# What happened didn't start with you, and it doesn't have to define you. Trauma's effects are real, measurable, and they can be seen across generations. Map them together, and move forward. [Open traumaroots](https://app.traumaroots.com) [See how it works](#how) For families, therapists and clinicians. Start with your own family, or bring a map into a session.  *The power of presence Breaking the cycle starts with being there.* ## This is what happened We often carry the weights of the past in our bodies and minds. These impacts are common and treatable, and they are not your fault. > “More categories of childhood adversity, measurably higher risk: the relationship is graded, not random.” > > *Felitti et al., 1998* - **Heart & cardiovascular** Early stress is linked with changes in the heart and blood vessels over time. Common & treatable Felitti et al., 1998 · ACE Study - **Inflammation & immune** Long-term stress can keep the body’s alarm system switched on, and that shows up in the immune system. Common & treatable Danese et al., 2008 · Arch Gen Psychiatry - **Anxiety & hypervigilance** The nervous system can stay on guard, making it hard to feel safe in quiet moments. Common & treatable ACMS 2023 · Australian Child Maltreatment Study - **Depression & low mood** Deep sadness can be a protective response to experiences that were once overwhelming. Common & treatable Merrick 2019 · MMWR - **Substance use** Many habits that hurt us started as ways to survive difficult emotions. Common & treatable Dube et al., 2003 · Pediatrics - “Your symptoms are not who you are; they are how you survived.”  1. Grandparents 2. Parents 3. You ## It didn't start with you Scientific research is exploring how the experiences of our ancestors may ripple down through time, living in our biology as well as our stories. Early studies suggest stress responses may be shaped across generations, forming invisible threads between those who came before and those here now. Mapping your history is the first step to breaking the cycle. ## This is how you move forward > “The majority of people who experience childhood maltreatment do not develop PTSD. Recovery is the norm, not the exception.” > > *Widom 1999* - **Build your tree together** Collaborate with family members in real time to fill in the missing pieces of your shared history. - **Patterns become visible** Recurring emotional and physical themes surface across generations, so you can see the map of what happened.  A real traumaroots map. One family, three generations, in one view. ## Healing looks like growth, not erasure. Before: what carried weight A hand-drawn moment of someone carrying it alone. After: what grows Standing upright again, supported by understanding and connection. ## Together, in real time Healing shouldn't be a solo journey. Collaborate live with family members, or invite your therapist to guide you through the mapping process together. - Family collaboration - Therapist guided [How it works in therapy](https://traumaroots.com/therapist)  ## Common questions Understanding intergenerational trauma is a journey. We're here to help you take the first step. ### Your story stays yours Encrypted, private, and only shared with the people you invite. [Read our privacy policy](https://traumaroots.com/privacy)  ### Is traumaroots therapy? No. traumaroots is a tool to map and understand your history, designed to be used alongside professional care. We help you organise the what. A therapist helps you navigate the why. ### Do I need my whole family to join? No. You can start alone and invite people later, if and when you feel ready. Many people find value in mapping what they already know before they talk to elders or siblings. ### Who can see my tree? Only the people you explicitly invite. You control permissions and can revoke access at any time. [See all questions](https://traumaroots.com/faq) Coming soon Pattern insights · Guided timeline views [What's next](https://traumaroots.com/coming-soon) ## Selected references 1. Felitti, V. J., et al. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2. Merrick, M. T., et al. (2019). Vital Signs: Estimated Proportion of Adult Health Problems Attributable to Adverse Childhood Experiences and Implications for Prevention. MMWR. 3. Dube, S. R., et al. (2003). Childhood abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction and the risk of illicit drug use: The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. Pediatrics. 4. Danese, A., et al. (2008). Elevated inflammation levels in depressed adults with a history of childhood maltreatment. Archives of General Psychiatry. 5. Widom, C. S. (1999). Posttraumatic stress disorder in abused and neglected children grown up. American Journal of Psychiatry. --- Canonical page: