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Healing today, for a brighter tomorrow
What is Generational Trauma?
Generational trauma, also referred to as intergenerational trauma, is when an individual or community experiences trauma and passes the trauma down to the next generation. Trauma is passed down through how a parent interacts with their children, the behaviors and patterns children see their parents engaging in, and even through genetics. There is extensive research that shows the connection of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) to the negative impacts it can have on a child later in life as an adult. Some examples of this are when a child is raised in a home where a caregiver was physically and/or emotionally abusive, that child may grow up believing that abuse is normal. This increases the chances of them choosing abusive romantic partners and/or treating their children in similar ways, perpetuating the cycle of abuse and trauma. Research studies are incredibly encouraging as it is providing evidence of not only how devastating the effects of childhood trauma are, but also the reversing power that treatment has on those who embark on a journey to break generational cycles of trauma. If this sounds like something that calls your name and creates a burning in your heart, you are one step away from becoming a Cycle breaker.
What are Adverse Childhood Experiences
and why are they important?
ACEs are traumatic events that occur before a child reaches the age of 18. ACEs include all types of abuse and neglect, such as parental substance use, incarceration, and domestic violence. ACEs can also include situations that may cause trauma for a child, such as having a parent with a mental illness or being part of a family going through a divorce. A landmark study in the 1990s found a significant relationship between the number of ACEs a person experienced and a variety of negative outcomes in adulthood, including poor physical and mental health, substance use, and risky behaviors. The more ACEs experienced, the greater the risk for these outcomes. 1
Adverse Childhood Experiences impact lifelong health and opportunities.
ACEs ARE COMMON AND THE EFFECTS CAN ADD UP OVER TIME.
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61% of adults had at least one ACE and 16% had 4 or more types of ACEs.
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Females and several racial/ethnic minority groups were at greater risk for experiencing 4 or more ACEs.
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Many people do not realize that exposure to ACEs is associated with increased risk for health problems across the lifespan.2
What does your ACE score mean?
As your ACE score increases, the risk of disease and social and emotional problems increases. Think about your ACE score as measuring the amount of toxic stress you endured as a child and alerting yourself to some statistical indicators of health risks.
The higher your ACE score, the higher your chance of suffering from psychological and medical problems like chronic depression, cancer, or coronary heart disease.3
1. https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/preventing/overview/framework/aces/
2.https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/aces/index.html#:~:text=ACEs%20are%20linked%20to%20chronic,cancer%2C%20and%20diabetes%20in%20adulthood.
3. https://stopabusecampaign.org/take-your-ace/what-does-your-ace-score-mean/#:~:text=The%20higher%20your%20ACE%20score,score%20of%204%20or%20more.
It all starts with
Adverse Childhood Experiences
(ACEs)
If you would like to find out what your ACE score is, click on the link below:
What do I do now?
If any of this resonates with you, you may be experiencing a flood of emotions and have even more questions. You have already done the hardest part of all this: you have survived your trauma. Now, if you are interested in learning how to move from
surviving to thriving,
you are invited to schedule your first appointment with a
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional.
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