{"id":1614,"date":"2021-11-08T21:49:57","date_gmt":"2021-11-09T01:49:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/?p=1614"},"modified":"2023-06-01T23:34:32","modified_gmt":"2023-06-02T03:34:32","slug":"breaking-cycles-of-generational-trauma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/blog\/breaking-cycles-of-generational-trauma\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking Cycles of Generational Trauma"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1614\" class=\"elementor elementor-1614\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-945ee88 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"945ee88\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e8c4d0d\" data-id=\"e8c4d0d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ed517d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7ed517d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Importance of Healing Generational Trauma And Learning How to Be Better Parents For Our Children<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68d9bde elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"68d9bde\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As I laid awake at night pregnant with my first child, a million thoughts would race through my mind. Will I be a good mom? I don\u2019t feel maternal. Will I be able to be selfless? I like doing what I want. How will I deal with this change? Will it change me forever? Will I become my mom?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That last one always hit me like a tonne of bricks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being launched into adult life after a turbulent, traumatic and unstable childhood, I was determined to make a better life for myself than I had experienced up until that point. I got married to an amazing, kind and stable man. I worked hard, we bought a home and most importantly, I worked on my mental health.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sure, it was a difficult childhood but I was out of it now, happily married, financially stable, emotionally stable and in control of my future. I got to a place where I felt good about who I was, my place in the world and also the state of my well being. I felt good about the kind of person I became. I forgave those who hurt me and I began to believe that the past was in the past.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bulk of the work was done, I thought. The cycle was broken. I was not her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then, I had kids.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this blog I\u2019m going to cover:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Realizing the cycle of generational trauma\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Different kinds of trauma<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why parenting can trigger childhood trauma\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adverse Childhood Experiences &#8211; take your ACE score<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The lasting effects of trauma<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breaking the cycle of generational trauma<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Resources to help heal trauma <\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f820e53 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f820e53\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Seeing My Unhealed Childhood Traumas as a New Mom: Realizing It was Generational<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7cdfe01 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7cdfe01\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Becoming a parent awakens all of the unhealed trauma in our pasts in the most unexpected ways. Realizing that I was going to be somebody&#8217;s mom and coming to terms with the weight of that responsibility brought me to my knees. I knew I had to be better, but how?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The love I felt for my children from the very moment of their birth was palpable. I couldn\u2019t for the life of me imagine being the person to <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cause <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">my children so much pain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I felt this intrinsic duty to stop anything in the world from hurting the humans I have created.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I began to wonder how any parent could be the source of pain in their children\u2019s lives. I began to think through my own childhood experiences through a new lens.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why couldn\u2019t my own mother do the things I was doing for my babies? I would do ANYTHING for them, to keep them safe, to be there, to make sure they knew they were loved. I would make sacrifices and I would put their needs above my own when necessary.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why was it so difficult for her to do what felt so natural for me?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How come it is so easy for me to prioritize my children when it seemed near impossible for her to prioritize me as a child? I was filled with questions in the early days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I eventually learned it was my mother\u2019s own trauma that made her the way she was, as is often the case when our parents fall short of what we needed from them.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I made a decision early on that I would choose love, that I would choose kindness, that I would choose patience, that I would not be anger filled, or jealous or spiteful or naggy or selfish or self loathing or narcissistic. Those choices have proven to be far more difficult in practice than anticipated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those choices sounded great on paper, but the reality was that I had so many unhealed parts, that when it came to dealing with stress as a parent, it all came out. I began to understand my own parents a little more for the very first time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I began to learn about cycles of generational trauma. Hurt people, hurt people. It didn\u2019t start with my parents. But, I want it to end with me. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-547c308 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"547c308\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Different Kinds of Trauma: All Of It Is Valid<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82cf56c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"82cf56c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My trauma is my own, but many people all over the world have a different kind of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.camh.ca\/en\/health-info\/mental-illness-and-addiction-index\/trauma\">trauma<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Domestic violence, death in the family, exposure to criminal activity, substance abuse, unmanaged mood disorders in parents, addictions, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional abuse are just some of the things that can cause trauma in children.