Brutal as family life was, I love and forgive them all. I realized after losing almost all my family how trauma is not just one traumatized/unwell person, but what I now refer to as "Arcs of Trauma" - from generation to generation. Anyone else see that in family? Maybe age/time?

yes, have heard it called intergenerational trauma

That's very interesting thank you for the word. I wonder if inter is truly correct it's in part correct but it's also often the outer influences that can play disruptive roles in our trauma arcs through generations. I do love words and yours is very helpful in description thanks!

Yeah "inter" isn't quite right. But it fills a need by describing the ways that families pass along the effects of trauma in their attempts to cope, so that's useful. Still so much to learn and heal from though!