Childhood Trauma and Teenage Problems

For decades researchers have been unlocking the ways Adverse Childhood Events (ACE) impact us later in life. The correlation between ACE and smoking, drinking, drugs, violence, suicide, and early death are staggering. As a result, there is a new approach to counseling and education called Trauma Informed Care.

As we ponder how to prevent violence, we cannot overlook the people that do violent things. Why are they violent? Can we do something to prevent violence?

In an earlier post I differentiated among the three levels of Adversity. Trauma does not cover all of them but it is a short-cut name we use for all three.

Shock: Minor to Occasional Adverse Events
Trauma: Regular Adverse Events
Abuse: Chronic Adverse Events

Adversity can be of two large types:
Adversity from harmful Interactions
Shocking Interactions-Dysfunctional relationships; hyperactive, withdrawn, anxious
Traumatic Interactions-Fight/Flight reactions; Easily angered, deeply depressed, social anxiety
Abusive Interactions-Deeply troubled with scattered thinking; Suicidal, out of touch, project feeling

Adversity from harmful Neglect: A lack of nurture, education, food, care, understanding, compassion, medical care, training, boundaries

Shock from incidents of Neglect
Trauma from incidents of Neglect
Abuse from incidents of Neglect

Adversity from harmful Interactions: A loss of a loved one through illness, death, addictions, mental illness, incarceration, work, armed forces, etc. yelling, bullying, hitting, rape and unwanted sex,

Shock from harmful Interactions
Trauma from harmful Interactions
Abuse from harmful Interactions

We must focus on both Prevention of and Treatment

What regular people and churches can do.
1. Learn to Listen
2. Teach everyone to Renew their minds
3. Prayer for healing
4. Nurture and affirm people
5. Preach grace and mercy

My books and videos can help.
www.sweetenlife.com/store