The “Score” – Understanding The Basics Of ACEs

I have been awake a lot at 4am wondering why I’ve been terrorised in sleep lately. It’s often as though, for me at least, that the body recognises and understands it’s trauma and reacts subconsciously without external push on occasions. This happens to me on anniversaries, this month being the anniversary off my Fathers death.

I don’t feel much like pouring this trauma out; but I am the adult child of an addict. I frequently feel like I have to unfurl myself on a table to be understood and I’m tired of that, so simply – my ACEs score when done with therapist was 7 of 10. Some practitioners don’t like the scoring system itself, but for clarity I’ll include though it does not detract from the message itself.

I’m trying to adjust my reactions to these anniversaries with positive impact, so I’m hoping to set up a fundraiser for a grassroots organisation that assist children and adults who have had adverse childhood experiences but also just hope to raise awareness of ACEs and the work being done by organisations via this piece. So truth to be told, if one person reads this today then it will be worth it to me.

I’ve gathered a bunch of information on ACEs for those who may not be aware of the term. There are also many resources on; https://aceawarewales.com and a full report from PHW here; https://phw.nhs.wales/news/responding-to-adverse-childhood-experiences-an-evidence-review/responding-to-adverse-childhood-experiences/.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful events occurring in childhood including but not limited to: domestic violence, parental abandonment, alienation through separation or divorce, a parent with a mental health condition, being the victim of abuse (physical, sexual and/or emotional), being the victim of neglect (physical and emotional), a member of the household being in prison and growing up in a household in which there are adults experiencing alcohol and drug use problems.

An ACE survey with adults in Wales found that compared to people with no ACEs, those with 4 or more ACEs are more likely to have been in prison, suffer severe mental illness, develop heart disease, frequently visit the GP, develop type 2 diabetes, have committed violence in the last 12 month and have health-harming behaviours (high-risk drinking, smoking, drug use). ACEs can have lasting, negative effects on health, well-being, and opportunity. These experiences can increase the risks of injury, sexually transmitted infections, maternal and child health problems, teen pregnancy, involvement in sex trafficking, and a wide range of chronic diseases and leading causes of death or suicide.

ACEs and associated conditions, such as living in under-resourced segregated neighborhoods, experiencing food insecurity, unstable parental care as well as the above listed can cause toxic stress (extended or prolonged stress). Toxic stress from ACEs can change brain development and affect such things as attention, decision-making, learning, and response to stress.

Some children are at greater risk than others. Women and several racial/ethnic minority groups were found at greater risk for having experienced 4 or more types of ACEs.

Children growing up with toxic stress may have difficulty forming healthy and stable relationships. They may also have unstable work histories as adults and struggle with finances, jobs, and depression throughout life. These effects can also be passed on to their own children. Some children may face further exposure to toxic stress from historical and ongoing traumas due to systemic racism, bereavement or the impacts of poverty resulting from limited educational and economic opportunities.

We all have a part to play in preventing adversity and raising awareness of ACEs. Resilient communities have an important role in action on ACEs. ACEs should not be seen as someone’s destiny. There is much that can be done to offer hope and build resilience in children, young people and adults who have experienced adversity in early life. Increasing our understanding of ACEs at a population level, through surveys, conversations and working with those who have experienced them/are working with those who have experienced them, is important for gauging the societal prevalence of ACEs and understanding how this is impacting on health, the criminal justice system or other services and outcomes.

For me, I feel this involves reverting back to radical social work rather than neo-liberal social work. Radical social work involves understanding oppression in the context of social and economic structures rather than affixing the problems to the individuals who are oppressed. Preventing ACEs should be seen within the wider context of tackling societal inequalities, and I hope to raise money to aid those doing that work.

I am currently reaching out to charities and orgs who work in Wales within these issues, so if you are one and would like to get in touch in hope I can fundraise for you – please contact me on rachelsarahcooze@gmail.com