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Something as \u201csimple\u201d as having a parent who was emotionally unavailable or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/dissociative-disorders\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20355215\">dissociated<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0during our childhood can have significant effects on us, as adults. These are all things that cause us to develop our own unhealthy communication skills, coping mechanisms and behaviours which in turn negatively affect our kids.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/ca\/blog\/the-flourishing-family\/202107\/breaking-the-chains-generational-trauma\">Generational trauma<\/a> is the term that describes the impact of trauma on the next generation. It\u2019s a trauma that doesn\u2019t start and end with one person &#8211; it\u2019s \u201cpassed down\u201d onto future generations.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It doesn\u2019t matter what the source of our trauma is, and there is no sliding scale for who has it worse. It is all relative, it all affects us, and each person\u2019s story matters. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Unfortunately trauma is incredibly common.<\/strong> Here are some quick stats:\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">70% of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.camh.ca\/en\/driving-change\/the-crisis-is-real\/mental-health-statistics\">mental health<\/a> problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nearly half of America\u2019s children have experienced at least one or more types of serious <a href=\"https:\/\/acestoohigh.com\/2013\/05\/13\/nearly-35-million-u-s-children-have-experienced-one-or-more-types-of-childhood-trauma\/\">childhood trauma\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness or addiction problem<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By the time Canadians reach 40 years of age, 1 in 2 have\u2014or have had\u2014a mental illness<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People with a mental illness are twice as likely to have a substance use problem compared to the general population<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rates of youths\u2019 exposure to sexual abuse, another common trauma, are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/pi\/families\/resources\/children-trauma-update\">estimated to be 25 to 43%<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comparative suffering does nothing to help us and only gets in the way of our validation and journey to wellness. We do ourselves and others a disservice when we pretend that because someone else had it worse, our experiences don\u2019t matter.\u00a0<\/span>Each of us has a story and our experiences are not only valid but we deserve to heal. Our emotional and mental health is important and has a direct affect on our ability to cope with life stressors. \u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we process our lives and any past traumas that have lasting effects, OUR story is the one that matters. OUR experiences are the ones that shape us. OUR lives and our children\u2019s lives are the ones it will affect. So regardless of the types of trauma we experience, it is equally important to address it, to heal and to develop healthy ways to move forward. When we do the work, we end up both intentionally and unintentionally passing on our healthy behaviours, environments and actions. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>This is how we break the cycle.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0If you are looking for books to read to begin or push you along on this journey, <a href=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/blog\/10-must-reads-for-healing-and-breaking-cycles-of-generational-trauma\/\">read this<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed15714 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ed15714\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why Becoming a Parent is So Triggering For Our Childhood Trauma<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4dd25df elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4dd25df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we bring our babies home we are madly in love with them. We would never do anything to hurt them. We are committed to being the very best versions of ourselves for them. They deserve it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then we become the most sleep deprived exhausted versions of ourselves we have ever been. There is a reason that sleep deprivation is used as a torture tactic, because it works. It can make you feel like you are really losing it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then our relationships with our significant others become strained. We are faced with feelings like jealousy and resentment and a multitude of other unexpected relationship stressors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then we realize that our best laid parenting plans aren\u2019t turning out exactly as we wanted. We slowly realize that we have so much less control over everything than we thought we would.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Work stress, financial stress, family stress, decision making fatigue, the mental load, and everything else comes crashing down over you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All of a sudden, the balanced version of yourself you worked hard to become is not so balanced anymore. The stress of becoming a parent can begin to take its toll.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Turns out, <a href=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/blog\/hey-mama-it-gets-easier\/\">parenting is really hard<\/a> and can make us into the worst version of ourselves we have ever seen. It hits us like a ton of bricks. We had the best of intentions and now we can\u2019t cope. The thing that was supposed to make us into our best selves challenges everything and sometimes makes us quite the opposite.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes, this is when we begin to see our parents in ourselves. Sometimes, it\u2019s a wake up call.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the birth of my second child, my experience with <a href=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/blog\/10-tips-for-recovering-from-postpartum-depression\/\">postpartum depression<\/a> manifested as rage, and it really opened my eyes. It was the first time in my life when I felt like I was becoming something I wasn\u2019t, and it was absolutely terrifying.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is when I knew I needed help.