“Silence isn’t honor.”

Think about that phrase for a second. How many times have we believed the opposite, or been led to believe the opposite? Those words come from Gina Birkemeier. Gina is a licensed professional counselor, speaker, and the author of Generations Deep, one of the best books you'll ever read on breaking generational trauma. She’s also someone who has lived through—and broken—the very cycles we often feel trapped by.

In this important episode of the Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic podcast, we explore how trauma gets passed down through our genes (it does in a fascinating way!), how to recognize those inherited wounds, and how to actually start the healing process—both for yourself and the generations after you. We dive deep into epigenetics, legacy burdens, and the truth behind phrases like "generational curses" and even "blood is thicker than water." (Did you realize that phrase doesn't mean what you think it means?) We also talk about how men and women often deal with trauma differently, why emotionally corrective experiences matter so much, and how to hold compassion and boundaries at the same time.

This episode is especially helpful for anyone who has experienced the same traumas or addictions popping up in their family tree time and time again. (And for those who want to be cycle-breakers.)

We explore:

—Why trauma isn’t just “big T” trauma like abuse, but includes subtle attachment wounds
—How unhealed pain gets passed down through generations (and genes)
—What epigenetics is and why it matters for recovery
—How legacy burdens shape our identity, even when we don’t recognize them
—The truth behind “blood is thicker than water” (hint: we’ve had it wrong)
—How EMDR and IFS therapy can unlock healing
—Why emotionally corrective experiences are vital—and how to spot them
—The difference in how men and women process trauma
—What to do when you’ve already had kids and want to stop the cycle
—How to set boundaries with family without bitterness or rage

Website: ginabirkemeier.com

Instagram: @myoutloudvoice

Book: Generations Deep: Unmasking Inherited Dysfunction and Trauma to Rewrite Our Stories Through Faith and Therapy

Follow Jon: @jonseidl

Order the new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic: www.christianalcoholic.com.

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