Three Types of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)



Effects of Early Trauma“Trauma has a powerful capacity to shape a child’s physical, emotional, and intellectual development, especially when the trauma is experienced in early life” CITATION JBS \l 4105 (JBS International and Georgetown University National Technical Assistance Centre). Three Types of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)Continued exposure to trauma creates an environment filled with relentless fear, resulting in the development of a self-defence mechanism in a child’s brain that requires a fight, flight or freeze response. Stress responses are maintained due to:A persistent fear response that ‘wears out’ neural pathways;Hyperarousal that causes children to overreact to nonthreatening triggers;Dissociation from the traumatic event in which the child shuts down emotionally; andDisruptions in emotional attachment, which can be detrimental to learning. CITATION JBS \l 4105 (JBS International and Georgetown University National Technical Assistance Centre).Intergenerational and Historical TraumaThe Georgetown University National Technical Assistance Centre for Children’s Mental Health has identified two types of trauma that may have an impact on children in schools:Intergenerational trauma results when disturbing experiences have not been addressed and their emotional and behavioural legacy is passed down from parents to their children. Parents who experienced persistent trauma in childhood may struggle with their own ability to express empathy, compassion and self-regulation. Unresolved trauma may make it difficult for parents to build trusting relationships and healthy attachments. This trauma is then transmitted to future generations. Historical trauma goes beyond a single family to a community caused by historical, systematic abuse and injustice. In additional to family-specific intergenerational trauma, historical trauma may also result in shame and loss of culture and identity. The legacy of historical trauma can result in “repression, dissociation, denial, alcoholism, depression, doubt, helplessness, and devaluation of self and culture”. ................
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