It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle

In the Introduction of the book, Wolynn explores the concept of inherited family trauma and its impact on our mental and physical well-being. Drawing from his personal experiences and professional journey, Wolynn delves into how unresolved trauma from past generations can manifest in our lives through inherited patterns of fear, anxiety, and illness. This phenomenon, supported by emerging research in neuroscience and epigenetics, suggests that trauma isn’t confined to the individual but is passed down through generations, often leaving traces in our behavior, emotions, and even physical health.

Wolynn begins by recounting his own struggle with vision loss, a condition that initially seemed purely physical but later revealed itself as a catalyst for deeper introspection. His diagnosis of central serous retinopathy left him grappling with feelings of helplessness and loneliness and a fear of being “ruined”—words that, he later realized, formed part of his personal “language of fear” (3). This pivotal experience set him on a journey of self-discovery, taking him around the world in search of healing. Along the way, Wolynn encountered various spiritual teachers, underwent rigorous practices, and confronted his deepest vulnerabilities.

A significant turning point came when two different spiritual masters advised him to reconnect with his parents and resolve lingering familial wounds.