ACEs and Their Long-Term Impact

Some twenty years ago an American doctor started some research into how difficulties when growing up would affect long term outcomes and the results have been shocking. 
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The ACEs study's results show that maltreatment and household dysfunction in childhood contribute to health problems decades later. These include chronic diseases—such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes—that are the most common causes of death and disability. It also shows a major impact on risk taking behaviours and other social issues. 

So what things are considered to be ACEs? Well, there are many things that fit but some include any form of abuse whether sexual, physical, emotional or neglect. Living in a home where there is frequent violence, experiencing bullying or prejudice, living with an adult who has a drug/alcohol problem or a mental health issue, having to have extensive adult responsibilities or having had a parent/carer pass away or having been taken into care. 

It impacts our brains and means: 

• It affects our behaviour and ability to manage our emotions 
• ​Less new brain cells created and eventually the brain starts to shrink 
• Our ability to think is affected so we have difficulty with learning and remembering
• We have an overactive fear response in the amygdala; the brain’s fear centre 
• Reduced neurological pathways developed in the brain  

All of this then also affects our health:  

• ACEs research shows that there is a strong close response relationship between ACEs and poor physical and mental health, chronic disease such as type II diabetes, lung disease; heart disease; cancer, increased levels of violence, and lower academic success both in childhood and adulthood.  
• 1 in 3 mental health conditions in adults directly related to childhood experiences. 
• Excessive cortisol, our stress hormone, causes damage and health related difficulties in all the bodies systems it supports. 
• ​It causes changes to how genes are expressed and is then passed on to the next generation and further. ​

When you look at this list, many of us can identify with these experiences but perhaps what we don’t know is how it actually affects us. The unpredictable nature of things that stress us causes more damage than predictable things that we can learn to expect. Some stress is normal and healthy but when it goes on for long periods or doesn’t really stop, it becomes damaging. ​

If our childhood issues have been very serious then support from professionals will probably be needed, so don’t be afraid to talk to someone responsible and trusted. However, there is so much that we can do to help ourselves too! The brain is amazing, so is able to repair many issues over time. Exercise, yoga and meditation are known to have great healing effects and helps us to create new pathways in our brain that help us think and learn better, but it also helps calm our brains fear centre and reduces the amount of stress hormone in our bodies. 
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Developing and maintaining positive relationships with trusted and responsible individuals and building a support network of friends and family but also teachers, youth workers etc, also helps. Being human means although it might feel uncomfortable sometimes, we do need other people to help and support us. ​

Making sure we do things that help us feel like we have achieved, enjoying hobbies and interests, spending time in nature and learning techniques to express our emotions, all help to calm the overactive fear and emotional parts of our brains. It may seem strange, but the brain is so amazing that these little things done frequently really do make a difference and there is so much more too. 

Have a look at www.youngminds.org.uk for information on how to look after yourself and strategies or activities that can help. Another amazing organisation is Kooth, www.kooth.com, who also offer online support if you wish to discuss any issues and you don’t have to tell them your name. 

Many of us share these issues and some still impact us today, but with the support of others and learning to build our own resilience, we can achieve happy, healthy, successful lives. So, talk to someone and know you’ve got this! ​