The ACES study is one of the largest investigations ever conducted (mid 90’s) to assess associations between childhood maltreatment and later-life health and well-being. It has since been studied in several locations with similar results and they are continuing to follow the original participants.

What is happening right now in the space your body is occupying? There are sense perceptions, of the air or clothes on your skin, sounds, wetness in your mouth and the movement of your body with your breath. Are you holding your breath or is it smooth and continuous? Notice the energy, sensations and feelings.

You can free yourself and heal from the residual effects of hurt and trauma.

“Trauma is what happens inside us as a result of what happens to us. The effect of trauma is that we disconnect from ourselves, the present moment, and our sense of value.”

- Trauma expert, Gabor Maté MD

As described by Dr. Stephen Porges, PhD:

There are two components to the polyvagal system that controls the nervous system. Both communicate between the brain and body with 80% of the nerve fibers being sensory (bringing info from body to brain).

This can be a starting place for resources on educating ourselves about social justice issues. There are many resources available and many issues that we are being called on to understand and care about. We are being called to live with awareness, and to repair the disconnection caused by personal and collective trauma.

We are using the term trauma in reference to psychology, the brain, and the nervous system, not a physical wound. People often avoid facing trauma because it is so painful. We have already lived through the traumatic event or period, but still feel the negative effects in our life.

Stay with the here-and-now, moment-to-moment experience in the body and use this as a secure base from which to then reach into the implicit memories. Out of the safety of the present, we are dipping into these traumatic experiences to revisit, but not relive the trauma.