Sometimes when Andre’s bi-polar uncle is depressed, he scares Andre to tears by trying to kill himself. Other times, in a fit of rage he screams threats and beats Andre’s mother bloody. He’s abused her since childhood. She drinks a little too much to try to forget. Andre’s father has been gone 4 years.
Andre has at least three ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) . . . at the age of nine. Chronic, intergenerational trauma.
Childhood Trauma is a response of overwhelming, helpless terror to frightening event(s). ACEs were defined to include physical, emotional and sexual abuse, physical and emotional neglect, a missing parent (due to separation, divorce, incarceration, death), and witnessing household substance abuse, violence, or mental illness.
ACE-impacted kids are more common than seasonal allergy sufferers. An epidemic. The CDC found that about one-fourth of the middle class, mostly white, college educated, working folks with medical insurance had THREE or more ACEs even in beautiful suburban San Diego!
Three or more ACEs is significant because it correlates with doubled risk of depression, adolescent pregnancy, lung disease, and liver disease. It triples the risk of alcoholism and STDs. There is a 5X increase in attempted suicide.
Trauma-Informed adults CAN make a difference.
Get Informed. Click on the links below.
Informed already? Then, please “share” the blogpost. Help grow awareness of this secret epidemic destroying childhoods.
Kaiser Permanente-Centers for Disease Control ACE Study
ACE Study Overview from the Producer of Paper Tigers film (five minute Vimeo video)
Look for other parts of this series “Nowhere to Hide” on LucidWitness.com for more information.
Want even more ? Follow the additional links below:
OTHER LINKS: CHILDHOOD TRAUMA
1. Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Studies
2. Childhood Trauma Concepts and Definitions
4. Trauma-Informed Social Services
5. Trauma-Informed Juvenile Justice
6. Trauma-Informed Public Policy
7. Childhood Trauma Training and Tools
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