Generational Trauma in the Age of Fascism
By Didi Rosenthal
March 28, 2025
I remember when I asked my mother about whether she ever felt resentful about the German citizenry not protesting the attacks on Jews during the rise of Hitler and the Holocaust. She responded that she really didn’t blame others because they and their families were at risk if they spoke up. It was a disturbing and enlightening response from someone who was traumatized by Hitler’s regime and her family’s struggle for survival, but has provided a concrete backdrop to what is happening here and now.
When I get my ire up about the Republican Congressmen who will not speak up, I feel that the same strategy is most surely in play from the Trump top down directives (even when they are given in an obtuse form) and the goons that respond to his every whim. We know that they are all too willing to put out death threats to all of those and their families who stand up to our current depraved and lawless leaders. It terrifies me.
After a hiatus from reading about the news, I got pulled back into the vortex. The other day I made a slew of calls to Republican Senators and House Representatives who are unwilling to stand up to Musk and Trump, leaving messages that included my father’s service in WWII to combat Fascism and their silence on that increasingly obvious subject. But I am almost sure it will not change their behavior. The hold on their subservience is too tight. Or perhaps they actually believe the rhetoric. They will not speak up, even if they do understand what is in play as they watch their power being usurped by Musk and Trump and whoever else is pulling the strings at this point in time. Once again, I am terrified.
After making those calls, I realized I was getting increasingly depressed and anxious and started to do a little research about intergenerational trauma and epigenetics. Although genetics is a complicated business, research has shown that the effects of trauma can be intergenerationally passed on through epigenetic mechanisms that include various chemical compounds. Trauma can affect epigenetics by altering how genes are expressed, which can be passed down to future generations. I would add that this is in addition to the learned behavior from observing the anxious demeanor of everyone in my extended family who survived the Holocaust in Germany by emigrating to America. I realize that I may be more susceptible than most when it comes to anxiety about what is befalling this country due to this personal history. I know at a deep level what can happen and I need to develop coping mechanisms and preserve my own mental health during this unraveling of our democracy.
On the flip side of the symptoms of PTSD exhibited by my family, I try to remember that they also managed to re-build their lives and found joy and pleasure as they tried to distance themselves from the memories of what they endured. Their resilience is to be admired.
I am especially sad and angry about what is happening to immigrants and the demonization of the famed melting pot of multi-cultural influences that provide the wonderful fabric of this country. The rise of white supremacy and the obvious adherence to the Nazi playbook haunts me. I watch as friends and family consider leaving the country or moving to blue states (let’s hope we stay that way).
I waiver between hopefulness, hopelessness and helplessness.
I know that the recommendation is to stay in the fight… that the desired effect of the onslaught is to burn out those who would give voice to the opposition. But I have decided, once again, that I need to retreat from the news. Each day is another gut-punch that provokes an emotional and physical reaction. I know I am not alone in these responses. Personally, I realized I need to re-direct my attention to counting my current blessings (a word I have come to dislike as it is associated with the Christian right, but I don’t have a good replacement at this moment) to balance the negative effects of what is staring me in the face. I have food on the table and a roof over my head, a loving relationship and good friends, and a caring family close at hand. Most importantly, I need to try to keep from succumbing to the angry and fearful reactions that are scripted by the powers that be. It is not how I want to spend my remaining years. It’s no easy trick.
Aside from continuing with my own creative work and working on some meditative techniques, I will be tree planting with Jim as he continues his re-wilding project in Indiana and helping to provide childcare for my new little, sweet great-great niece. All of those will help to provide some positive focus. As an additional effort to boost my mental state, I resorted to some comfort food the other day. I bought some organic hot dogs, came home and rolled them in a tortilla spread with mustard, and remembered my many days at Jones Beach when my dad and I started the day by going to the hot dog stand. It surely put a smile on my face. (And the hot dogs tasted really good too.)
I see that it will be a hard-fought battle to retain my emotional well-being as the political situation moves forward, but I am one of the lucky ones. It will be nothing compared with those who are facing deportation or the dissolution of their jobs and careers or are suffering from malnutrition or the abandonment of their country in a time of war. My heart goes out to them during this dark and painful time.
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