Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction are potentially traumatic events in childhood that have been linked to increased risk to negative outcomes in adulthood. Aversive community environments can also have a traumatic impact. These include factors such as communities with high poverty rates, violence, poor housing quality, and limited supports/ resources.
No one is immune to experiencing stress, trauma, or other challenging situations that shakes our foundation of safety and security. Reflecting on the last year, many have experienced serious medical and mental health problems or have been impacted by conditions affecting loved ones. Stressors affecting finances and relationships have been prevalent. Suffering is inevitable as it is part of the human condition. Yet during times suffering, there can also be tremendous growth through healing and rebuilding.
Creating a plan on how to adapt can help one feel more capable to embrace and bounce back from changes and/or challenges. When recognizing how one has navigated these in the past, a greater sense of ability may arise.
