ACEs means Adverse Childhood Experiences. Simply put, it includes emotional, physical and sexual abuse from a parent or caregiver that leaves the child feeling emotionally and physically neglected. If you have lived in a house with someone who is drinking alcohol, using drugs, depressed, emotionally disturbed, suicidal, treated violently, imprisoned and/or your parents divorced, odds are you have been affected by ACEs.
61% of African Americans experience ACEs, compared to only 40% for their white countarparts. Often times, children and teens will experience symptoms such as:
- Difficulty controlling emotions
- Hallucinations
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic Attacks
- Insomnia
- Impaired memory
- Flashbacks
- Dissociation
To ease the pain, youth resort to the following:
- Smoking
- Alcoholism
- Drug Abuse
- Suicide
- Many sexual partners
- Repeating the trauma on others
- Eating Disorders
- Physical Inactivity
If the problems are not addressed early, this can lead to complications later in life, such as:
- Homelessness
- Commercial Sex Work
- Violence and Criminal Activity
- Unemployment
- Bullying
Finally, the physical health of ACEs victims are also affected. Some common diseases and disabilities include:
- Cancer
- Heart Disease
- Lung Disease
- Asthma
- Liver Disease
- Severe Obesity
- Fractures
- Sexuall Transmitted Diseases
- HIV/AIDS
If you want to learn more about ACEs, download the full assessment below: