Dr. Mariel Buqué, an Afro-Dominican psychologist and intergenerational trauma expert, shares strategies to heal trauma without medication, recognize trauma within your body, and calm your nervous system. She explores the impact of unaddressed trauma on relationships and how to navigate healing when one partner is ready but the other isn't. Break the cycle of intergenerational trauma and choose a path of healing and growth!
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Quick takeaways
Healing trauma without medication is possible by focusing on the body and the nervous system.
Trauma can be passed down through generations, motivating parents to break the cycle and prioritize healing.
Medication should be viewed as a temporary aid, with therapy and other modalities essential for addressing the root causes of trauma.
Deep dives
Healing trauma without medication
Healing trauma without medication is possible by focusing on the body and the nervous system. Settling the nervous system through practices like breath work, meditation, or yoga is crucial for starting the healing process. It is important to befriend our bodies, tune in to physical sensations, and do body scans to understand how external situations affect us. By releasing tension and trauma from the body, we can prevent it from manifesting as physical pain or chronic illness. Healing trauma is a lengthy process that requires commitment and consistency in engaging in nervous system restoration practices.
The impact of trauma on future generations
Trauma can be passed down through generations due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Studies suggest that intergenerational trauma can influence up to seven to 14 generations. Trauma leaves imprints in the body and impacts our emotional makeup. Our senses and memories play a role in passing down trauma responses to future generations. Awareness of intergenerational trauma can motivate parents to break the cycle and prioritize healing. Parents can involve their children in age-appropriate healing practices, such as meditation, breath work, and creative activities, to promote healing and resilience.
Medication and trauma healing
Medication can be helpful in crisis situations or as a temporary aid, but it should not be relied upon as the only form of trauma healing. Medication can provide short-term relief but does not integrate the lessons or promote long-term healing. Therapy and other therapeutic modalities are essential to address the root causes of trauma and develop coping skills. Over-reliance on medication without integrating other forms of healing can hinder the healing process. It is important to view medication as a temporary aid to support the healing journey, rather than a long-term solution.
Building Tools for Future Generations
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of developing tools to break cycles of trauma and create positive change in future generations. The host discusses how engaging in age-appropriate practices, such as singing or integrating healthy habits, can be restorative and promote mental well-being. By nurturing these practices from a young age, individuals grow up equipped with the tools to maintain their mental health and pass on positive habits to future generations. This approach is exemplified by the speaker's own experiences with their Dominican parents, who have embraced mental health practices later in life and now feel more settled in their own bodies.
Navigating Healing in Relationships
The podcast explores the challenges of breaking cycles of trauma in intimate relationships when only one person is committed to healing. The speaker acknowledges the difficulty of being in a situation where one partner is working towards personal growth while the other remains in a reactive state. They suggest modeling a more healed self, setting boundaries, and creating a safe space to inspire others to join in the healing process. Additionally, the speaker emphasizes the importance of distress tolerance, as it allows individuals to navigate the discomfort and guilt that may arise while pursuing personal healing. The aim is to prevent the repetition of unhealthy patterns and protect future generations from experiencing the same wounds.
Today, Dr. Mariel Buqué, an Afro-Dominican psychologist and intergenerational trauma expert, takes us on a profound journey towards healing. Dr. Buqué's holistic clinical approach, which blends ancient healing practices with modern therapy, empowers listeners to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma.
Through her book "Break the Cycle," she shares valuable insights, and in this episode, you will learn how to heal trauma without medication, recognize trauma within your body, and calm your nervous system with practical techniques. Dr. Buqué's wisdom also delves into the impact of unaddressed trauma on our relationships and how to navigate healing when one partner is ready, but the other isn't. You'll discover that every day presents an opportunity to break the cycle and choose a path of healing and growth!