BREAK THE CYCLE

How to confront and control the transmission of suffering.

Drawing on wisdom gleaned from years of professional experience as a psychologist as well as her own troubled family history, Buqué presents a “comprehensive recipe to shedding intergenerational trauma and an immersive orientation into how to do this work.” The author organizes the text into three major sections. In the first, she defines trauma and the dynamics of its inheritance and expression; the second examines the “layered” dimensions of both pain and healing, along with how cultural conventions can reinforce toxic behaviors and mindsets; and the third explores the impact of grief on mental and physical well-being and how one might create salvific forms of mourning and recovery. Each chapter balances discussions of the origins and contours of trauma with practical lessons on how to begin a healing journey. With the proper tools and a courageous commitment to recovery, the author explains, one will discover that “every problem is survivable” and that longstanding patterns of dysfunction can be re-formed into healthier alternatives. A holistic conception of well-being—departing from the standard Western medical model, which tends to view symptoms, and individuals, apart from a network of relations—informs this conviction. Becoming well involves understanding how our identities have been shaped by a series of influences extending far into the past. Moreover, any genuine emancipation from traumatic legacies can only be achieved by “co-healing, or healing in community.” A notable strength of this work is Buqué’s clear and compassionate treatment of delicate subjects and her credible endorsement of the promise of modern therapeutic interventions. Particularly intriguing are the author’s discussions of the physical consequences of psychological stress, and she compellingly summarizes recent scientific studies demonstrating how trauma can modify genetic expression across generations.

A field-tested, practical guidebook for reclaiming health in the face of intergenerational trauma.