Suzanne Connolly, LCSW, recently shared the summarized data from the ACE’s study with a small group of colleagues in Costa Rica. This material is so important for all of us to know and understand as we work to help trauma in the world.
“ACEs” comes from the CDC-Kaiser Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, a groundbreaking public health study that discovered that childhood trauma leads to the adult onset of chronic diseases, depression and other mental illness, violence and being a victim of violence, as well as financial and social problems.
The CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study is one of the largest investigations of childhood abuse and neglect and household challenges and later-life health and well-being.
The original ACE Study was conducted at Kaiser Permanente from 1995 to 1997 with two waves of data collection. Over 17,000 Health Maintenance Organization members from Southern California receiving physical exams completed confidential surveys regarding their childhood experiences and current health status and behaviors.
For more information: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/acestudy/about.html
The data is a real eye-opener as it measured the effects from the below childhood experiences and how they can manifest into negative outcomes which include some of society’s most intractable health issues: alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, suicide, poor physical health, and obesity.
The adverse childhood experiences they measured were:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Verbal abuse
- Physical neglect
- Emotional neglect
- A family member who is depressed
- A family member who is in prison
- Witnessing a mother being abused
- Losing a parent to divorce or death
- Substance abuse by a parent or guardian
The CDC-Kaiser Permanente ACE Study and subsequent surveys show that most people in the U.S. have at least one ACE, and that people with four ACEs have a huge risk of adult-onset of chronic health problems such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, suicide, and alcoholism.
We have long believed in the importance of healing trauma in breaking the cycle of violence in the world. Suzanne and others have spearheaded the studies on the use of TFT for healing trauma. The TFT Foundation has led trauma relief missions around the world. The TFT Foundation hosts this TFT trauma relief blog site with free help to all in need, in 15 languages in print and video: www.TFTTraumaRelief.org
This study supports that knowledge and understanding of the need for healing trauma, with concrete data. I thank Suzanne for sharing her knowledge with all of us. Please share this site with all who may be or have been experiencing trauma in their lives. We can make a difference and begin healing trauma around the world.
what does TFT stand for!?