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-988e480 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"988e480\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.johnandsamantha.ca\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-45-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1655 lazyload\" alt=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-45-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-45-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-45-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-45-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-45-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-45-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-45-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-45-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1655 lazyload\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-45-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-45-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-45-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-45-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-45-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-45-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-45-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/noscript>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Photo by: John and Samantha<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8075700 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8075700\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral20-01-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-656 lazyload\" alt=\"Diary of an Honest Mom Floral Design\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral20-01-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral20-01-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral20-01-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral20-01-650x650.png 650w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral20-01-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral20-01-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral20-01.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral20-01-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-656 lazyload\" alt=\"Diary of an Honest Mom Floral Design\" srcset=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral20-01-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral20-01-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral20-01-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral20-01-650x650.png 650w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral20-01-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral20-01-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/DiaryofanHonestMom_Floral20-01.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/noscript>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c883d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4c883d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Meaning of Adverse Childhood Experiences and How they Affect Us as Adults<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3140e3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c3140e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) is a term which was coined in the 90\u2019s by a study that looked at our experiences with childhood trauma and how they increase our chances of dealing with physiological and psychological health problems throughout our life. Read more about ACEs in <a href=\"https:\/\/yourparentingmojo.com\/trauma\/\">this <\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">article by Your Parenting Mojo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Children who experience domestic violence, susbstance abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, and who are exposed to criminal activity have a great risk of developing negative coping skills, which then negatively affect their own children. This perpetuates the cycle of trauma for generations until someone decides to heal and change. It is a conscious choice and extremely hard work.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are interested in checking your ACE\u00a0score, you can take <a href=\"https:\/\/acestoohigh.com\/got-your-ace-score\/\">this quiz.<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our traumatic childhood experiences sometimes aren\u2019t as obvious as the ones listed. Being raised in a home with an emotionally immature parent can be traumatic. Being raised in a broken home, living in poverty or experiencing food insecurity can cause trauma.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b>Sometimes it can be hard to name our experiences as trauma, but doing so helps us to get the help we need and learn how to heal.\u00a0<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parenting with ACE\u2019s is hard. Many of us mimic the behaviour of our parents without ever meaning to. The pain of childhood trauma lasts, and many of us think we have learned how to deal with it in our own way. But without realizing it, our parents have taught us how to unhealthily react to stressors by exposing us to their habits, behaviours and problematic coping mechanisms. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With all of the stressors that come with parenting, parenting itself can be a trigger for someone with a trauma history. We end up doing the exact things we swore we would never do because it\u2019s simply how we have been conditioned for so many years. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As they say, old habits die hard.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62b139e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"62b139e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Lasting Effects of Trauma: Why Your Mental Health Matters and The Importance of Self Care<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b27cfdb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b27cfdb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So our trauma has caused us to have problems, no real surprise there. We\u2019ve all got problems right?