Early adversity and trauma – also known as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) – have significant health effects that carry forward throughout life. ACEs, which include childhood abuse, neglect and household dysfunction, can disrupt the growing bodies and brains of children, leading to a higher risk of disease, disability, risky health behaviours and social problems later in life.
During my clinical training I have found myself wondering: how might the health issues of patients I have met be influenced by their childhood experiences? I am reminded of the middle-aged woman, sitting in the waiting room of the emergency department, following her first suicide attempt on a background of a chronic eating disorder. The refugee with a history of cocaine abuse presenting to the emergency psychiatry clinic. And the young man who came to his family doctor in crisis because of a worsening abusive relationship at home.
[For more of this story, written by Max Deschner, go to http://healthydebate.ca/opinio...hildhood-experiences]
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