Top Tip on How to Transform Your Life in 2023!

Best way to change your life in 2023!

Are you ready to transform your life this year?

If so, then it’s time to take the ACE test.

A healthy mind and life begin in childhood. And if you want to understand yourself, a good way to do that is to revisit and sort out the events from your childhood, that’s according to the ACE Study conducted by Kaiser Permanente and the CDC.

Childhood trauma has a lifelong impact on your overall health and can even hinder you from living a wholesome, meaningful, and happy life.

The ACE Study found a dramatic link between childhood trauma and people’s emotional, social, and chronic health outcomes as adults. This includes depression, violence, being a victim of violence, suicide, heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases, and ultimately premature or early death.

How to change your life this year

In the last few years, going to therapy has become the norm. I get people messaging me on Facebook at least a few times a month asking for referrals, which is great!

However, this year, being intentional about your reason for going to therapy is what will dramatically transform your life.

A lot of us go to therapy for superficial reasons. And here’s what I mean…

Although your current reason for going to therapy is perfectly valid, my goal is to convince you to dig just a little deeper and dive into the root of why the problem you are seeking treatment for even exist.

So…

Do you know what your ACE score is?

Before seeking therapy, knowing your ACE score could be life-changing for you and change the trajectory of your therapeutic experience.

As a clinician specializing in substance use disorder for the past six years, I counseled people with drug and alcohol problems, of course.

But I quickly discovered that what was lying beneath the surface of the addiction was much more than addiction. It was childhood trauma. Drug and alcohol misuse was a remnant of those childhood traumas.

What is an ACE score?

The ACE test is based on the ACE Study conducted by the CDC and Kaiser. Therefore, your ACE score measures the amount of toxic and chronic stress, also known as adverse childhood experiences you encountered in your childhood. This score will indicate the connection between adverse childhood experiences and your future health outcome.

What does your ACE score mean?

Before you can make meaningful changes in your life, it is important that you take the ACE test and understand your score.

Knowing your ACE score will help you assess and understand your risks for future psychological and medical problems and allow you to take the steps necessary to minimize those negative impacts.

Please note that the higher your ACE score, the higher your chances of experiencing psychological, social, emotional, and medical problems like depression and heart disease.

What if I have a high ACE score?

If you have a high ACE score, I don’t want you to be discouraged. There is hope!

However, finding the proper treatment and resources will require that you acknowledge your ACE score and the experiences that led to that score, which can be painful. Be sure to reach out to your support system if this part of the process becomes too difficult to cope with emotionally.

Final words on how to transform your life in 2023

If you are struggling with an issue in your life right now and plan to go to therapy, I challenge you to complete this ACE test. If the results didn’t turn out as you expected, take three deep breaths, absorb this new piece of information, and bring it with you to your first therapy session.

If you’re ready, the ACE test is below and can also be found on the CDC website.

Here’s a little explanation about the ACE test.

The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study measured 10 types of childhood trauma.

Five are personal:

physical abuse
verbal abuse
sexual abuse
physical neglect
emotional neglect

Five are related to other family members and household dysfunctions:

an alcoholic parent
a mother who’s a victim of domestic violence
a family member in jail
a family member diagnosed with a mental illness
and the removal of a parent through divorce, death, or abandonment

Each type of trauma counts as one point. For example, an individual who had a family member in jail and an alcoholic parent would have an ACE score of 2. You can also download a PDF copy of the ACE test if you don’t have time to take it now.

Enter 0 if “NO’ enter 1 if “YES”

Before your 18th birthday:

1) Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often… Swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you?

or

Act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt? No___ Yes___

2) Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often… Push, grab, slap, or throw something at you?

or

Ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured? No___ Yes___

3) Did an adult or person at least 5 years older than you ever… Touch or fondle you or have you touch their body in a sexual way?

or

Attempt or actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you? No___ Yes___

4) Did you often or very often feel that … No one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special?

or

Your family didn’t look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other? No___ Yes___

5) Did you often or very often feel that … You didn’t have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, and had no one to protect you? or Your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you or take you to the doctor if you needed it No___ Yes ___

6) Was a biological parent ever lost through divorce, abandonment, separation, or other reason? No___ Yes___

7) Was your mother or stepmother: Often or very often pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her?

or

Sometimes, often, or very often kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard?

or

Ever repeatedly hit over at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife? No___ Yes___

8) Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic, or who used street drugs? No___ Yes___

9) Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide? No___ Yes___

10) Did a household member go to prison? No___ Yes___

Add up your “Yes” answers: _ This is your ACE Score _______