\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Looking at trauma stress and its effects on the brain, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3181836\/\">this\u00a0<\/a> study <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0shows how trauma is linked\u00a0 to depression, anxiety, eating disorders, PTSD, ADHD, substance abuse, personality disorders, dissociation and other health problems. The effects are long lasting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just coping might work for some for a little while, but when we have kids all of our past and present pain is magnified. All of the things our trauma caused gets brought to the surface. All the ways we never learned to cope have a big fat light shone on them because life just got harder and little humans are relying on you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Part of the struggle of breaking generational trauma through raising our children, is that we often don\u2019t begin the work until they are already here, and then it is even harder. If you are reading this, and you don\u2019t have children, I would highly recommend getting help before you have children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the rest of us, for the moms, here is the thing: I know you are busy. I know there is a lot on your plate. I know it feels like there are 99 tabs open in your brain at any given moment. I know you don\u2019t have time for therapy. I know it feels like just another task. I know you are exhausted and that you have so much to think about. I know it can be easy to put yourself last because everyone else needs so much of you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But that is the thing: they need you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They don\u2019t need the depleted, frustrated, angry, resentful, sad, hurt, just barely getting by version of you. They deserve to have a mom who is well. They deserve to have a mom who feels whole. You deserve to feel whole too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And it is not that we cannot be whole when we struggle with our mental health or ADHD or any of the other things that our trauma caused, but if left unchecked, untreated and unhealed, we decline and our children feel the effects. <\/span><\/p><p><b>We unintentionally perpetuate the cycle of trauma.\u00a0<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is almost nothing more important than doing the work. We deserve to have the full human experience as whole people and our children deserve parents who look after themselves too. We all deserve the most healed versions of ourselves.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Self care isn\u2019t just a buzzword, it is something we all need to practise. It isn\u2019t just bubble baths and face masks and weekends away with the girls or Starbucks coffee everyday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Self care is thinking positive things about ourselves. It is prioritizing alone time, hobbies, exercise, nutrition, doctors visits, therapy sessions, reading and just doing things we love. <strong>Self care<\/strong> is taking time for ourselves without guilt. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-39bf207 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"39bf207\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0a7c1fe\" data-id=\"0a7c1fe\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-837d485 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"837d485\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.johnandsamantha.ca\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-36-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1659 lazyload\" alt=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-36-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-36-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-36-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-36-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-36-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-36-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-36-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1659 lazyload\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-36-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-36-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-36-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-36-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-36-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/WardFamily-JohnSamanthaphotoandvideo-36-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Photo by: John &amp; Samanta<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-932c18b\" data-id=\"932c18b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-851cc73 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"851cc73\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is setting boundaries and learning to say no. It is the intentional actions we take everyday, the healthy habits we form, the things we do on a regular basis that contribute to our mental health and our sense of self worth. If no one has told you, you deserve to practice self care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doing the work of healing generational trauma begins with healing ourselves and treating ourselves well. Our children feel the ripple effect.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The work is hard, but the work is worthy. It matters so much.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-380230b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"380230b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Getting Help To Stop the Cycle and Start Healing Generational Trauma<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3be5114 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3be5114\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s no secret that trauma is passed down through generations, and while many of us WANT to make a change, it doesn\u2019t just happen overnight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, we need to educate ourselves to find out all the ways our trauma is having an effect on us, then we need to work through it to help ourselves, and then we need to parent in a conscious way that doesn\u2019t cause the trauma that we experienced. It is NOT linear and often we are trying to heal our own inner child while parenting our own children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@diaryofanhonestmom\/video\/6986673332779339014?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id6878069115367360006\">viral Tiktok<\/a> of mine exemplifies part of my own struggle with breaking the cycle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I want to give you hope that change is possible. It is possible to heal. It is possible to break the cycle. It is possible to be better. It is possible to learn new ways of being and new ways to parent that don\u2019t damage our children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Getting help can look a multitude of different ways.