Adverse Childhood Experience

In many people’s lives or careers there is one event that stops them in their tracks, forever changing their view of a critical issue For me, it was several years ago when I first happened upon a research article, “The Relationship of Adverse Childhood Experiences to Adult Health: Turning Gold into Lead.” I was struck by the articles’ comparison of a newborn baby full of promise, to that of a homeless, seriously mentally ill person nearing the end of life. The article asked “How does this happen, this reverse alchemy, turning the gold of a newborn infant into the lead of a depressed, diseased adult?” As a social worker coordinating child abuse prevention efforts in a children’s hospital, I was certainly aware of the negative and often lasting effects of child abuse and neglect, but as I read and re-read the article, I was astounded to learn that the top causes of death and disease in adults very often have their basis in exposure to adverse experiences in childhood. I remember thinking, “Why haven’t I heard of this before?” and “If we know this, why aren’t we using this knowledge to help us intervene and prevent these future health consequences in the children we’re caring for today?” If we can immunize our kids against illnesses like measles and chicken pox, why can’t we find a way to immunize them to what, statistically, is a much larger threat to their future health?” …show more content…
The love, support, and friendship of people who care about you can enhance the good times and may help you get through the bad. Oftentimes, Veterans get closer to their families and friends when faced with challenging situations; yet there are occasions when difficult experiences or unhealthy relationships with family members, friends, or peers can cause excessive stress or challenges. There are times when getting along with other people can be more difficult than you