By Lori Langton, DPT, PT, CLT, CYT
Generational trauma is passed through a lineage, carrying survival patterns, stress responses, and beliefs from ancestors who experienced trauma into subsequent generations. Direct exposure to the original source of trauma is not required to experience its effects. Parenting and coping styles, as well as epigenetics can be shaped by trauma.
As a result, later generations may develop characteristics, traits, and response patterns shaped by the familial dynamics developed to the inciting trauma. Some of these can become maladaptive characteristics and may include:
- Hyper-independence
- Perfectionism
- Fear of losing worth if performance declines
- Overtraining despite pain or injury
- Difficulty listening to the body
- Chronic tension
- Poor recovery despite doing “all the right things”
- Elevated resting heart rate
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Sleep disturbances
This is not a comprehensive list, but it offers insight into maladaptive patterns that may be praised rather than recognized as warning signs by coaches, families, and peers.
It is common to mistake hyper-vigilance for discipline. An athlete labeled a high performer who is consistently affirmed for overtraining or overworking in the name of “discipline” may be at greater risk of developing a disconnection between mind and body. A cascade can occur in which pushing through pain or injury is rewarded, and the athlete begins to view physical breakdown as “taking one for the team.” In many sporting cultures, this mentality is celebrated. But what thought patterns does this reinforce in the mind of a developing athlete?
Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to change its “wiring” in response to repeated experiences or learned skills. This can be beneficial when an athlete is training to develop a new skill. Through practice and repetition, the brain adapts and strengthens the desired movement or thought pattern. This is why consistent practice of foundational skills is so important in sport.
However, neuroplasticity can also reinforce maladaptive coping mechanisms. For example, when an athlete with perfectionistic tendencies receives external praise for behaviors that appear as dedication, it may strengthen an unhealthy sense of over-responsibility for team outcomes. Over time, this pattern can become deeply ingrained.
An athlete may be surrounded by people with good intentions who lack awareness of the pressures being reinforced. Warning signs of an unhealthy stress response may go unnoticed. Unrealistic expectations and internal pressures can accumulate, creating a mental, physical, and emotional load that exceeds the athlete’s capacity. Yet the question often arises: if the athlete is performing well and winning, does it matter?
It is important to recognize that generational trauma can function as both an asset and a liability. Adversity and challenge can build mental fortitude, endurance, and situational awareness. Emotional and psychological stress, when managed appropriately, can function similarly to resistance training for the body. Muscles require stimulus to grow, and in a similar way, stress responses can guide growth and adaptation.
The concern arises when maladaptive response patterns develop. In these cases, the athlete becomes more vulnerable to negative outcomes.
High performers—whether athletes or professionals—are particularly prone to burnout. As discussed earlier, this may also manifest physically through impaired healing or repeated injury. Once burnout occurs, drive, motivation, joy, health, and performance often decline. This experience is frequently accompanied by a loss of identity and self-worth, which may increase the risk of anxiety or depression.
Individuals who rely heavily on external praise to support their sense of worth may feel lost when that reinforcement is removed. At this point, the athlete may begin a deeper process of self-reflection to identify their true motivations. Some may ultimately decide to step away from their sport.
Role of Healthcare Providers
Bringing awareness to this topic is important for healthcare providers, coaches, teachers, and family members. When an injured athlete cannot grant themselves adequate time for tissue healing and restoration of performance due to self-imposed pressure, maladaptive patterns are reinforced. When high performers go unrecognized in this struggle, the cycle may continue across generations. The cycle begins to break when someone recognizes the pattern and intervenes.
Healthcare providers can support athletes not by encouraging them to train less, but by helping them train with a greater sense of safety and regulation within the nervous system. Examples of supportive strategies include:
- Teaching the difference between discomfort and danger signals in the body
- Encouraging appropriate rest without guilt
- Teaching nervous system regulation before performance
- Using breathwork and body-based
- practices such as yoga or mobility training, with mindful cueing
- Helping athletes develop internal self-awareness rather than relying solely on external feedback
Many healthcare providers encounter athletes who depend heavily on external cues rather than demonstrating the ability to self-correct. In these situations, it is often more effective to ask guiding questions rather than provide more instructions. Encouraging athletes to “get curious” about what they feel can help them develop self-awareness and autonomy.
The key takeaway is the importance of recognizing maladaptive response patterns in athletes and guiding them toward appropriate support, including sport psychology services. Physical therapists and athletic trainers working in rehabilitation may serve as the first line of defense in identifying and supporting athletes who are experiencing—or approaching—burnout.
