What Are Adverse Childhood Experiences?

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Having many hurtful relationships can indicate a traumatic childhood event left untreated.

Capacity to feel fear and experience fight-or-flight is often replaced by freeze or detachment from feeling.

Coping strategies are distorted and can leave one vulnerable to another in a relationship.

EMDR is helpful for floating back to identify and process earlier trauma that impacts current functioning.

Victims of intimate partner abuse (IPA) who find themselves repeating harmful relationships most likely have early life experiences that contribute to their vulnerability to perpetrators. Vulnerability does not in any way imply responsibility—that lies solely with the person perpetrating the abuse.

History of Trauma or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

“Past exposure to abuse, neglect, or violence can shape a person’s coping skills, self-esteem, and learned understanding of what constitutes normal or acceptable behavior, increasing future vulnerability.” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 2024)

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