Adverse Childhood Experiences

Jul 24

by Dr. Alyssa Killebrew | Mar 16, 2023

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are very common across all cultures. The higher the number of ACEs, the more likely it is that a person will develop a mental health diagnosis and/or a physical health consequence (e.g., cardiovascular disease).

What are ACEs?

Did you feel that you didn’t have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, or had no one to protect or take care of you?
Did you lose a parent through divorce, abandonment, death, or other reason?
Did you live with anyone who was depressed, mentally ill, or attempted suicide?
Did you live with anyone who had a problem with drinking or using drugs, including prescription drugs?
Did you live with anyone who had a problem with drinking or using drugs, including prescription drugs?
Did your parents or adults in your home ever hit, punch, beat, or threaten to harm each other? Did you live with anyone who went to jail or prison?
Did a parent or adult in your home ever swear at you, insult you, or put you down?
Did a parent or adult in your home ever hit, beat, kick, or physically hurt you in any way?
Did you feel that no one in your family loved you or thought you were special?
Did you experience unwanted sexual contact (such as fondling or oral/anal/vaginal intercourse/penetration)?

The good news is that having a champion in your corner to help mitigate the effects can reduce the likelihood of negative effects of ACEs. Additionally, trauma is treatable no matter what age you are.