Childhood Experiences
Childhood Experinces (ACEs and PCEs)
If you've not come across these, they are part of The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study
Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) and Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs)
As the ACE score increases, so does the risk of disease, social and emotional problems. With an ACE score of 4 or more, things start getting serious. The likelihood of chronic pulmonary lung disease increases by 390%; hepatitis, 240%; depression 460%; attempted suicide, 1,220%.
When children are overloaded with stress hormones, they’re in flight, fright or freeze mode. They can’t learn in school. They often have difficulty trusting adults or developing healthy relationships with others. As ACEs are trauma based, the likelihood of PTSD increases. The more trauma events (i.e. persistent, long-term) during childhood is likely to lead C-PTSD (Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder). I've read some studies that make a link between early exposure to ACEs and Bi-polar. This is maybe why it took so long to be diagnosed, but also why the world was unreal and so hard to cope with. The overlap between Trauma and Bi-polar are extensive, equally, the overlap between Autism and PTSD are significant. If your state of mind is part of the symptoms of autism, bi-polar, and C-PTSD, it is extremely difficult to work out which one has been triggered. Many times, when I look back, there were regular occasions when all 3 were triggered. School especially.
ACE Score
Prior to your 18th birthday:
- Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often… Swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you? or Act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __ - Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often… Push, grab, slap, or throw something at you? or Ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __ - Did an adult or person at least 5 years older than you ever… Touch or fondle you or have you touch their body in a sexual way? or Attempt or actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __ - Did you often or very often feel that … No one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special? or Your family didn’t look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __ - Did you often or very often feel that … You didn’t have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, and had no one to protect you? or Your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you or take you to the doctor if you needed it?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __ - Were your parents ever separated or divorced?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __ - Was your mother or stepmother:
Often or very often pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her? or Sometimes, often, or very often kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard? or Ever repeatedly hit over at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __ - Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic, or who used street drugs?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __ - Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide? No___If Yes, enter 1 __
- Did a household member go to prison?
No___If Yes, enter 1 __
Now add up your “Yes” answers: _ This is your ACE Score
PCE Score
To find out what positive childhood experiences you have, answer the following questions. How much or how often during your childhood did you:
- feel able to talk to your family about feelings;
- feel your family stood by you during difficult times;
- enjoy participating in community traditions;
- feel a sense of belonging in high school;
- feel supported by friends;
- have at least two non-parent adults who took genuine interest in you; and
- feel safe and protected by an adult in your home.
Hopefully, this may help someone identify something to make more sense of themselves. If you have a high score of ACEs, I strongly recommend psychotherapy.