How do you cope with the trauma you didn't experience? | Leah Warshawski | TEDxTwinFalls

Leah’s idea is based around her unique family history during WWII and her most recent film called BIG SONIA (www.bigsonia.com), about her 91 year-old grandmother Sonia. The film explores how “intergenerational trauma” affects families how one tiny woman is making a huge impact on future generations by promoting love over hate. Understanding Sonia’s trauma and complexities forces Leah to come to terms with her own issues and insecurities in a way that’s both relatable and universal.
Leah Warshawski lives mostly out of her suitcase. Her career began in Hawaii working in the marine department for shows like LOST and HAWAII, where she learned from some of the most experienced and humble Watermen on the planet. Her first feature film, FINDING HILLYWOOD profiles the burgeoning film industry in Rwanda and screened at more than 70 film festivals around the world. In tandem with the film’s release, she co-founded rwandafilm.org a “LinkedIn” for Rwandan filmmakers to help find work in the industry, supported by Bpeace and The Academy of Motion Pictures. Leah’s most recent documentary is more personal, and features her 91-year old grandmother Sonia - “national treasure”, Holocaust survivor, and Diva. Leah’s personal journey is the inspiration for her TedX Talk and the idea that we’re all a part of the “Survival Generation.” Leah values authenticity, loyalty, grit, and gratitude. When she’s not on a plane, you can find her sitting in patch of sunlight, dreaming of whales.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@LadyPizzaCrust]

Deep breath, soothing music, tapping fingers, journaling, self motivation and positive thinking, working hard at school and my job, loving others and giving them a little glimpse of joy, exercise, talking, therapy, taking breaks, treating myself, living (not serving)!!!!

[@zinarhone7642]

Thank you, Leah! Many of us have inherited inter-generational trauma and many of us are wounded healers, hoping and praying that we're not impacting yet another generation.

[@joshangel3585]

Well said, Zina!!

[@brittanyhayes1043]

generational trauma does nit exist.

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

@@brittanyhayes1043weird that you are so confident in your wrong-ness

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

@@brittanyhayes1043I’m not even sure *why* you would say this…?

[@brittanyhayes1043]

@ultravioletpisces3666 Because it dosent exist. You are actually wrong.

[@wanfarahwanzainuddin7850]

I like her voice. Emotionally charged topics like this is easier for me to listen to when the speaker is calm.

[@aunabreslingaming3279]

but real, very real

[@karatecat46]

@@aunabreslingaming3279 yeah

[@makaylahollywood3677]

@@karatecat46 calm, genuine, peaceful.

[@danispringer]

10:20 "who am I to complain about anything". this. a million times this. this is a part of - if not the main part of - the illness.

[@yootoob1001001]

Great talk. Unfortunately, many people don't have access to trauma informed therapists (especially one who has properly done their own work) and often insurance doesn't cover them, so even if someone is more than willing to do the work, the resources are unavailable.

[@LadyPizzaCrust]

It’s life changing when you learn this is your problem!!!!

[@1984FarmDreams]

I am first generation American Polish. I am in tears watching this Ted talk. My story is similar about my family, my grandmother, and myself. Thank you so much for sharing your story and educating us on inherited intergenerational trauma.. I too am proud and Polish. ❤🤍

[@arlinegeorge6967]

Sonia is indeed destined for greatness . Great great talk. Inspiring, Thank you, bless you. All your dreams come true .

[@TheRandomINFJ]

Mom suffered through korean war then beat us. The _only_ thing that healed me was nature. Human world is too heavy. I only feel safe in the forest. Without trees and wildlife, im pretty sure i wouldve done the deed. Thank you for saving my life, Mother Earth ❤

[@enatp6448]

Intergenerational trauma is also the legacy of Aboriginal people around the world, as well as those taken as slaves, and any people who have been systematically targeted as being not worthy.

[@brittanyhayes1043]

You di realize generational trauma is fake right?

[@karatecat46]

this was somehow a blessing to me. I kinda feel empowered to deal with that intergenerate trauma and it may be a part of me but still it doesn´t make who I am. I also am affected by this.I grew up without war or hunger. My grandmother, who died being 99 years old, suffered in WWII too, but she was german and so am I. But also it caused intergenerate trauma. I want to add: I deeply am sorry for what my german ancestors did, I really am. The war was bad and she had 2 little children and her husband went missing in the war...I could write a book. When there was fire alarm, she fled with them to a security room for protection. Later she lost home. Sometime she worked on a farm in the mountains being sick of the fire alarm that woke up her and the children in the middle of the night to rush to security. , and to provide for her children to get food, all alone. Later after the war, she, her new husband and my mom(still a little child). fled out of DDR regime leaving behind money and home and wealth and part of the grown up family. here in the south of germany they had to work hard to earn enough money to life and buy furniture starting at point zero, not having much. Funny, my granddad and mother have/had hard time to throw away dead flowers too. I loved how Leah stayed respectful talking about her grandmother without neglecting the trauma.) Thank you Leah and Ted X.

