In her phenomenal book, the deepest well, pediatrician Dr. Nadine Burke Harris writes about the link between childhood adversity and physical illness. She notes that children who have had a significant number of adverse events in childhood are more likely to be referred to a doctor for ADHD, have impulse control problems, asthma, and to suffer from a myriad of other physical symptoms. As adults, these children are more likely to be obese and suffer from cardiac problems, and they face as much as a 20-year reduction in life expectancy due to health-related concerns.

The connection between emotional trauma and physical problems that Dr. Harris has based her practice on was first popularized through research done at Kaiser. Kaiser’s team of researchers developed a 10-question list of potentially traumatic experiences people may have experienced prior to age 18, called the ACE scale.  Dr. Harris expanded upon the ACE test, because it does not capture all the types of traumas that children might experience, and integrated the use of those scores in her clinic in an impoverished area of San Francisco to improve physical and mental health. Dr. Harris found that a multi-modal approach to wellness helps improve outcomes for her patients and can help both children and adults.

It is interesting to me that Dr. Harris expanded upon the ACE test to include questions relevant to her patient base, because I have wondered more than once whether many people are experiencing the coronavirus pandemic as a trauma. If so, then it makes sense to nip any potential long-term problems in the bud through stress reduction techniques. The obvious steps are the ones will all know about but need reminders to do:  eat nutritious food, move our bodies, and sleep.   Other tools, though, can help, too, such as meditation or mindfulness practices, breathing practices, and body work (acupuncture, Reiki, massage, etc.). Certainly, going directly to the nervous system and calming it through neurofeedback would be an amazing benefit.  Neurofeedback cannot fix a crazy world, but it can help us respond to it in healthier ways. (I work with individuals age eight and older.)

If the link between emotional and physical health interests you, I strongly encourage you to read the deepest well. If you’re not a reader or don’t have time, Dr. Harris provides an abbreviated version of her story through a Ted talk, which you can access here.

If you’re curious about your own or a loved one’s ACE score, here is a copy:

For each “yes” answer, add 1. The total number at the end is your cumulative number of ACEs.
Before your 18th birthday:

1. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often… Swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you? or Act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt?
2. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often… Push, grab, slap, or throw something at you? or Ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?
3. Did an adult or person at least 5 years older than you ever… Touch or fondle you or have you touch their body in a sexual way? or Attempt or actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you?
4. Did you often or very often feel that … No one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special? or Your family didn’t look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other?
5. Did you often or very often feel that … You didn’t have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, and had no one to protect you? or Your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you or take you to the doctor if you needed it?
6. Were your parents ever separated or divorced?
7. Was your mother or stepmother:
   Often or very often pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her? or Sometimes, often, or very often kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard? or Ever repeatedly hit over at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife?
8. Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic, or who used street drugs?
9. Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide?
10. Did a household member go to prison?

If your total of ‘yes’ responses is four or greater, you are among those at higher risk for health problems.  A high score does not mean that you definitely will have health challenges, because this scale does not include protective factors that will build your resilience.