The things we experience in childhood shape us, for better or worse. While it is common knowledge that our early lives have an impact on how we develop, there has been a tendency to view these events as separate from our mental health. Thanks to a study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente, however, it is now clear that the struggles we experience in childhood can take a huge toll on us for the remainder of our lives. At Carolina Dunes Behavioral Health, in Leland, North Carolina, we understand that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are one of the factors that place people at risk for developing mental health and other disorders.
What are ACEs?
ACEs are difficult things that people sometimes experience in childhood. About 2/3 of adults report that they have gone through at least one of these painful experiences, and the more of them that a person had to deal with before the age of 18, the more likely they are to have negative outcomes as an adult. Some examples of ACEs include:
- Abuse – physical, sexual or verbal
- Neglect – physical or emotional
- Having a caregiver who was mentally ill or misused substances
- Being separated from a caregiver due to divorce, incarceration, foster care placement, death, etc.
- Witnessing violence in the home or community
- Poverty
What High ACEs Mean for Mental Health
We all encounter difficulties. It can happen at any age. There are reasons why a child is at greater risk than an adult. For starters, the brain of a child is still developing. They also don’t have a full range of coping skills. This means that they are not able to protect themselves and they are especially vulnerable to adversity they endure.
When adults reported experiencing four or more ACEs in childhood, as is the case with 1 in 6 American adults, their likelihood to have negative outcomes in later life is much higher. This includes a higher risk of developing mental health concerns, such as:
- Depression
- Substance misuse
- Anxiety
- Borderline personality disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Suicidal thoughts and attempts
Additionally, a high ACEs score places a person at greater risk for chronic medical issues, which also makes a person more likely to develop mental health concerns. Some of these medical issues include:
- Strokes
- Cancer
- COPD and asthma
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
Not only this, but people with high ACEs scores have been found to have shorter life spans, on average, than their peers with fewer ACEs.
ACEs and Trauma
ACEs are not the same thing as trauma. Trauma is when something is so painful, horrifying, or overwhelming that it surpasses a person’s ability to cope. While it is possible for a person to develop trauma as a result of ACEs they have encountered, people respond differently to adversity, so not all ACEs lead to trauma.
What Can Be Done About ACEs?
As more research has been done on ACEs, it has become apparent that:
- ACEs can be prevented – by addressing some of the underlying factors that lead to childhood trauma in the first place, it is possible for children to experience fewer ACEs than their parents. This can be accomplished by teaching parents new ways to interact with their children, keeping unemployment low, and building safer communities.
- When a child does experience something painful and difficult, a strong, healthy relationship with an adult caregiver, teacher, coach, spiritual leader, or the parents of a friend can help them handle the situation in a way that does not leave them feeling traumatized.
- Having access to mental health services, either through routine outpatient sessions or intense inpatient care, can help them process the event and manage the associated toxic stress in a way that does not lead to trauma and increase their ability to bounce back.
- Schools, pediatricians, social services, and other programs that serve families can help by adopting trauma-informed practices that recognize how common trauma is and ensure patients aren’t re-traumatized while receiving services. They can also make appropriate referrals, to ensure children receive mental health treatment for ACEs.
- Children who have a sense of belonging fare better, even with high ACEs scores. This can be accomplished by making friends, joining sports. participating in clubs, and being part of community groups.
At Carolina Dunes Behavioral Health, we help our clients build the skills they need to heal from trauma so that they can move forward in their recovery. If you’re curious about your own ACEs score, you can take the quiz for free online.
