You are Not Your Past: Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences

Many adults have experienced childhood trauma that can affect them mentally or emotionally for the rest of their lives. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) account for a big part of the mental health issues that adults face today. These ACEs typically occur when the child’s brain is developing at a high rate which causes them to be harmful and affects how the child learns. This can also affect the way a child responds to stress as they grow into adulthood.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:10, ESV

What are the most common adverse childhood experiences?

Most adverse childhood experiences are traumatic and often experienced before the child reaches the age of eighteen. These events can have lasting negative effects on every aspect of the child’s health.

The most common adverse childhood experiences are:

• Divorce/separation of parents
• Verbal humiliation
• Loss of a loved one to suicide
• Physical/emotional abuse
• Incarcerated parent
• Death of a parent
• Household of alcohol/substance abuse
• Abandonment or neglect
• Mentally ill parent

Risk factors

Most ACEs are not a product of happenstance. They are typically not random events. Economic status, community, culture, and family history play a big part in the likelihood of a child experiencing adverse events.

Some of these risk factors include the income and education level of the family. The ability of the family members to understand and react to stress related to the home can have an adverse reaction to traumatic events.

When these events affect the mind of the child it can cause the child to become predisposed to other health issues as an adult, such as cancer, depression, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses.

When there are no community resources available to help the child learn to navigate healing from these traumatic events the parents who have a lower income may not be able to get the help the child needs to navigate these adverse childhood experiences.

ACEs are not uncommon among adults. Individuals must learn to recognize risk factors and experiences that may be considered an ACE. Once they have identified this issue they can begin to seek assistance from a local Christian counselor.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end. – Lamentations 3:22, ESV

Tips to help overcome adverse childhood experiences

Adults who have been affected by ACEs can overcome the residual effects of those events. The first step is to acknowledge there was an adverse experience and then to understand that there is a way to navigate healing. Answering the ACE questionnaire can help you with this first step. The questionnaire is comprised of 10 questions covering various topics of trauma.

Other tips to help those who struggle with adverse childhood experiences are:

Writing – People who have taken to writing about their experiences have indicated that writing helped with focus, immune health, and cognitive performance.

Quiet/prayer time

Taking time to read God’s word and pray is one way to release negative thoughts about the experience.

Learn how to be mindful

Being mindful involves understanding how to connect with how the body is feeling. It helps slow down fleeting thoughts and allows for the release of negativity.

Choose positivity

By refusing to identify with the negative/toxic labels that were attached in childhood, the individual can create a mindset of positive and healthy thinking.

Seek a support system

There are times it helps to have a person who can sit and listen as an individual talks through a tough moment. Trusting relationships can nurture healing.

Find ways to be active

Regularly exercising can help reduce stress and stimulate the mind to think positively.

Find ways to help others

Helping others can help with feelings of low self-esteem.

Choose to be optimistic

Choosing optimism is choosing to live a life that focuses on what can be done now instead of the past.

Let go of control

No matter what is happening the only thing a person can control is their reaction and response. Coming to a place of letting God take care of the situation is finding peace and healing.

Know what is valuable

The way a person was treated as a child does not determine their value. Only God determines the worth of each person.

Seek peace, love, and joy

God’s word is full of encouragement about finding peace in the hardest of times. It can also help with learning to love in the pain. Through seeking God’s direction the effects of ACEs on a person’s self-worth can become positive versus negative.

Seek professional help

Connecting with a local Christian counselor can help with navigating the healing process involving ACEs. Through faith-based talk therapy, a counselor can help with learning how to respond to the hard moments.

Next steps

The effects of adverse childhood experiences can linger in the mindset of an individual for life. If you or a loved one suffer from ACEs, connect with a Christian counselor at Pasadena Christian Counseling in California. Your counselor in Pasadena can help you navigate through the past as you pursue a happy and healthy lifestyle.