Lingering Shadows: Exploring the Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Adult Behavior

Good morning Sunday Morning Coffee drinkers and readers. I’m coming to you from my family’s lake house where it’s as hot as….well…I would normally say as hot as a West Texas summer, but that wouldn’t exactly be a metaphor. Since I’m in West Texas and it’s summer, i't’s LITERALLY that hot. H.O.T. Good thing there’s a lake to jump into. Again, I mean that literally and not figuratively. We made the drive from Maryland to Texas to spend time with family, so a little Texas heat is a small price to pay for the fun and love and good memories we’re making. We have a house full of kiddos. I mean it. Truly. And watching them play, hearing them laugh, and observing how the adults interact with them brings to mind as I write today about kiddos who have a different childhood experience, and how our formative years can affect (positively or negatively) our adulthood.

Childhood is the foundation upon which our adult lives are built. The experiences and environment we encounter during these formative years shape our personalities, behaviors, and even our physical health in profound ways. Among the significant factors that can leave a lasting impact are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). ACEs encompass a range of traumatic events such as abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, and other stressors that a child might face. In education or when working with justice impacted individuals of any age, we see that unaddressed trauma, even or especially childhood trauma, is imperative for people to be able to move forward in a healthy way. When working with youth or juveniles, we have an opportunity to help them overcome or deal with trauma in real time. When working with adults, we have to dig a little deeper.

**Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)**

Adverse Childhood Experiences can encompass physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, household challenges such as parental substance abuse or incarceration, and witnessing domestic violence, among others. These experiences are not isolated incidents; rather, they often occur together, or are persistent, compounding their effects on a child's development. Research has shown that the more ACEs a person has, the higher their risk for a range of physical and mental health issues in adulthood.

**The Impact on Adult Behavior**

1. Behavioral Patterns

Children who endure ACEs are more likely to develop maladaptive coping strategies that persist into adulthood. This might manifest as aggressive behavior, substance abuse, self-harm, or even criminal activity. These coping mechanisms are often a response to the stress and emotional turmoil experienced during childhood, and they can become deeply ingrained patterns of behavior. Remember when we talked about the prefrontal cortex and how it doesn’t completely form until the age of 25, which is why we see behavioral hijinks from kids and emerging adults that don’t exhibit any reasoning whatsoever? (that blog post is called The Hilarious Hijinks of the Underdeveloped Prefrontal Cortex, if you want to read it). ACE’s prohibit brain growth; particularly the growth of the prefrontal cortex. A young person experiencing trauma of this magnitude has a built-in watch dog: the amygdala. The amydgala is the fight, flight, or freeze center of the brain, and in trauma, it kicks in with a protective vengeance. If you’re in persistent trauma as a child, your brain believes you need this center more than you need reasoning, so the development of the prefrontal cortex slows down. Waaaaay down. And this is why, if you’re working with adults, you see 30+ year olds acting like they’re 15. They may still be stuck there in some ways. Healing unaddressed childhood trauma is essential to forward movement into a healthy adulthood.

2. Mental Health

ACEs can significantly increase the risk of mental health disorders in adulthood, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The emotional scars left by ACEs can lead to difficulties in forming healthy relationships, maintaining stable employment, and enjoying a fulfilling life.

3. Physical Health

The impact of ACEs isn't limited to mental health; it extends to physical health as well. Studies have revealed a direct correlation between ACEs and chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and even a shortened lifespan. The chronic stress resulting from ACEs can disrupt the body's stress-response systems, leading to long-term health issues.

4. Intergenerational Transmission

Unfortunately, the effects of ACEs don't end with the individual who experienced them. ACEs can be transmitted across generations, as those who have faced adversity might struggle with parenting, perpetuating a cycle of trauma within families. Understanding and addressing this cycle is crucial to breaking its grip on future generations.

**Breaking the Cycle: Healing and Resilience**

While the impact of ACEs on adult behavior is undeniable, it's important to remember that the story doesn't end there. Resilience and healing are possible, and interventions can make a significant difference in mitigating the long-term effects of ACEs. Here are a few key strategies:

1. Early Intervention

Identifying ACEs early and providing appropriate support is vital. Schools, healthcare providers, and social services play a critical role in recognizing signs of ACEs and offering interventions that can help children cope and heal.

2. Therapeutic Interventions

Therapies such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) have shown promise in helping individuals process traumatic experiences and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

3. Supportive Relationships

Positive relationships with caring adults can act as a buffer against the negative effects of ACEs. A strong support network can provide emotional validation and a safe space for healing.

4. Public Awareness and Policy Changes

Raising awareness about the lasting impact of ACEs and advocating for policies that prioritize children's well-being can contribute to preventing and addressing the consequences of these experiences.

**Here’s the Thing…**

Adverse Childhood Experiences cast a long shadow on our adult lives, influencing our behavior, mental and physical health, and even the way we raise our own children. However, it's important to recognize that these effects are not insurmountable. With the right support, early intervention, and a commitment to healing, individuals who have faced ACEs can find resilience and break the cycle of trauma. In our schools, we need to be proactive when we see misbehavior in students, because persistent behaviors that don’t stop with consistent, appropriate interventions are not just the result of a willful child. Something else is going on, and we are obligated to help that child. Maybe it’s trauma, maybe it’s a medical issue, maybe it’s a mental health issue…whatever it is, instead of consistently applying punishment, we should get to the root cause and help them to overcome. in adults, I say the very same thing. Persistent aberrant behaviors that don’t cease with consistently applied appropriate interventions? Something’s going on there, and it might be unaddressed ACEs. It’s easy enough to have someone score themselves to see the number of ACEs they have. That’s a great starting point. It just takes a little effort.

In my work with incarcerated juveniles and adults, I saw ACEs that were off the charts. Right now, as I think about it, I can’t recall a single individual with whom I had the privilege of interacting that did not have a high ACEs score. Even folks in our correctional classrooms who would claim to have had all kinds of privileges growing up, at their core, when they scored themselves, had persistent childhood trauma that shed a lot of light on their past and current adult behavior.

Not everyone with a high number of ACEs ends up incarcerated, by the way, but unaddressed trauma takes its toll, as you read above, in many ways. If this is you or someone you love, I encourage you to find support in getting to the bottom of what needs to be addressed.

If you work with children or adults, I encourage you to educate yourself on the ways in which unaddressed ACEs can derail a healthy existence.

If you want to provide professional development on this subject, including how to address behaviors in a classroom or in a carceral space, you can contact me here.

And lastly, we have to work together to provide the resources and understanding necessary to ensure a brighter future for those impacted by childhood adversity. This includes educators, practitioners, social workers, medical and mental health professionals, advocates, policy makers, and correctional workers and leadership.

I’m going to finish this cuppa and then get another as I watch the water and enjoy the 80 degrees that will too soon turn to triple digits. I hope you have a wonderful week full of laughter, and love, and plenty of coffee (or whatever beverage floats your boat. I’m on a lake, so forgive all of the lakey metaphors).

Happy thoughts to you!