168 The Many Faces of Trauma | Intergenerational Trauma: What Gets Carried Forward Artwork

How To Deal With Grief and Trauma

You can't go through life without experiencing loss and trauma the question is how do we deal and live with the grief and pain? Join Nathalie Himmelrich, grief expert and author, talking to people who have experienced grief and trauma first-hand. If you want to be inspired by others who traveled through their grief and trauma, found that healing is possible, and came out the other end knowing they can survive and thrive in life after loss. For more info: www.nathaliehimmelrich.com

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How To Deal With Grief and Trauma

168 The Many Faces of Trauma | Intergenerational Trauma: What Gets Carried Forward

February 05, 2026 • Nathalie Himmelrich • Season 16 • Episode 168

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Intergenerational trauma is what happens when the impact of trauma is passed down through families and communities—through nervous system patterns, emotional rules, family roles, and the stories we inherit about safety, trust, and worth. In this episode, we explore how people can carry burdens that didn’t start with them, why this isn’t about blaming previous generations, and how healing begins by naming what you’re holding and choosing what you want to continue—or interrupt. Using simple polyvagal-informed language, we look at how children’s nervous systems entrain to the adults around them, shaping a baseline of mobilised protection or shutdown. We close with a gentle practice to help you release what isn’t yours to carry.

In this episode, you’ll learn

A clear definition of intergenerational trauma and how it differs from “personal” trauma
Four ways trauma gets carried: nervous system patterns, emotional rules, roles, and inherited beliefs
A polyvagal-informed lens on how family stress becomes a child’s baseline
Present-day signs you may be carrying an older load (guilt, loyalty binds, over-responsibility, rest intolerance)
Practical first steps: naming the pattern, guilt tolerance, new rituals, support outside the system
A short grounding practice focused on release and choice

Grounding practice (2–3 minutes): “Release What Isn’t Yours”

Feel your feet on the ground
Make a loose fist (notice holding)
Open the hand (practice release)
Phrase: “I honour what came before. I don’t have to carry it all.”
Name one small new-pattern choice

Check the website for the free resources offered for both those affected by trauma and those supporting them.

What’s next: Betrayal Trauma: When Trust Becomes Unsafe

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