Childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up. Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris explains that the repeated stress of abuse, neglect and p...
Is your adult behaviour pre-set according to your childhood experiences?
Last year I came across a Ted Talk by a beautiful woman called Dr Nadine Burke accidentally on Facebook. It was a blessing. In this 16 minute clip, Dr Burke details how trauma we experience in our childhood affect our health and gave specific percentages on how these people are more likely to suffer depression and at a higher risk of committing suicide. During her talk Dr Burke referred to a study carried out in 1995 called the ACE Study. The study analyses a range of trauma including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, mother treated violently, household substance abuse, household mental illness, parental separation or divorce and incarcerated household member. The study also found that when adults answer 4 or more questions with a yes, there are at a higher risk of dying early to be specific a 20 year reduction in life expectancy. ACE’s are almost certain to suffer heart disease, auto-immune diseases, lung cancer. Just as you are probably eager to take the test, I jumped straight to Google and took the ACE Test. I scored a 9 out of 10. At the time I was suffering with severe anxiety, depression, fighting suicide as well as seeking medical attention for early signs of MS, going under surgery for Morton’s Neuroma. To hear Dr Burke’s talk was like the heavens had just opened and God had given me the answers. Finally there was a reason as to why I was suffering.
Last week I went to watch a film called Resilience. It was about the ACE Study and the impact it has on society. After the film finished I was chatting with some of the others in the audience and the majority had never heard of the study prior to this. This is why I’m writing this blog post. I will post links to the test, the findings and Dr Burkes talk at the end.
When I shared with a friend that my result was quite high. He was shocked, given his knowing of my lifestyle, he asked why am I so different? Why do I defy the odds of the Ace Study? My only answer is - the Grace of God. I have no answer as to why I have been saved. I could easily have been one of the homeless people I so desperately what to help. I could easily still be an addict, a street worker. But the truth is I do fall into the statistics. The only difference is I fought very hard to claw my way out of that pre-destined way of life.
I wanted to share this, because if you’re going through a shit time right now. Fighting the constant darkness of depression or the mighty voice of suicide. Maybe all this will help and know it’s not your fault. It seems the ACE Study hasn’t made it’s way to the UK yet, so spread the word. What we experienced as children does not have to determine what we are like as adults. But in order for all this to change we have to be aware of the pre-determined path that we are walking in order for us to change course.
The ACE Study Test
The ACE Study Findings
But whatever you do, please do not suffer alone. Reach out.