Jessica Woodville | Memoir & Musings

Let’s talk about one of the most important yet criminally underrated studies of our time: the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study. If you haven’t heard of it, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Despite its groundbreaking findings, it somehow never got the same PR treatment as, say, the Kardashians. But trust me, this study has shaped everything we know about childhood trauma, health, and why some of us feel like we’re running Windows 95 on hardware that was supposed to handle the latest iOS.

What Is the ACEs Study?

Back in the ‘90s, two researchers—Dr. Vincent Felitti and Dr. Robert Anda—decided to ask a simple but haunting question: Could childhood trauma be the root cause of many adult health problems? Spoiler alert: Yes. Yes, it could. And not just in the “I have trust issues” kind of way. We’re talking heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and even a shorter lifespan.

Felitti and Anda conducted a massive study with over 17,000 participants, asking them about their childhood experiences and then comparing their answers to their adult health records. The results? A direct correlation between childhood adversity and long-term health risks. This was the moment science finally said, “Hey, maybe childhood trauma isn’t just something you ‘get over.’”

Breaking Down the ACE Score

The ACE test consists of ten types of childhood experiences that fall into three categories:

• Abuse (physical, emotional, sexual)
• Neglect (physical, emotional)
• Household Dysfunction (mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, incarceration, parental separation)

Each “yes” answer scores one point. The higher your ACE score, the higher your risk for developing serious health problems. To put it bluntly: The body keeps the score, and it has receipts.

Why This Study Matters

Before the ACEs study, a lot of people thought childhood trauma was something you just grew out of. You had a rough childhood? Tough luck, kid. Be stronger. Work harder. Drink some water.

Except science (and, you know, common sense) tells us it doesn’t work that way. The ACEs study proved that unresolved trauma is more than just emotional baggage—it’s a literal health risk.

• An ACE score of 4 or more? You’re at higher risk for heart disease, depression, and suicide attempts.
• Score of 6 or higher? Your life expectancy may be shortened by up to 20 years (yeah, let that sink in).
• Higher ACE scores are linked to addiction, chronic pain, and even cancer.

This study didn’t just confirm what survivors already knew—it forced the medical field to acknowledge trauma as a legitimate public health crisis.

So, What Do We Do With This Information?

The good news? Your ACE score is not a life sentence. The research also emphasizes resilience—aka, the ability to bounce back. Supportive relationships, therapy, community resources, and good ol’ self-awareness can help undo some of the damage. Trauma doesn’t have to be a forever thing.

This is why trauma-informed care matters. This is why I created an extensive resource page on my website. Because if science is saying trauma impacts every part of our lives, we damn well better have the tools to do something about it.

And if anyone tries to tell you that childhood trauma isn’t a big deal, just remind them that science disagrees—and science has the data to prove it.

At the end of the day, knowledge is power. Understanding ACEs means understanding ourselves better, recognizing patterns, and realizing that healing is possible. It’s not about blaming the past—it’s about breaking cycles, reclaiming our future, and proving that we are more than the sum of our experiences.

So, if you’ve ever felt like your struggles were just something to “get over,” let this be your permission slip to stop gaslighting yourself. Your experiences matter. Your healing matters. And you? You are not alone in this.

Art credit: “The Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog” – Caspar David Friedrich (1818)