At Options Naturopathic, we pay close attention to findings from the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Study, the largest epidemiological analysis of its kind ever conducted.
The ACE Study continues to show that adverse experiences early in life predict negative health experiences and conditions later in life. The original study explored 10 categories of adverse childhood experience (ACE), including the following:
- Physical, emotional, and contact sexual abuse
- Emotional and physical neglect
- Growing up in a household without both biological parents
- Growing up in a household where . . .
- Mother was treated violently
- One member of the household was alcoholic or a drug user
- One member was chronically depressed or mentally ill
- One member was imprisoned
We have been utilizing the ACE Questionnaire that was developed from the ACE study to help patients—and parents or guardians of children and adolescents—develop a greater understanding of the link between adverse life experiences and health and mental health conditions.
Our Approach to Trauma and ACEs
We have learned from research literature and extensive clinical observations that experiences of physical and emotional adversity, abuse, and trauma often create intense, chronic, and toxic feelings, thoughts, perceptions, and self-perceptions in the mind and body. These imprints often disrupt or interrupt the natural flow of and collaboration among blood, oxygen, nutrients, hormones, neurotransmitters, and other forms of biological information and lifeforce. In other words, assault, neglect, and other forms of adversity and trauma—especially in childhood and adolescence—often have immediate and long-term (downstream) negative impacts upon health, wellness, development, and maturation.
At Options Naturopathic, we have developed a number of innovations that successfully address negative consequences of trauma and other adverse experiences. These interventions help you and your body get back into the full flow of Nature and its healing intelligence.