Breaking Generational Silence: A Guide to Disrupt Unhealthy Family Patterns and Heal Inherited Trauma

It took a near-death experience for mental health expert Nicole Russell-Wharton to realize that after 35 years, she didn't know the body she was living in. After being diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that others in her family had, Nicole couldn't understand how everyone remained silent. “I’ve suffered through many things in silence over the years,” says Nicole. “It wasn’t until I started collecting data on generational issues like poverty and trauma that I had this awakening: our healing challenges are rooted in our families’ silence and psychological pathology.” It's the silence that's harming us. Generational silence is a term applied to families who have experienced suppressed thoughts or repressed emotions for at least two generations. In this book, Nicole speaks from her Black experience about how slavery left an intergenerational impact on her family. Generational silence addresses the cycle and impact of issues like substance abuse, religion, racism, education inequality, and parenting. Each chapter brings the readers closer to the root of silence in their own lives, so they can finally break the cycle for generations to come. Filled with personal stories, research, and practical tools and exercises, this book will help readers begin to break the cycle of suffering, find the courage to face their own family challenges, and become their own best advocates.