Trauma isn’t always one devastating event. Sometimes, it’s years of living in an environment where you never know what to expect. Growing up around addiction, conflict, instability, or chronic stress can teach the brain to remain on high alert, even long after the environment has changed. As a psychiatrist, I’ve spent decades studying how our experiences shape the brain. One of the most important things I’ve learned is that the brain adapts to the environment it’s given. When that environment is consistently unpredictable or unsafe, the brain’s stress-response systems can become overactive, potentially affecting emotional regulation, attention, relationships, and our ability to feel safe. This is one reason generational trauma deserves more attention. The effects of difficult childhood experiences don’t necessarily disappear when someone becomes an adult. Without the right support, patterns of stress and coping can continue across generations. But here’s what I want people to unders...