[@makaylahollywood3677]

Everything she said is something we all can relate to on some level or another...at least I can. Keeping busy is good. We all are in this together.

[@toddlawson666]

well done Leah...so poised and well-delivered. you're a natural!

[@inflatablefilm665]

Thank you so much Todd - I'm just seeing this comment now, sorry for the late reply... Grateful for your support!

[@amberscottcmt7400]

She's not figured out yet that she was a victim of complex trauma herself. She's lost thinking it's trauma she didn't experience... While there is an epigenetic component, she also admits she never saw her parents cry and remembers laughter, so that means only certain emotions were allowed so she didn't feel safe. This girl needs to go learn about complex trauma.

[@vattenfrida]

Yeah she has both probably ...wow I can really feel her anxiety throughout the video...and when she talks it sounds like she cant breathe. Hope she finds ways to heal one day

[@Gili44]

As an israeli jewish woman looking for videos to cope with the horrors of october 7th what a surprise the video is on my actual ancestors trauma💔🇮🇱

[@icare6076]

Thank you for this. ❤

[@monikavs1]

Thank you for sharing your story Leah!

[@inflatablefilm665]

Thank you for watching Monika!

[@Fiziologix]

@Inflatable Film This was fantastic. Especially coming into it with the lens of having gotten to see and experience 'Big Sonia' and talk about the experience with you and Todd after the screening. Thank you for sharing your story, Leah! Big hugs to you and Todd from back in the great PNW.

[@tal4976]

The audience was soo bland :( they didn’t laugh at any of her jokes. This is a fantastic TED talk!!

[@irinadelrey]

I thought the exact same thing

[@conniearonson706]

You are extraordinary Leah. Your talk makes my heart swell.

[@inflatablefilm665]

Thank you Connie!

[@DorthyDee]

This was one of the best TedTalks I've ever seen. Thank you

[@ivanpetryshyn]

So sad, that people can do such terrible things to other people. upsetting

[@LadyPizzaCrust]

Good talk.

[@debrag.3900]

Thank you. This is a wonderful talk.

[@dorothyhome577]

The operative Q should be - How does one cope with both????🤦🏼‍♀️😭

[@scres87]

Great talk, thank you for sharing!

[@zahnayblakney8500]

That’s also a thing I think everyone has trauma from childhood/ ect so we have to acknowledge difference ect

[@aishwaryas5734]

I believe, we do choose our parents.

[@aunabreslingaming3279]

i'm definitely dealing with this right now.. it's not fun

[@amy_ford]

The title is misleading. You get to 12 minutes and 49 seconds before she gets into generational trauma.

[@wildlyintuitive6187]

Great video!

[@geewheeler04]

Your Trauma is because of all the ways Sonia made you feel not good enough. You were emotionally abused.

[@GamerGrl90]

Amen

[@07FreshMaker]

❤️❤️❤️

[@brittanyhayes1043]

If you didn't experience the trauma then it should not affect you.

[@Lbhacksaw]

HOW? You have to grow up and stop blaming others. Life is not complicated. Everyone has things they can whine and complain about. This behavior is such a turn off.🤮 Just using the word survivor is ridiculous.

[@deanhowell6730]

Sounds like The Inqubasitor story

[@SelfImageStylist]

what's that?

[@C2G2]

I hate this TedTalk just something about this TedTalk just triggered me it's probably the way the speaker makes trauma sound like it's nothing. 😑😑😑😑😑😒😒😒😒😒😒😒

[@christawildflower5633]

Renee Smith I think it sounds like nothing coming from because she’s healing

[@sharonshapiro8963]

watching the documentary "Big Sonia" helped me understand the context for this TED talk.

[@KarmasAbutch]

I sound like this when recounting my trauma... like I’m just rattling off a grocery list in a monotone voice... many people do, for me its a result of coping mechanisms put in place years ago and of being so emotionally overwhelmed at the times you were traumatized, that your emotional responses become numbed and blunted at other times in response.

[@debbieb1719]

@@KarmasAbutch I relate to this 100%. I always refer to it as distancing myself from the situation. It was how I handled being treated for non-hodgkins lymphoma.

[@curlykathi]

Coping with trauma doesn't mean to be dramatic. 🙏