I just watched the film "Resilience" as well. I loved Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris' analogy to cough syrup. In the film she says that if a patient comes to her with a cough she can prescribe a strong cough suppressant; however, if they have tuberculosis or lung cancer, all she has done is mask the symptoms and not treated the problem.
For too long we have treated the symptoms of toxic stress in children and adults without even perceiving the source of the symptoms. Most psychiatrists and other behavioral health practitioners have yet to recognize that "developmental trauma" is distinct from PTSD. Now we have a opportunity to educate everyone (medical providers, teachers, parents) about the potentially serious and enduring harm done to children who are exposed to chronic stress.
We are just starting to gather evidence of how wide-spread the problems is. We are just starting to learn how to identify children who are being affected by toxic stress. We are only beginning to develop effective prevention and treatment. We need the support of legislatures, private funders, and thousands of individuals to spread the word that ACEs are the greatest public health concern of our time. We have a long way to go, but we are finally on the right path.
Thank you for listening.
Deborah Bock
Anchorage, Alaska