Let's talk some ACEs Science....
How many of you are familiar with Stephen Porges Polyvagal Theory and the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). Quick Lesson: Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)= threat response system Para-sympathetic Nervous System (PNS)= rest, relax, restore (resilience).
I agree that creating a distinction between "those people" who have mental illness or addiction does more harm than good. Labeling in and of itself is stigmatizing. We know relationships help heal through creating a decrease in the SNS, the system that gets our muscles tensed up (fight/flight/freeze) and releases the chemicals that make it impossible to store memories in sequence or access the thinking brain. When there is lots of danger (of violence, disconnection including conditional love, unmet needs), the stress becomes Toxic Stress.
Symptoms of mental illness that are labeled in the DSM 5 (and versions before) make sense for anyone who is experiencing toxic stress. THIS IS THE RE-FRAME AND THE ACES MOVEMENT!!! When we begin to understand behaviors as adaptions to stress, a whole new understanding opens up. Attempting to engage the thinking brain when someone is in their SNS is unreasonable. Trauma-informed care is built on the foundation that the professional is most effective when they can hold hope for recovery and healing as the foundation for interventions. Also, that they recognize their role is not to "fix" a "broken" person but to guide and empower those who have experienced adversity.
We are moving from "behaviors are learned" to "behaviors are adaptions to perceived safety or threat." I act different if I am on my couch watching a scary movie vs if I am watching a comedy. If i am scared- Internally, my heart rate increases, my muscles tense, and adrenaline is released. Externally, I tuck my toes under the blanket and hug my sweetie or the pillow or close my eyes.
These are simple examples that assume no trauma is involved.
Yes, there is an epigenetic piece to this as well. We are not born with a disease as the medical model would suggest, but rather the expression of our genetics is influenced by our environment. This is great because it empowers communities and parents to be the change and to provide low-stress environments.
A link to ACES Connection intro on ACEs Science is here: https://acestoohigh.com/aces-101/
Hope this instigates further conversation. I am working on materials that discuss these topics so please provide any questions or if you are interested in learning more, follow me.
~Andi~