In 2010, I was asked to write an article for a parenting magazine regarding child abuse. My initial response was, "No way!" Having had a decent childhood myself and nearly ready to launch two kids of my own, I could not wrap my mind around writing about this topic. Words like "sordid" and "disgusting" and phrases like "how can people DO this to children" swarmed my mind and added to some immense resistance.
But resistance is an indicator that something major is about to occur. And it did.
As a result of writing that article, I met a social worker who told me about the ACE study. As a result, I have been working behind the scenes to get the word out about it. Right now--May, 2014--I am still shocked at how many people do not know about the important key, assessment tool and promise of healing that is the ACE study.
As a freelance writer and editor, I've worked with several authors to promote information about the ACE study. The parenting book Raising a Happy Spirit, by Julianna Lyddon, M.C. was the first "placement" I was given permission for inserting the ACE study information. Author Mike Tapscott in his book Homeless Hero: Understanding the Soul of Home took my editorial advice and placed information about the ACE study in his book. In her memoir regarding years spent as a drug rehab specialist, Ellen Gardner wrote about the ACE study in You Gotta Love 'Em: What I've Discovered Working with Addiction at Arizona Pathways Residential Treatment Center.
There are to be movies released soon about ACEs--and I am awaiting those ACE messages as they will appear on screen, reaching new audiences.
As long as I live, I will promote the good work done by Vincent J. Felitti, M.D. and Robert Anda, M.D. and pursue all the many ways that HEALING FROM ACEs is possible for humanity. A wise man who is on the ACE Consortium group in Phoenix once said to me that although childhood trauma will always happen (afterall, this is the Earth), awareness of it is necessary in order to have a chance to minimize its effects.
True. Childhood trauma has happened and will always happen, but my mission is to pursue knowledge of how healing from ACEs is possible. I think of the generation of people who are now in nursing homes--our aged population--who are carrying a legacy of ACEs. If I had a magic wand, I would invade their world and lives seeking their memories of early trauma and do my best to unpack those old suitcases so that when they transition to that unknown world beyond here, they would not have to carry such hurt.
Who is listening? Who? What more will I be able to do?
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