It’s no secret that how you grew up and how you were parented have an impact on you - good, bad, or somewhere in between. Even down to where you choose to live and who you associate yourself with. This is important to consider and keep in perspective because early childhood experiences shape us mentally, emotionally and research has shown it even impacts our physical health. One of the largest investigations and studies done by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente in 1995 revealed a connection between childhood abuse, neglect, and household challenges and later life health and well being. So what does this mean? This means that the abuse and/or neglect that children face can lead to detrimental health issues like heart disease, obesity, cancer, and even suicide later in life. There is also an increase likelihood of experiencing difficulties in emotional regulation, impulse control, and social attachment. 

In this blog, we will define what ACES are, the types of ACES that impact Black women, and share some ways that Black women can decrease the negative impact of ACES.

What are ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences)?

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) are traumatic events that happen in a childs’ life before the age of 18. The earlier they occur and the more ACES that a child experiences, the higher the risk of negative outcomes. Black women are at a higher risk of experiencing ACES and therefore they are at an even higher risk of being negatively impacted by them.  

Why are ACES important?

ACES are important to understand because of their pervasive and long lasting (even through generations) impacts. If you are aware of this far reaching phenomena, you can play a part in ending its negative impacts. But it only starts with awareness, at some point we must take action. With this information health professionals (Black therapists included) can provide early intervention, appropriate trauma informed treatment, provide relationship support, and create an environment where protective factors improve outcomes.    

5 Types of ACES Black women Experience

Below are five types of Adverse Childhood Experiences Black women face:  

1. Physical abuse - Because Black girls are considered more mature and less innocent, they are at a higher risk of receiving harsher punishments.

2. Emotional abuse - Some of Black womens’ deepest wounds have come from experiencing constant criticism, humiliation, or rejection from caregivers.   

3. Sexual abuse - Black women have been sexualized since slavery and sadly have been coerced or forced into inappropriate sexual activities by family members, friends of family, strangers or all of the above.  

4. Neglect - Lack of nurturance and guidance from caregivers damages Black womens’ view of themselves and stifles the development of healthy coping skills and healthy self care practices.  

5. Household dysfunction - There are numerous factors that break up the Black family system which have a ripple effect on the entire household. Living in an unpredictable environment where there is domestic violence, substance abuse, mental illness, or parental separation/divorce is no joke.

Related Article: What is adultification? Why should it matter to Black women?

Parentification and ACES

Parentification, or when a child takes on the responsibilities of an adult or a caregiver, can be considered adverse because it is a form of neglect. If you were parentified, you probably were expected to care for your siblings, be the emotional support for your parents, make financial contributions, and/or manage household affairs from a young age. Parentification Therapy with Myers-Galloway Counseling supports clients in developing a sense of self understand your personal needs.

Related Article: What is Parentification? Why should it matter to Black women?

Ways Black women can overcome the impact of ACES

Reading about these large, deeply rooted and systematic issues may seem overwhelming. But let’s all take a deep breath. Next, we are going to provide a few tips on how to approach the impact of ACES to improve your life.

1. Challenge what was seen as normal. Our everyday family life can sometimes occur in a bubble. We don’t really see things as a problem when it has been ingrained into our daily existence and routine. No matter how unhealthy or dysfunctional it may be. For some Black women it was normal for them to be responsible for everything and everyone. It was normal to see all the relationships in their family fail. It was normal to not have a father figure around. If you have your own children, examine how your upbringing is influencing your parenting style. Be open to doing things differently. 

2. Find ways to expose yourself to people, places, and things that are different from you. Safely of course. You can do this in ways as small as creating a vision board or attending a meetup in your city with a group of people who are interested in the same things you are. Make this aspirational at the very least. Give yourself permission to dream. Take care of your body, mind, and spirit. 

3. Find or create protective factors that can improve your life today and overtime. We may not be able to change the things that have happened to us, but with our sense of self awareness and all that we have learned, we can take action. Things like using your creative outlets, building a support network, assessing positive aspects of your childhood, and acknowledging your own inner strengths can help you overcome the negative impact of adverse childhood experiences. In our blog TBD we discuss   

The main takeaway

Putting in the work to change your life takes courage and discipline. What we want you to remember the most after reading this blog about the impact of ACES on Black women is that you are already on track to overcome it. Who you are today can be completely different from who you are this time next year. 

Have you experienced any of the ACES listed above and you know that it’s impacted your life? Working with a therapist at Myers-Galloway Counseling is validating in many ways as we focus on practicing through our signature approach of helping you create a support system, teaching you about boundaries, creating your own core values and teaching you about mindfulness techniques. 

Call (704) 750-1889 or email us at hello@myersgallowaycounseling.com today to speak with a member of our team.