People with high numbers of ACEs are more likely to suffer from cancer and emphysema and have a reduced immune system. Studies on ACEs show a strong link between multiple traumatic events and serious difficulties in later life. They do not necessarily cause trauma, but the more a person experiences, the higher the risk is. They are incredibly common, with approximately half of people surveyed reporting at least one ACE before age eighteen. These traumatic events can be considered adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), potentially traumatic experiences that occur in early childhood.
Household and familial challenges including divorce, exposure to domestic violence, and a family member struggling with a substance use disorder.Medical trauma such as chronic illness, accidents, and emergency hospitalisations.Financial, emotional, or physical neglect.There are many potential traumatic events that children can face, such as:
Although it is not a defined mental health condition, it can contribute to many conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and mood disorders in both children and adults. What Is Childhood Trauma?Ĭhildhood trauma is a significant, often threatening event in a child’s life that overwhelms their ability to cope. It can cause mental, physical, and behavioural effects that, if left untreated, can worsen over time. Childhood trauma can affect anyone, and the effects can last well into adulthood.