Introduction
Trauma might be a complex issue that impacts individuals’ lives and diminishes their quality of life. Thus, the levels of trauma might differ regarding their severity, nature, and sophistication. Childhood traumas, or those caused to people in their early years, might have devastating effects on individuals and their ability to socialize, interact with other community members, and evolve.
Importance of Overcoming ACEs
For this reason, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their understanding acquire the top priority for understanding the spectrum of trauma and helping individuals to struggle against their fears and problems. The existing tools, such as the ACE survey, help to investigate the problem, determine its scope, and consider whether an intervention is required.
Thus, ACEs might serve as the source of stress, trauma, and mental diseases. The term can be defined as the negative, traumatizing events that occur before 18 and confer health risks (Perry & Winfrey, 2021). The trauma that emerged as a result of ACEs might impact individuals differently.
ACEs Questionnaire: Pros and Cons
Perry and Winfrey (2021) admit that there are three main aspects, such as event, exercise, and effects, that are critical for understanding the phenomenon. It means that to take a deeper dive into the problem, it is essential to help a person understand themselves, look back at their childhood, and understand how current problems might be a result of past events. The ACE questionnaire helps to reflect on the past and determine whether trauma is present.
The importance of ideas offered by Perry and Winfrey can be evidenced by completing the ACEs questionnaire to understand how it works and whether it can promote a better understanding of psychology and mentality. A set of questions is designed to help a person look back at their life before age 18 and determine whether traumatic events occurred. Higher ACE scores show a higher risk of trauma and possible complications. Although the questionnaire is not complex and does not take much time, it is a potent method for gaining a deeper understanding of past experiences.
At the same time, it is critical to analyze that ACE’s study has some limitations. The ACE scores do not truly help us understand an individual’s personal journey (Perry & Winfrey, 2021). However, it helps to determine the risks and cultivate resilience. Higher ACE scores may indicate lower resilience and greater vulnerability to stress (Goldenson et al., 2020). My own results show that I am resilient, even though my ACE scores are low, which supports the correlation.
Thus, the questionnaire can be used to determine how to work with trauma in the future and whether additional services from the counselor are required. Childhood experiences can also be linked to post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, which means that ACE can also be helpful for these cases (Tabb et al., 2022). That is why the tool can be a stimulus for a more comprehensive investigation of a person and finding a way to help them.
Conclusion
Altogether, the study of ACEs is important for dealing with trauma and finding ways to help a person overcome it. Although the tool cannot be used as the only diagnostic approach and will not stimulate recovery, it will show the risks of being traumatized. It might cultivate a desire to build greater resilience and avoid being stressed by past events. My personal experience shows that the questionnaire is not difficult. Still, it helps a person better understand their childhood and whether some past attitudes or interactions could be relevant in the present.
References
Goldenson, J., Kitollari, I., & Lehman, F. (2020). The relationship between ACEs, trauma-related psychopathology and resilience in vulnerable youth: Implications for screening and treatment. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 14(1), 151–160.
Perry, B., & Winfrey, O. (2021). What happened to you?Flatiron Books.
Tabb, L. P., Rich, J. A., Waite, D., Alberto, C., Harris, E., Gardner, J., Gentile, N., & Corbin, T. J. (2022). Examining associations between adverse childhood experiences and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among young survivors of urban violence. Journal of Urban Health, 99(4), 669–679.