Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

“Childhood Interrupted”: Understanding Adverse Child Experiences (Childhood Trauma)

Dear Editor:

As a woman who has known Adverse Childhood Experiences and its impact across the span of a lifetime, it is my heartfelt desire to share what I have learned for the benefit of others, for no one should go through a lifetime believing that the traumatic events that happened in their life was their fault. A woman who believes with all my heart, that together we can work towards building a world where there could be less crime, less self-medicating and addiction, less mental health illnesses in adulthood, as well as, less emotionally fractured families and the passing on of generational trauma. But “how” you may wonder. By taking the initiative to learn about Adverse Childhood Experiences and how childhood trauma impacts upon a child’s developing brain and overall health in adulthood.

What is ACE Science? ACEs science refers to the research on the prevalence and consequences of adverse childhood experiences, and what to do to prevent them. It comprises five areas of research:

• the epidemiology of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
• the neurobiology of toxic stress (the brain)
• the biomedical consequences of toxic stress (the body)
• the epigenetic consequences of toxic stress (passing from parent to child)
• resilience research

What are ACEs? ACEs are adverse childhood experiences that harm children's developing brains and lead to changing how they respond to stress and damaging their immune systems so profoundly that the effects show up decades later. ACEs are responsible for a big chunk of workplace absenteeism, and for costs in health care, emergency response, mental health and criminal justice.

What’s the neurobiology of toxic stress on a child’s brain? Brain science shows that, in the absence of protective factors, toxic stress damages children’s developing brains. As such, a child’s brain and body will produce an overload of stress hormones — such as cortisol and adrenaline — that harm the function and structure of the brain. This can be particularly devastating in children, whose brains are developing at a galloping pace from before they are born to age three.

What are the health effects of ACE and “toxic stress”? Chronic toxic stress—living in a “red alert” mode for months or years — can also damage our bodies. In a red alert state, the body pumps out adrenaline and cortisol continuously. Too much adrenaline and cortisol can also increase cholesterol. Too much cortisol can lead to osteoporosis, arthritis, gastrointestinal disease, depression, anorexia nervosa, Cushing’s syndrome, hyperthyroidism and the shrinkage of lymph nodes, leading to the inability to ward off infections.

Resilience research: The good news is that the brain is plastic, and the body wants to heal. The brain is continually changing in response to the environment. If the toxic stress stops and is replaced by practices that build resilience, the brain can slowly undo many of the stress-induced changes. To promote a culture of safety, empowerment, and healing.

BOTTOM LINE: ACEs is a public health issue and equally, an education, criminal justice and human rights issue. A movement that is bringing people together across sectors to innovate solutions. To stop traumatizing already traumatized people by implementing trauma-informed, resilience-building practices based on ACEs science.