Do you know what ACES are?

What are ACES?

Adverse Childhood Experiences.

There are 11 of them and here is the list:

1. Physical abuse

2. Sexual abuse

3. Emotional abuse

4. Physical neglect

5. Emotional neglect

6. Intimate partner violence

7. Mother treated violently

8. Substance misuse within household

9. Household mental illness

10. Parental separation or divorce

11. Incarcerated household member


Are ACES common?

Yes, they are very common and they often cluster together.

40% of people have 2 or more of these.

13% of people have 4 or more of these.

What can happen in the lives of people who have ACES in their past?

It should be noted that nothing is deterministic. ACES do not determine that any specific person will have a specific outcome, but the research shows significantly elevated risks for the following:

  1. Early Initiation of alcohol use

  2. Substance use disorder for people age 50+

  3. Tobacco use in emerging adulthood

  4. Increases in Prescription drug use

  5. Addiction of all kinds

  6. Attempted Suicide

  7. Depression

  8. High risk sexual behaviors

  9. Fetal mortality for teenage mothers

  10. Increased diabetes

  11. Decreased heart health

  12. Poor dental health

So what can be done?

If you have experienced ACES at some point in your childhood and are also having some difficulty in a relationships or dealing with addiction or mental health or even physical health, you might want to see a therapist to discuss what is happening and what happened. Research shows that simply leaving the past alone is not necessarily the best approach to address both current problems and past experiences.

There is healing and there is hope. Having ACES in your past does not mean your present and future are permanently ruined. There are excellent treatments that can help reduce of eliminate the symptoms of past traumatic experiences.

You do not have to just tough it out.