In the coming weeks, I will share coping strategies for personal emotional healing from generational trauma and how I’ve dealt with them in my books.
Acknowledge and Witness Your Story
- Give your pain language. Write or speak about what you’ve experienced – even if it’s not fully clear yet. Saying “this happened to me, and it affected me” is a form of reclaiming power.
- Notice family patterns. Reflect on recurring emotions (like guilt, fear, or anger) Ask: “Who else in my family felt this way? Awareness is healing.
- Grieve what you didn’t receive. It’s okay to mourn the nurturing, safety, or love that earlier generations couldn’t provide.
In my book Faces in the Smoke, the protagonist, Aponia, aged 14, undergoes a process of empowerment through addressing her pain and trauma with a licensed therapist, as well as engaging with family and friends. This empowerment is facilitated by recognizing and acting upon factors within her control.