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I highly recommend seeing a professional like a clinical psychologist, social worker or psychotherapist but also realise that not everyone has the privilege of enough time or money to access one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are other ways to learn that are more accessible to those without the resources to access professional help. Here is a non-exhaustive list of things you can do to begin the journey to self awareness, healing and breaking the cycle:<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read books on breaking generational trauma<\/strong>. \u00a0In <a href=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/blog\/10-must-reads-for-healing-and-breaking-cycles-of-generational-trauma\/\"><strong>this post I cover my top 6 recommendations<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><strong>Follow social media accounts that educate on conscious parenting, therapy and generational trauma<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/manifestdestini\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>@manifestdestini<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/itstheconsciousmom\/\">@itstheconciousmom<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/notesfromyourtherapist\/\">@notesfromyourtherapist<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/therapyforwomen\/\">@therapyforwomen<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/nadiaaddesi\/\">@nadiaaddesi<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/the.truth.doctor\/\">@the.truth.doctor<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/raising_yourself\/\">@raising_yourself<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/the.conscious.healing.mama\/\">@the.concious.healing.mama<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/healingfromptsd\/\">@healingfromptsd<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/the.holistic.psychologist\/\">@the.holistic.psychologist<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Listen to podcasts on breaking cycles of generational trauma<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/anchor.fm\/hellasmartmuvas\/episodes\/Breaking-the-Cycle-of-Generational-Trauma-with-Shena-Tubbs--Founder-of-Black-Girls-Heal-e6f0l6\">Breaking the Cycle of Generational Trauma<\/a> with Shena Tubbs, Founder of Black Girls Heal\u00a0<\/span><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalhealthnewsradionetwork.com\/our-shows\/beyond-your-past\/\">Beyond Your Past Podcas<\/a>t with Matt Pappas <\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/ca\/podcast\/mark-wolynn-what-trauma-have-you-inherited\/id1282044290?i=1000447768156\">What Trauma Have You Inherited?<\/a>\u00a0with\u00a0Mark Wolynn\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are also plenty of resources on Youtube, Blogs, Pinterest, and even Tiktok that can help you understand your past and how it is affecting your present.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aside from listening, watching, reading and connecting with educators to learn about generational trauma there are other things that have helped me on my path such as:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Connecting with others going through the process\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/blog\/learning-i-needed-to-break-the-cycle-of-generational-trauma-and-face-how-my-childhood-shaped-me-as-a-person-and-a-parent\/\">Sharing my story with other safe people<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Journaling\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Talking openly with my partner about it<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doing<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/mental-health\/inner-child-healing#listen\"> inner child work<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e45202e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e45202e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Healing Past Trauma and Breaking Cycles is a Journey, not a Destination<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22e0336 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"22e0336\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It took years for our trauma to shape us into the people we are today. Healing that trauma is not going to happen overnight.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are chemical reactions that have happened in our brains and physiological changes that happened to our bodies when we went through trauma. Working through that, finding healing and peace, and then parenting in a way that reflects our healing will take a lot of energy out of us.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are going to be ups and downs when we work to heal and become the parents we needed and the parents we want to be. It\u2019s going to take more time than we want it to. We aren\u2019t perfect and that\u2019s okay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are going through this process I hope you give yourself so much grace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I hope you know you are not alone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I hope you are patient.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I hope you know the journey isn\u2019t linear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I hope you know your mistakes don\u2019t define you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I hope you know your past doesn\u2019t define you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I hope you know that the work you are doing will cause a positive ripple effect for generations to come.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just as our trauma ripples for generations, so does our healing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This work you are doing to make a better future for yourself and your children is worthy, it is powerful and it matters more than you know.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you know someone who could benefit from reading this article, don\u2019t hesitate to share it with them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take care my friend!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f5e80c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f5e80c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>-Libby<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9507fa9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9507fa9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@diaryofanhonestmom\/video\/6969613372518173957?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id6878069115367360006\">this Tiktok<\/a> I made on being a cycle breaker, follow me, and subscribe to my <a href=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/contact-me\/\">Honest Mom\u2019s Inner Circle<\/a>. I want to stay connected!<\/span><\/em><\/p><p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If this resonates with you, please check out my <a href=\"https:\/\/diaryofanhonestmom.com\/product\/cycle-breaker\/\">cycle breaker merch<\/a>. Part of the proceeds go towards helping at risk women in my local area because giving back matters.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Healing Generational Trauma: How trauma and adverse childhood experiences shape us and why we need to stop the cycle from continuing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1645,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[88,42,87],"class_list":["post-1614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cycle-breaker","tag-childhood-trauma","tag-mental-health","tag-trauma"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Breaking Cycles of Generational Trauma - 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