> Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic or
stressful events that occur in the first 18 years of life (V. J. Felitti et al.,
2019). Exposure to ACEs typically consists of childhood exposure to
abuse (sexual, physical, emotional), neglect (physical or emotional), or
household dysfunction (parental mental health or substance use challenge,
divorce, witnessing domestic violence, parental incarceration,
etc.).
I skimmed through the interesting parts of the paper, and studies like this are important for encouraging more efforts toward prevention. But what can we do for the people who have already experienced this? How can we undo the damage, especially when the effects seem significant and permanent?
I grew up in the days of "Tough Love." It destroyed the family. This many years later and there is still no chance of re-connection.
That was a total failure of a program. And they lacked competing theories on raising "problematic" children that were, say, less hostile than Tough Love.
Ruined families are not so rare. What is rare is treatment for those who are in the "after" group.
> How can we undo the damage, especially when the effects seem significant and permanent?
"As such, the hippocampus and hippocampal neuroplasticity may also play a key role in resilience and recovery from stress. This is supported by the current finding that hippocampal volume increased following psychological therapy."
I skimmed through the interesting parts of the paper, and studies like this are important for encouraging more efforts toward prevention. But what can we do for the people who have already experienced this? How can we undo the damage, especially when the effects seem significant and permanent?