ACE - Adverse Childhood Experiences - and you.

It turns out there is a strong correlation between the number of ACEs you have had and how well you are doing as an adult.  What is this ACE thing anyway, and how does it influence me as an adult?

The term adverse is important to understand if we are to grasp exactly what ACEs are.  The Cambridge dictionary defines it as "having a negative or harmful effect on something."  The concept of ACE then relates to the traumatic experiences young people have had.  The number of these experiences has a direct relationship with the well-being of adults.  The trend is that the more ACEs one experiences, the poorer they manage as adults.

What exactly counts as an ACE?  This is where things broaden out somewhat, but the general idea is that they can be significant individual events (sexual abuse) or long-term issues (verbal abuse) that play a key role in the person's behaviour and mental well-being as adults.  

The ACE questionnaire for adults out of California is a good example of the kinds of experiences, both long and short-term, that are asked.  You can download the pdf here.  Below is an image of the ten key tenets.

The ten questions related to ACE

I have a score of 6 on the above chart.  I have always suspected that my childhood experiences had an impact on who I am as an adult.  I only recently learned of ACE and what it is all about.  As an adult, I have had to deal with a great deal of anxiety, depression, self-doubt and loathing, and guilt.  Overcoming my issues has been a lifelong process, and even now, at the age of 65, those foundational imprints affect me daily.

The thing is that it doesn't just affect the mind.  It turns out that there are long-term physical aspects too.  Adults with high ACE scores are more likely to develop type II diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and liver disease.  Social issues are also more problematic with adults with high ACE scores.  Anxiety, depression, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, jail, and family breakdown are more prevalent.  

There is good news, though, for those who may be dealing with the consequences of childhood abuse.  Recognizing the history is an important start.  It can help make better day-to-day decisions in that you can question your motivation or intended actions.  Seeking treatment from qualified professionals is another step, where trained psychologists and counsellors can help overcome negative tendencies.  Support groups such as AA, ADAA, and Connecting Counselling help.

In my case, I am on antidepressants and attend a local church and men's group.  I have been a Christian for over 40 years and have a supportive wife.  I also am very science-based and use logic and self-analysis in understanding my place in the world.  I have been blessed with supportive friends and have had a 30-year career as a teacher.  

Not that any of this has been easy.  But I think it is important to encourage each person who may be struggling that there is a way forward.  There is hope.  The key is to be aware of the issues and to find support.  Don't let the spectre of adverse childhood experiences control you.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com