Let's, first, look at ourselves before looking to others.
Of people who see a psychiatrist (at any time in their lives) -- and how many of us have not? -- 70% were hurt as kids -- with profound neurobiological damage. If you doubt this, please review the epidemiologic data at bornforjoy.com. (And please, enjoy the site.)
The ACEs questionnaire is a research tool and has given us invaluable data about the need to address the neurobiological sequelae of childhood hurt, not only for the humanity of the thing but also to prevent serious physical illness. It is not a clinical alternative to speaking with out patients -- doing a sensitive, careful evaluation of neuropsychiatic illness should the ACE Score be high. Even if low, healthcare professionals need to assess patients presenting with any ACE-related medical illness for the three syndromes outlined in bornforjoy.com. These are treatable syndromes -- because one can neurobiologically confirm a clinical diagnosis and because treatment is essentially without risk (look at the website).
We can, each of us, get treatment ourselves and then prioritize treatment of adults thinking to become parents. Treating children, clearly, depends on focusing our diagnostic and treatment efforts on their parents.
This is nobody's fault. It is a consequence of the violent roots of civilization. But each of us can address the problem -- because we care and, in most cases, because we ourselves were hurt.
Enough of the talk. We fear help because adapting to childhood pain, we cut ourselves off from trusting the divine unity and beauty of Life -- and of ourselves. If we -- we -- don't walk the walk, how can we blame others? And when we do, we see there is no blame -- just Life, sorting itself out and healing.
Sara
