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

A colleague of mine encouraged me to read this book, when I was working in a forensic high secure hospital - I was busy learning about trauma based therapy and this book has played a great role in helping me understand my patients and a lot about myself as well.

A fabulously insightful book that has enabled me to look at the 'events' that have happened throughout my life through a very different lense, to the point that I couldn't put it down because I was intrigued to join up the dots of my history and discover insights and even answers that I never would have had I not read this book. I highly recommend reading this book and I thank the author Mark Wolynn for writing it 😊

This book has changed so much about how I view my own issues in life and core complaints. So many useful tips and exercises whilst explaining the theory behind it in detail. Lots to pick apart and be thoughtful about, takes you through it step by step to understand trauma and root causes. Loads of examples to help you apply to your own life and research based evidence. Must read!

I read this after reading Body Keeps the Score. I wanted to continue my journey of exploring the physiological holding of trauma and the ancestral passing down of trauma. Unfortunately, Wolynn’s account didn’t live up to the scientific robustness that van der Kolk’s book did. I found this book to be really interesting, to have some very important and useful insights to consider when thinking about people’s journey to being where they are and the history and wounds preceding them that are undoubtedly affecting them consciously or completely unconsciously. However, information was often displayed as if it were fact, when it was more anecdotal in experience, and there was a lot of repetition that made it hard to engage and continue engaging at certain junctures. I found it to labour the same points repeatedly, to the point where I was challenging the author’s bias and personal feelings towards the concepts. It sometimes slipped into feeling like an opinion piece rather than scientific endeavours or explorations. It also has a pseudo-therapeutic approach to helping people explore their ancestral history and trauma that may affect them, with anecdotal examples that could be relatable. But it almost feels like every situation and every question are covered, in an almost coverall way, so everything provides evidence of the author’s hypothesis. I am a big believer in ancestral trauma and the passing down of visceral experiences through bodies (and minds and hearts and souls). I came into this book expecting it to be more scientific and critical than I felt it actually was. However, that all being said, I’m glad I read it, but I will be seeking out other books on the topic to provide a more rounded view.

A book that was enjoyed.

I’m going to buy everyone in my family this book for Christmas. It taps into transgenerational trauma in a simplified way readers can understand. 10/10!!!

This book is supposed to be brand new. It arrived half an hour ago and I’m not sure why I’ve been sent a damaged one. No pages have been written on and the rest of the book is fine but it’s just disappointing. Especially when you’re paying full price for a new book.

Brilliant. Has the power to transform your relationships with family members - past and present.

Lo leí antes de este boom que están teniendo las constelaciones familiares. Me ayudo a confirmar muchas dudas/teorías que yo estaba teniendo sobre mi persona y de cómo lo estaba relacionando con la forma de ser de mis papas, tíos y abuelos. Me dio calma al saber que no me lo estaba imaginando ya que si existe el impacto que dejan y forman tu persona.

cool book

Well written, plain English description and examples, backed up by all the links and research references. Could be a breakthrough for many people. The unease you carry could have been installed in earlier generations and never "discharged" , hence it can reside in you. You can get rid of it.

Comprei esse livro quando ainda não havia a tradução para o português. Me ajudou muito nos meus estudos em Constelação Familiar.

Interesting and essential for our personal healing