Is It A Behavior Problem Or Stress From ACEs?

Why Knowing About ACEs Can Change How You Interact With Your Clients

ACEs are Adverse Childhood Experiences. 
​Childhood experiences can be both positive and negative, and can have a huge impact on our futures. 
Adverse Childhood Experiences have been associated with:

• risky health behaviors
• chronic health conditions
• low life potential
• early death

As the number of ACEs increases, so does the risk for these outcomes.

There are 2 Categories of ACEs

1. Abuse or Neglect

• Recurrent physical abuse
• Recurrent emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional or physical neglect

2. Household Dysfunction

• Alcohol or drug abuser​
• Incarcerated household member
• Someone chronically depressed, suicidal, institutionalized or mentally ill
• Mother being treated violently
• One or no parents

Early Brain Development
Experiences build our brain architecture. Our interactions shape our brain circuitry and the synapses we build during moments of learning. Our emotions during these learning moments strongly impact how our brains store the new information from these experiences.  Toxic stress can derail healthy development. 
Toxic stress = Extreme, frequent, or extended activation of the body's stress response, without the buffering presence of a supportive adult.

Challenging Behaviors That May Result From ACEs:

Day to day interactions can be tough and interfere with a child's ability to learn.  ACEs can show up at home, at the store, at school, or in the waiting room of a doctor's office.  It's important to recognize these behaviors so that we can help children to self regulate and deal with their stress.
Stress in little kids can appear as:

• Poor sleep or nightmares
• Poor appetite, low weight, or other digestive problems
• Difficulties with relationships
• Regressions in developmental abilities
• Excessive temper
• Scream or cry excessively
• Startle
• Anxious, fearful or avoidant
• Fear of separation
• Irritability

Stress in older kids can appear as:

• Short attention span​
• Flight, fight, or fright (freeze) response
• Struggle to learn; falling behind in school
• Respond to world as constant danger
• Distrustful of adults
• Unable to develop health peer friends
• Feel of failure, despair

How To Help:

1. We have to believe that all kids are good, but that many of them have troubles over which they have little control
2. We have to understand that behaviors are adaptations of the environment
3. We have to create an environment where kids feel safe enough to learn
4. We have to help kids learn self-regulation

It is important to remember that some of the kids we work with are already torn down when they get to school or therapy, and we must always build them up!

We need to regulate, relate, & reason

One on One: Create Safety

• Be aware of when the child is upset
• Offer an interaction, open up the lines of communication with them
• Offer quiet time or reflection
• Help the child find ways to regulate themselves:
  • Having a special person or place they go to
  • Meditation
  • Rocking
  • Music
  • Breathing
  • Yoga
  • Movement
  • Writing/Art
  • Make glitter bottles, stress/squeeze balls, or  slime
  • Go outside; encourage outdoor exploration or play
  • Offer downtime: mental rest, daydreaming, relaxation time
• Reflect, validate, thank
  
  • Listen to the child when they want to talk, reflect back to them that they have been heard, validate the child's feelings without judgment, and thank them for sharing with you
    
• Have clear and set routines and expectations
  
  • This is very beneficial for children who live in chaotic environments where they are often out of control
    
• Give kids moments of success instead of focusing on the negatives
  
• Create opportunities for children to be good and have success
  
• Positive experiences lead to more positive experiences and those moments make kids feel valued and valuable
  

To learn more about ACEs you can visit their website at:
https://acestoohigh.com/
You can also find out your own ACE score at:
​https://acestoohigh.com/got-your-ace-score/