Adverse Childhood Experiences Impact Our Adult Lives. — 1 in 3 Confirmed One or More Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Adverse Childhood Experiences – ACE

ACE – Adverse childhood experiences are negative events in a child’s life.

We now understand they can have lasting effects on adult health and well-being. Originally, the phrase was first used during the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences Study published in 1998.

Who could have watched the questioning of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and not totally understand the long-term effects on an adult’s behavior, health, and fears? Do you know anyone else who insisted on having two front doors on her home? An escape route is critical to anyone who suffered an unwanted assault.

We need to listen to the victims of Adverse Childhood Experiences without judgment.

It’s critical we afford the time to listen to them with compassion, insight, and clarity.

Why am I bringing this up today?

I am one of those children.

Are You? Take the Test

I scored at least one from each of the three categories. What about you?

The ACE Score is a composite result showing different types of abuse, neglect and other stresses of childhood. This test is an indication of the likelihood of experiencing health problems as an adult.

So, if you even suspect trauma in childhood is having an effect on your health, you need to go here now and take the test.

Now that you have the results, have you solved your health problems?

No? Well, you’re not alone.

Don’t get me wrong here. I absolutely believe everyone needs to understand the logic behind the test and the scientific findings since the first testing was done.

The problem with all this is that we are each completely different. I suffered my trauma over and over again. Many of you have life-long emotional difficulties as a result of only one attack. Does it make a difference?

I don’t believe the number of instances of trauma can define whether you have a higher chance of dying of a heart attack or having a stroke than I do.

Actually, I’ve already had the light stroke. In addition, I’ve experienced the joy of having multiple doctors use terms like lupus, autoimmune disease, and Hashimoto’s when discussing my diagnosis.

It Only Affects the Underprivileged. Right?

My father was the son of a medical doctor.

I was the daughter of a successful businessman.

It’s funny. I started to write ‘highly respected’ businessman, but then I remembered what my best friend in high school told me a few years ago when I first admitted to her the truth of my childhood. She shared that her sister told her my father had been known around town as ‘quite the lady’s man.’

When Oprah Winfrey was interviewed for a segment of 60 Minutes, she said, “Unless you fix the trauma…the hole in the soul…where the wounds started, you’re working at the wrong thing…[The ACE story is] HUGE…and I’ve done a lot of stories in my life.”

The ACE Study did not involve inner-city poor people. The study’s participants were 17,000 mostly white, middle and upper-middle class college-educated San Diegans with good jobs and great health care – they all belonged to the Kaiser Permanente health maintenance organization. They were people like me.)

Is Our Fate Sealed?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

I can’t imagine what fate awaited me had it not been for the positive influencers who surrounded me and my abuser.

The woman who took care of our house and raised me from infancy until I was seven taught me that doing the right thing always feels better than being bad. She never had to raise a finger to me to make me understand this. Her joy at my successes and despair at my failures were more than enough to keep me on the right track.

My grandfather was the kindest and fairest man I’ve ever met. He taught me to see beyond someone’s false exterior to the underlying reasons for their behavior. He personified the love and reason behind the admonition, “Thou Shalt Not Judge.”

Then, there was the minister who decided I would not be confirmed with my classmates. He explained that he believed I had so much more potential in living faithfully than everyone else. To truly reach that level of understanding, he decided to assign me far more bible reading and discussion than the other students. Did someone suspect what was happening to me and tell him? Why did he go out of his way to teach me faith and forgiveness?

No discussion of the positive influences on my life is complete without reference to the community I grew up in. From my mother’s two best friends to the men and women who struggled to make ends meet, they all provided a positive influence that somehow overshadowed the tragic moments of my life.

Does this sound familiar to you?

We Are Resilient

In Wisconsin, where I live, more than half of the adults have experienced at least one adverse childhood experience.

Research has already proven the more ACEs in our background the higher the chance for long-lasting health impacts.

It’s never too late to combat these past influences.

Surround yourself with positive influencers.
Nurture your emotional and social health.
Engage in yoga and/or mindfulness experiences.
Determine your purpose. What is your passion in life?
Understand and list those things that inspire you in life.
Learn to reverse destructive habits.
Choose caregivers who don’t discount your background.
Discontinue the services of caregivers who would treat you with drugs only.
Align yourself with Positive Parenting Resources.
Educate yourself on ACEs studies and results.
Develop a list of therapies for the chronic illnesses you have experienced.
Read “The Deepest Well” by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris
Pick up a copy of Psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Read the Dear Doctor Letter from a patient who had Adverse Childhood Experiences.
After determining your ACE Score, read and understand the graphs and results.