Adverse Childhood Experiences and Their Lasting Impact on Health: A Comprehensive Guide

In today's episode post, we embark on an in-depth exploration of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their profound impact on adult mental and physical health. The CDC defines ACEs as, “potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood.” ACEs include (but are not limited to) physical, emotional, sexual abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, such as domestic violence or parental substance abuse. We'll investigate how these early negative events are critical predictors of adult psychiatric diagnoses, including substance use disorders (SUDs), depression, anxiety, PTSD, psychosis, and personality disorders. Our analysis extends to the intricate ways ACEs affect an individual's physiology and psychology. This episode will be the first of a mini-series of several episodes surrounding the impact of ACEs and how we can treat patients who experienced trauma.

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