“Twenty years of medical research has shown that childhood adversity literally gets under our skin, changing people in ways that can endure in their bodies for decades. It can tip a child’s developmental trajectory and affect physiology. It can trigger chronic inflammation and hormonal changes that can last a lifetime. It can alter the way DNA is read and how cells replicate, and it can dramatically increase the risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes—even Alzheimer’s.”

– Nadine Burke Harris, The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity

ACEs are Adverse Childhood Experiences. Our ACE history counts experiences of abuse, neglect and household challenges that happened to us as children. But that number does not define us. It is simply an entry point to our own personal story. (Source: NumberStory.org) When these adverse experiences are not buffered by a supportive family environment, it can often cause negative responses that affect people later on in life. Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) can buffer against childhood adversity in remarkable ways, creating resilience in kids that can help them thrive despite trauma in childhood. Supportive relationships with mentors, peers, or extended family and strong community ties can inoculate against the effects of intergenerational trauma. (Source: JAMA)

Taking our ACE history can be a powerful first step to understanding our stories, healing ourselves, and helping the children in our lives. We encourage you to explore your number through the tools available at NumberStory.org. This work can bring up painful memories and feelings – tools are available here to get grounded.