The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACE study) looks at how abuse experienced as a child or the environment a person grew up in can impact health outcomes as an adult. The findings reveal that individuals with higher ACE scores are at an increased risk mental health and physical health problems. They may also exhibit behaviors of smoking, unhealthy eating habits, physical inactivity, mood swings, and suicide attempts. These early experiences can also contribute to greater healthcare utilization, lower quality of life, and early mortality.
The environment in which a child grows up according to the ACE study is a crucial aspect to evaluate the long-term impact on an adult. Household dysfunction can include exposure to substance abuse, a parent or guardian struggling with mental illness, violence between parents, and exposure to criminal behavior. These instances may seem like secondary experiences from a child’s perspective. However, they correlate with specific forms of abuse. They also contribute to the multiple categories of adverse childhood experiences.
The results of this study showed that individuals who reported ACEs are more likely to experience mental health concerns and serious health problems.
So, what does the ACE study tell us?
The ACE study shows the impact of early life on adulthood. It reveals that ACEs can disrupt not only your emotions but also the way an adult responds cognitively to stress and how your body develops physically. What on the surface could seem like experiences that you moved on from, might have long-lasting effects on you. The ACE study highlights this for us. However, effects from adverse childhood experiences do not have to linger for a lifetime.
Adverse childhood experiences can be handled in different ways.
First, children thrive in a safe environment, mentally and physically. If a child is not getting support from home, it is important that external support like educators and healthcare workers can make a positive impact. Educators are responsible for having trauma-informed training as well as understanding the signs of a child who is having poor experiences at home.
Addressing these issues early can be a great preventative measure. Healthcare professionals are essential in recognizing and screening for ACES. Some of the predictive health effects of ACEs are “upset stomach or other digestive issues, changes in eating habits, back pain, muscle aches, dizziness, fainting, sleep problems, and changes to age-appropriate thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.”* Intervention in childhood is a great foundation to start managing the long-term effects of ACEs.
While early intervention is ideal, many individuals don’t receive the care until adulthood. Consequently, this might mean suffering from the repercussions of ACEs for a longer time period. Toxic stress refers to when stress responses have been activated for an excessive amount of time. This ultimately contributes to the disruption of the brain because stress, especially toxic stress, can cause health risks. This again highlights why addressing these issues when you are an adult can be tough.
As a child, the responsibility of seeing ACEs and addressing these needs falls on a healthcare provider or the education system. However, as an adult, it’s important to take proactive steps to address these challenges.
How to address ACEs as an adult
Addressing ACEs as an adult can look different for everyone. Importantly, healing from adverse childhood experiences should focus on how you feel safe in the present day. It can look like getting mental health care that focuses on trauma-informed therapy like EMDR. Or it can look like substance abuse help.
Primarily, getting in touch with a therapist to help implement coping strategies and process old trauma is a great way to help with the effects of ACEs and manage toxic stress. Additionally, adults may also benefit from regular visits with a physician to address physical health issues that can be linked to ACEs.
Adverse childhood experiences can have significant impacts on a person. However, it is important to remember that healing is possible at any stage in life. Importantly, recognize that moving forward from these experiences can be difficult but also empowering. We are here to help in this healing process and offer therapies like EMDR, family therapy, and individual therapy to help you reach your goals.
We’re psychotherapists in Weschester, NY.
Visit our homepage at: www.couragepsych.com
