thebest that they can.
It's just more natural, in myopinion, for a kid to be raised
by a father because it's goingto be more above.
(18:56):
Do this?
Do that more logical?
A lot of times women will bemore emotional, where my mother
really wasn't, when it came toraising us.
Like you know, she might havewent in the room and cried after
she beat us, but she would have, you know, she would give you
(19:17):
more than enough chances andwhen you went too far, that was
it, you know.
So, like I said, I grew up in astraight household where we
were expected to do what we weretold.
We were expected to be seen andnot heard.
Kapri (19:31):
The messages about your parents' roles and the idea that
children should be seen and notheard had a profound impact on
your emotional processing andchildhood experiences.
I also grew up in an era wherechildren were expected to be
seen and not heard.
How did this dynamic shape yourgrowth, and how do those
feelings resonate with you nowas an adult?
Mike (19:52):
As a child, I always had my responses prepared because I
had enough time to think aboutit.
Um, I didn't think about it toomuch because that was those were
the rules, and knowing that ifI would have said some of the
first things that came to mymind, that I would be
reprimanded.
(20:13):
You know, I was careful aboutwhat I said and more careful
about what I did.
Um, I think as an adult, Ithink I learned how to, or I
figured out that, you know, Ishould say what's on my mind.
I only have so much time here,so I should share what I'm
thinking.
(20:33):
I think it also made me thinkabout what I'm going to say and
maybe how it's going to bereceived and who's going to hear
it.
It also made me be much morecareful, which I think may be
one of the reasons why I'm stillalive.
It definitely felt like when Iwanted to say something and
chose not to because I didn'twant to rock the boat, so to
(20:56):
speak, or get my boat rocked.
Yeah, you walk in thattightrope and you know you wait
until an appropriate time.
Kapri (21:05):
Considering the impact of those experiences, how have you
managed to heal from the trauma?
What steps or methods haveaided you in progressing along
your healing journey?
Mike (21:15):
I believe I'm still in the process.
You know healing like you said,I agree, it's a lifelong
journey and you know as like youlike you said, I agree, it's a
lifelong journey and you know asyou go through life, you learn
what healing is.
You learn that your parentsaren't perfect.
Learn that you're not perfect.
I mean you probably know thatfirst, right, but uh, yeah, I
think I see like after knowing Imean being fortunate enough to
(21:39):
know my going through.
You know one of the one of themost horrific times in this
(22:07):
country.
You know where people losteverything.
People had nothing.
And you know if you have afamily of three.
You know how you're going tofeed yourself could be.
You know I just saw somethingnot too long ago where it was
saying you know that you survive, how you survive.
(22:30):
You know syrup sandwiches andyou know things of that nature
that most people would never goback and eat or admit that they
ate.
And one of the things I alwayssay when I'm joking is having
sleep for dinner and fortunatelyfor us, that usually only
(22:51):
happened when we did somethingreally bad.
We might have gotten spankedand it's like just go to bed.
I don't want to see you type ofthing.
But having sleep for dinner willput you in a different
perspective that next morning,um, but, like I was saying, you
know you can spend over 100years, from you know this, this
(23:15):
recent pandemic, back to thelast one, and in between there
there's been you know a lot thathappened to shape people and
change them and give them theirown trauma on top of what was
passed down.
You know like we can look at,like I was saying, like the
great depression, these worldwars, um, you know civil rights.
(23:40):
You know, first, what I callthe first free generation, which
is, I consider, my generation,and now you know, after, in my
lifetime, it seems like therecould be, you know, a generation
that doesn't know the type offreedom that I had.
Kapri (23:59):
Thank you for sharing your story and for your openness
about your experiences.
You described feeling likeyou're on a hamster wheel.
What advice or insights can youprovide to listeners who may be
experiencing something similar?
Mike (24:12):
You don't have a good friend to talk, to talk to
somebody you know a therapist orsomething or somebody that
doesn't know you.
But if it's not somebody thatyou know a therapist or
something or somebody thatdoesn't know you because if it's
not somebody that you canabsolutely trust, then it's got
to be somebody who doesn't knowyou that's not going to go back
and say anything to anybody justto get it out.
(24:34):
I mean, I think that helped mea lot when I accepted the fact
that I can't figure it out allon my own.
That was one major thing.
Yeah, just to have peoplearound you that you trust, that
(24:54):
you can talk to and share with.
I think that's where it starts.
Also, you know give yourselfgrace and you know forgive
people.
You know you have to.
If you can forgive people foranything, not necessarily forget
.
I think it takes the burden offof you because you don't have
(25:15):
to hang on to it anymore.
In order to heal, you have togive yourself grace, forgive
people and forgive yourself.
Kapri (25:24):
I deeply appreciate your presence and your willingness to
open up, trusting me to listenand care about your experiences.
Your thoughts on healing,highlighting the importance of
forgiving others, forgivingyourself and letting go of
trauma, are truly impactful.
You've demonstrated howreaching out to friends,
professional therapists or othersupport networks can
(25:45):
significantly alleviate theburden of trauma.
You're a friend of the show andwe would love to have you
return anytime to furtherexplore the connections between
mind, body and spirit.
Thank you once more for beingwith us.
Mike (25:57):
Thank you for listening and having me more, for being
with us.
Thank you for listening andhaving me and hopefully some of
what I said resonates withpeople and can help.
I think it's helped me becauseI thought about a few things
that I haven't thought about insome time.
Kapri (26:13):
You're welcome.
Thank you and take care and bewell.
That wraps up today'sdiscussion.
It's important to remember thattrauma impacts both our minds
and bodies, affecting ourphysical health and even our
genetics.
We highlighted the extensiveeffects of generational and
racial trauma and stressed thesignificance of identifying
(26:33):
trauma related physical symptoms.
A big thank you to our specialguest, Jersey Mike, for sharing
his insights today.
Don't hesitate to text the showyour comments or questions or
topic request.
In our next episode, we willexplore how practices like
somatic exercise and breath workcan help in releasing trauma.
Consider your own experiencesor those from your family's
(26:57):
history that may have shaped you.
Until next time, take care.
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