THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA
The ACE Study highlighted that childhood trauma is pervasive across all demographics — regardless of ethnicity, education, or income level. It underscored the reality that trauma doesn’t discriminate and affects people from all walks of life.
The medical community increasingly recognizes how adversity and trauma heighten the risk of chronic disease and mental health challenges later in life. Researchers continue to explore the psychological and biological links between early trauma and adverse health outcomes.
KEY STATISTICS FROM THE ACES STUDY:
- Approximately two-thirds of children have experienced at least one major traumatic event.
- One-third of children have experienced two or more major traumatic events.
- Individuals with four or more ACEs are six times more likely to struggle with depression and mood disorders than those with no ACEs.
- People with four or more ACEs are also at higher risk for cancer, diabetes, stroke, arthritis, and other chronic illnesses.
THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON THE BRAIN AND BODY
Chronic exposure to trauma triggers the body’s stress response system. This releases fight, flight, or freeze hormones — which are helpful in life-or-death situations but become harmful when activated repeatedly.
For example, a child witnessing domestic violence might feel like they’re constantly in danger. Their body remains in survival mode, flooding their brain with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Over time, this repeated activation affects brain development — particularly the prefrontal cortex (responsible for rational thinking and emotional regulation), the amygdala (the fear center), and the hippocampus (involved in memory and learning).
Children living in this hyper-aroused state may:
- Struggle with emotional regulation
- Fall behind in school
- Develop trust issues
- Experience anxiety, depression, or emotional numbness
- Seek comfort through food, alcohol, drugs, or other risky behaviours
These behaviours are often misunderstood as defiance or laziness, but they’re actually survival strategies — attempts to cope with overwhelming emotions.
THE INTERGENERATIONAL IMPACT OF ACES
Trauma can also be passed down to the next generation — both biologically and through learned behaviours. Research shows that a parent’s unresolved trauma can influence their child’s development in two key ways:
- Biological Transmission: Stress hormones in a pregnant parent can impact fetal brain development, increasing the baby’s vulnerability to anxiety and stress.
- Environmental Transmission: Parents who experienced ACEs may unintentionally recreate unsafe, neglectful, or chaotic environments — perpetuating the cycle of trauma.
HEALING FROM TRAUMA AND ACES
While the effects of childhood trauma are profound, healing is possible. Humans are remarkably resilient. With the right support, individuals can rewire their brains, develop healthier coping strategies, and reclaim their sense of safety and self-worth.
Key elements of trauma recovery include:
- Safe, supportive relationships: Trustworthy connections — whether with family, friends, or therapists — provide the emotional safety needed for healing.
- Therapeutic interventions: Modalities like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Somatic Psychotherapy can help individuals process trauma on a deep, embodied level.
- Mind-body practices: Tools such as meditation, breathwork, and grounding exercises can calm the nervous system and restore a sense of balance.
- Psychoeducation: Understanding how trauma affects the brain and body can empower individuals to view their behaviors with compassion — recognizing that maladaptive coping strategies once served as necessary survival tools.
RESILIENCE: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ACES STORY
Though ACEs highlight the risks associated with childhood trauma, the research also uncovered an important truth: Resilience is powerful. Even children with high ACE scores can thrive if they have protective factors in their lives.
Resilience-building factors include:
- A stable, nurturing caregiver who provides love and support
- Positive role models — teachers, mentors, or community members
- Emotional regulation skills taught through therapy or mindfulness practices
- Opportunities to develop a sense of purpose — whether through hobbies, education, or community involvement
WANT TO KNOW YOUR ACE SCORE?
Understanding your own ACE score can be an eye-opening step in exploring how your past experiences may still influence your life today. Remember, an ACE score is not a life sentence – it’s a starting point for awareness and healing.
Take the ACEs quiz to learn more about your personal score and what it might mean for you.
START YOUR HEALING JOURNEY TODAY
If you’re ready to start your healing journey, I’m here to help. As a Toronto-based psychotherapist specializing in anxiety, trauma, EMDR, IFS, and somatic psychotherapy, I’m passionate about supporting individuals on their path to recovery — no matter where they are in the process.
You deserve to heal. You deserve to feel safe. You deserve to thrive.