ACEs changing the way people think about child abuse

Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACEs, take many forms regarding child abuse. Abuse can be categorized as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. It can take place through the hands of a parent, a sibling, a caregiver or another person in a custodial role including clergy, coaches and teachers.

No matter where the abuse stems from the results remain the same. Victims of abuse suffer physical, mental, and emotional health problems throughout the rest of their lives. In 2014, there were over 700,000 victims of child abuse and neglect reported to child protective services in the United States according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with 1,580 reported deaths. Approximately 27 percent of the victims were under the age of three.

On Nov. 4, Dana Eisuberg, a clinical social worker and therapists from Missoula, addressed an audience of teachers, parents and caretakers at a workshop in Alberton. Her discussion centered on ACEs and how symptoms of abuse can be recognized and handled.

She said that a “Trauma Informed Schools” approach is gaining momentum and sweeping the nation as ways to help kids who are the most challenging to deal with in a classroom situation.

“ACEs is a way to shift the way we think about things and how we traditionally deal with problem kids,” Eisuberg said.

Kaiser Permanente in Southern California conducted studies from 1995 to 1997 on over 17,000 people. Participants were scored on adverse childhood trauma such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, alcoholic parents, drug use in the household, and divorce. Each trauma was given one ACE.

Results of the study showed that two-thirds of participants reported at least one ACE, and more than one in five reported three or more ACEs. The study found that there was a close relationship between ACEs and negative health and well-being outcomes across the course of the participant’s life.

As the number of ACEs increased, so did the risk of alcoholism, depression, smoking, sexually transmitted diseases, drug use, suicide attempts, heart problems, problems at work, financial stress, domestic violence, poor academic achievement and more.

The reason for this connection, according to ACE studies, begins at birth. Eisuberg explained that neurons in the brain transmit information to other cells and muscles in the body. As infant, neurons are not very connected but by elementary school age, there are a lot more connections, she said. By puberty, the connections start to diminish and the ones that are not used begin to disappear.

“It’s not to say that they can never recover, or come back, but for the most part, if they aren’t used they leave,” she said.

Early childhood trauma affects the way neurons are connected and how the brain develops. Experiences literally shape the brain and how a person reacts and responds to danger. Reactions range from flight, or escaping the danger, fright or hiding from it, or freeze, staying still until the danger has passed.

How a child reacts is how they have learned to survive in tough conditions. The result may be a child who acts “edgy”, hot tempered, hyper vigilant, or they may be withdrawn, quiet, responds to questions with “I don’t know.” They may be more withdrawn, lonely, lack friends, day dream, or they are shy.

Eisuberg asked the audience to think of a place or an activity that makes them feel happy, whether it’s listening to music, taking bubble bath, going for a hike, or watching a movie. She explained that these activities gives a person “resilience.” It’s a way to calm the spirit and quiet a person’s emotions if they are feeling tired, or anxious.

One way an ACE approach can help with problem children, is to first recognize the signs of trauma and becoming aware that there is an issue.

“Rather than rejecting the child, or scolding them, instead think about what may have happened to them that makes them react the way that they do,” she said.

If the signs of trauma are there, help the child identify his or her “trigger points,” or reactions that are a signal that they are becoming agitated. Create resilient activities that help to calm the child before their behavior gets out of hand, such as removing them from the room and letting them relax is a quiet space, she said.

“There is actual physical reactions that take place when a person becomes anxious; they may sweat, they have an increased heart rate, and blood pressure increases. They are in ‘survival mode’ and may stop being reasonable,” she said.

By dealing with anxiety before it reaching its full affects will help to alleviate a negative episode. There is also an “iChill” app available that helps people by teaching them the Community Resiliency Model. This is a set of self-help skills people can learn to help them deal with stress.

The Center for Disease Control identifies a number of strategies to help communities with prevention activities which range from a focus on individuals, families and relationships to broader community and societal change. For example, strengthening household financial security and creating family-friendly work policies. Enhanced parenting skills, and improve child care through licensing and accreditation.

“When we make relationships and environments safe, stable, and nurturing, we help all kids and families thrive,” is a cornerstone of the Center for Disease Control, with a commitment to stop violence before it begins.