The ACE program started by Nadine Burk Harris in 2019 has allowed medical practitioners to become more sensitive to toxic stress and its negative impact to our community. For most medical providers who are treating veterans in their clinics, the cause of Post traumatic stress, formerly shell shock, is evident however each veteran is reacting differently to their time in the military. The recent report provided by the general surgeon of California allows us to better understand those differences. A veteran who has had adverse childhood experiences is more at risk to develop severe PTSD symptoms. It is not always true, and more research are needed but this hypothesis appears to be correct for the most part.
All adverse childhood experiences or toxic stress will have a domino effect on the mental and physical health of the individual. Sometimes, patients don’t have any recollection of any negative events in their lives because those events have been suppressed. It sometimes takes years for the patient to discover the cause of his or her health behaviors or life choices.
It is important for medical providers to recognize all the possibilities causing the symptoms and they should not provide the answers. Each patient needs to be treated as individual and it is the patient that must find the answers to their trauma with the guidance of the medical providers. Medical professionals must be trained to be sensible and patient to provide the best care to their patients.
The healing process is a journey, and our guidance can make a difference in people’s lives.
Please, see the progress report from 2019 to 2023:Progress Report 2023 | ACEs Aware – Take action. Save lives.
