As children, we get hurt. Busted chins, scraped knees, bonked heads -it happens to all of us.
“I’m hurt; who will hug me? Who will help me? You, mom?” my child-brain asked.
If she embraced me, my heart swelled with gratitude, and my young brain learned to respond calmly to stress and that I am worthy of care.
But wait! What if I didn’t have anyone to run to? What if my mom ignored me or told me to stop crying? What if she panicked?
“I’m hurt, and no one cares for me. No one helps me. Not even you, mom?” my child-brain asked.
In this case, my heart ached for love. My brain learned to respond to stress with anxiety and that I am not worthy of care.
Research indicates that what happens to us as children shapes our brains and ultimately affects our overall health.
How did my childhood really affect my brain? And can I change my brain as an adult?
There are many ways to explore this question, but one small tool is learning our ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) score and understanding its implications.
Join me as we explore the science behind the ACE score and how this tool can help us grow and strengthen our brains.