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How Childhood Trauma Can Make You A Sick Adult [8 min - Big Think]

Jane Stevens 10/13/153:53 PM

The ACE Study found that survivors of childhood trauma are up to 5,000 percent more likely to attempt suicide, have eating disorders, or become IV drug users. Study co-founder Dr. Vincent Felitti details this powerful connection.

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Janie LancasterMember

Thank you for that Mem Lang! Since I joined ACEs I have had a lot of positive support for the work I have done and for my books. I feel that if the right people know about the value of my books to help children and adults and I get some positive reviews my books will get out to those who need them... And then I'll get paid. It is web sites like Jane's that are helping people who are searching for help. It seems to be the internet that has become our educator and sadly, at times, our friend.

I did look into getting a grant to distribute my "Edwina Beena's Polka Dot Day" book to kids in hospitals to help them to have a more peaceful mind but the process was too overwhelming to me and I couldn't get any support. It seems like the hospitals were happy when I donated books to them but I couldn't afford to keep it up or get any of their organizations to help me.

I have done some successful workshops with my book "When Silence Reigns" but then you have to go through hoops with organizations and clubs to set things up and get paid it can be frustrating.

I have another book "Emily/Out of My Mother's Darkness" that has helped troubled teens. A librarian told me that she gave it to a troubled teen and that it turned her life around. She said I should get my book out to these kids. I tried to that too but did not get any support. And we all know that negativity like this with an high ACEs person will drain them quickly. So I was about to give up and put everything in a box and move on... then I met Jane and her inspiring web site. And all of you.

Originally Posted by Mem Lang:

Seems like a badge of honour would be appropriate for you too, Janie! Too bad there's no prize money in it, to help with your ongoing research!!

10/21/157:40 PM

Former Member

Janie,

I wish you the very best. It is hard having a high ACE score with no family and no people in your life to provide resilience (compassion/love/care)!! everything is really hard!!! Keeping a job - getting a job--- having a self is hard (at least for me). I haven't said that I support you yet and I'm not real good at doing this all the time... But I just wanted to say.... Hey we are sisters if virtually and so I just wanted to provide a little encouragement! I have to get on a plane to go to the AAP conference but wanted to say .... I'm there 4 you in the virtual world and I get how hard it is (and how easy it is to be taken advantage of even when childhood is over) seems like it is pretty hard to climb out of that deep lonely hole or find light to get out of the cave... I was talking to a new friend who was a track star in High School (state champion) and at a local university... Very smart and he told me "never look behind or down". Looking behind could be a 1/10 of a second and cost the race. Looking down could mean you fall and gotta climb back up... Been thinking about the analogy and I like it... So anyway ... Be well!!!

Tina

10/22/156:54 AM

Janie LancasterMember

Thank you Tina, So sweet of you. I really believe high ACEs people do have high resilience, I know that I do, and I think you do too. It is because we don't give up. We are still here, still trying and still getting back up. After reading so many posts from ACEs victims on this web site I am impressed at the compassion, dedication and accomplishments many have done to help others. Maybe this is in spite of or because of having a high ACEs score.

As children many of us when we fell had no one to comfort us or pick us up so we learned to do it ourselves. But is is nice when someone does comfort us. Thank you for comforting me.

And I send comfort back to you.

10/22/158:28 AM

Former Member

You know Janie...

you are correct! We spent our time caring for siblings or parents always thinking we would do better, be better in some form or another....

We were young but achieving (even if simply surviving which isn't necessarily that simple in some circumstances) it took contemplation though our young minds didn't call it that, planning as much as Bobby Fischer did for a chess match and a keen awareness to our environmental threats... Everywhere ...

Which ones to attend to when???

We are incredibly strong, even if orchids, we have dandelion mixed in.

I just got in Detroit and ready for the connector flight

Have some ideas to share in a bit....

T

10/22/158:47 AM

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