In the realm of parenting and personal growth, understanding the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is crucial. The first time I encountered the concept of ACEs was during a weekend getaway with my partner. While he got ready for dinner, I found myself gazing out at St. Louis and scrolling through social media. I stumbled upon a video recommended by a friend that caught my attention. It was a TEDx talk by Dr. Laura Kingsley that discussed ACEs, and I was immediately captivated. Many individuals I know, including some children from my adoption and foster care group, have faced at least one ACE. It’s striking how significantly a person’s ACE score can influence their physical, emotional, and mental well-being as they navigate adulthood.
Adverse Childhood Experiences are defined as “highly stressful” and “potentially traumatic” events occurring to individuals under the age of eighteen. These experiences can be isolated incidents, multiple occurrences, or ongoing situations. ACEs can hinder a person’s ability to feel secure, trust others, and maintain a healthy sense of self, which may be compromised or violated. Examples of ACEs include sexual assault, parental divorce or death, suicide, physical abuse, neglect, exposure to violence, mental health issues within the family, and more.
It’s important to note that when adverse experiences lack the support of a caring adult or a nurturing environment—especially if they are persistent or overwhelming—they can trigger a toxic stress response. This response can negatively affect a child’s developing brain and body, leading to adverse health and life outcomes in adulthood. Imagine a line of dominos; one ACE can set off a chain reaction that creates chaos.
If you resonate with the list of ACEs, you’re not alone. According to the CDC, 61% of surveyed adults have experienced at least one ACE, and one in six adults has faced four or more. ACEs are associated with chronic health issues, mental health disorders, and substance use problems in adulthood. They can also adversely impact education, career prospects, and earning potential. Therefore, understanding your ACE score is vital, but it’s not the sole aspect of your journey.
To discover your ACE score, you can complete a simple ten-question yes-or-no quiz available on the ACE Resource Network’s Number Story site. Once you’ve calculated your score, you might wonder about the next steps. Your narrative is far more complex than just a number. Trauma is multifaceted, and you have the agency to choose how to address it.
A highly recommended yet dense read is “The Body Keeps the Score,” often referred to as the trauma bible by mental health professionals. The book explains how trauma reshapes the brain, but the encouraging news is that the brain can be rewired. However, this requires effort and access to resources.
What Healing Steps May Be Involved?
I consulted Dr. Emily Carter, a neuropsychologist based in New York City and a faculty member at Columbia University, to explore how we can rewire our brains after trauma.
The first step is to take the Number Story quiz online and share your score with a healthcare professional. This can help normalize discussions around adverse childhood experiences and their impact on your life. Acknowledging and discussing your past can diminish the power that secrecy often holds over those experiences. (On a personal note, reading “Braving the Wilderness” by Dr. Brené Brown can also be beneficial as you confront shame and secrecy.) Bringing painful truths into light can be transformative.
The second step involves tackling unresolved issues and addressing the challenges of being an ACE survivor. Working with a therapist can help you connect negative memories with positive experiences, creating an environment where you feel seen and heard. This therapeutic relationship can be magical, enabling survivors to modify their brain’s trust circuits and foster new, healthier neural connections. Various therapy types exist, including cognitive behavioral therapy and EMDR, the latter being the approach recently shared by a public figure.
The third step is implementing lifestyle changes, often guided by professionals. Dr. Carter emphasizes that chronic stress from ACEs can perpetually activate our fight-or-flight response, hindering the body’s ability to achieve balance. By providing your senses and body with positive stimuli—like nutritious foods and soothing music—you support your overall well-being. While therapy and lifestyle changes are essential, some survivors may find that medication could also be necessary.
If you recognize that you’ve encountered an ACE (or several), resist the urge to dismiss its significance. Toxic stress can fundamentally alter how your body responds to stress and affects brain development, leading to potential adult health issues like substance misuse, chronic illnesses, and mental health disorders. The risks associated with ACEs also extend to increased likelihood of suicide, cancer, and heart disease. ACEs have been linked to various challenges, including teen pregnancy, OCD, difficulties in job searching, and more. Yes, ACEs are serious and have lasting effects.
However, the silver lining is that while ACEs may leave lasting marks, hope is not lost. By acknowledging your ACEs and their impacts, you can embark on a journey toward healing.
For further insights, consider checking out this other blog post on our site, which provides more valuable information on this subject.
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Summary:
This article discusses Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which are highly stressful or traumatic events that occur in childhood. It highlights the significant impact of ACEs on adult physical, emotional, and mental health. The piece outlines how to discover one’s ACE score through a quiz, emphasizes the importance of seeking professional support, and suggests lifestyle changes for healing. Readers are encouraged to confront their past and seek healing to improve their overall well-being.