Emotional Inheritance: A Therapist, Her Patients, and the Legacy of Trauma

Well written and very moving exploration into how our family histories and stories affect us today, even from generations back. I was able to come to terms with and resolve some long standing, misunderstood ways where I have reacted without clear insight into what was actually going on with my inner feelings. I would recommend this book to anyone on the journey to know thy self.

That we inherit the unprocessed trauma of our ancestors is a fascinating concept. This book was very readable--rather than a self-help book, it was a collection of stories of the author's therapy clients along with her related personal experience. Each client's story illustrates a different kind of trauma, but I was surprised addiction wasn't covered since alcoholism runs in families. It could have easily been twice the size it was since it's such a complex topic, and I would have liked the inclusion a bibliography, but I pulled lots of helpful nuggets from these 270 pages.

This book was extremely interesting which focuses on ourselves. Why is it difficult to connect? Why do you feel angry, abandoned and insecure? Why is it painful to talk about the past?

"Every family carries some history of trauma." Galit Atlas has spent years studying how our ancestors' trauma is passed down as an emotional inheritance - leaving those in the present to figure out why it is that some individuals might be having a bad day based on elements of trust, disappointment, a loud room, poverty and so much more. It's not a long book but it's a slow read as it takes time to digest the contents.

For the author, "Research is me-search....it is our quest to understand and heal ourselves and the people that raised us." That's why she has show more dedicated many years to help herself and others as a therapist to bring them back to life. She opens up with pieces of her personal life to emphasize the meaning. The book weaves in dialogues she has had with patients revealing parts that may be similar to each one of own lives. She adds however, that often it is the parents that need the most help. She notes as children we experience our parents fears and inherit them.

There are three parts to the book: grandparents inherited trauma, our parents hidden realities and the scars from our childhood emotional stress. This book may need to be read over and over again to grasp the deep elements presented within the pages. She presents the material in a way that keeps you interested with each chapter. It's not scientific and full of charts. It's based on real stories. Highly recommended.

My thanks to Galit Atlas, Little, Brown Spark and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy to be released on January 25, 2022. show less

Boeiende en erg toegankelijke lectuur van een psychoanalytica die een inkijk geeft in haar praktijk. Vanuit haar eigen voorgeschiedenis wordt die praktijk mee vorm gegeven rond een centrale interesse voor een transgenerationele overdracht van trauma. "De geheimen van anderen worden onze eigen enigma's, en onze geheimen zullen ongetwijfeld onderdak vinden en zich verbergen in het brein van anderen. Hoe beter die geheimen verstopt zitten, hoe meer we vreemden worden voor onszelf, gevangen zitten, bang voor de vrijheid om te kennen en gekend te worden. De geesten van het verleden leven in ons onbewuste." (p. 277)