The ACEs Study: How Childhood Adversity Harms Across a Lifetime

Today’s episode builds upon our discussion from last week about the stress response, aka fight or flight, and how this invaluable system protects us from life-threatening dangers. We explore what effects a dysregulated nervous system, caused by prolonged or severe adversity experienced during childhood, might have on the health of an adult.

Leaning on the experience and research provided in the book The Deepest Well by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, we take a look at the shocking data put forth by the landmark Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study conducted by CDC-Kaiser Permanente in the 1990s. I share how the findings of the ACEs study make it clear that not only is it common for children to experience toxic stress before the age of 18 (67% of respondents), but that there is a dose-response relationship between ACEs and many serious health conditions later on in adulthood.

Instead of following the typical Western medical model of symptom management and damage control, we identify scientifically demonstrated ways to address a dysregulated nervous system to help mitigate or avoid altogether the worst possible outcomes both in ourselves and in our children if we’re a parent. We end the episode with a big dose of compassion and a brief gratitude practice for the protective, supportive beings who’ve helped us along our way. May we know them, may we be them.

 

SHOW NOTES:

 The Body Keeps the Score, Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

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The Deepest Well, Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris

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About the ACEs Study

ACEs Prevention - CDC 

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Tending to Change is hosted by Jeni Juarez, a 500-hr RYT, a mother of four, and a dedicated student on the path of the heart. Having struggled with trauma, addiction, and debilitating anxiety, she has deep gratitude for the power of nature, stillness practices, and loving community to completely change the trajectory of one’s life.

Jeni believes there is a significant undervaluation of emotional resilience and cultivating peace of mind in our fast-paced, over-achieving culture, and she’s excited to be a part of the momentum that is actively working to change that narrative.

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Please know that…

The intent of this podcast is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being.

Content presented or posted on this channel is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a professional therapeutic relationship. In the event you use any of the information in these episodes for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the creator assumes no responsibility for your actions.