What Are Adverse Childhood Experiences?

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The type of stress experienced, as well as its timing and duration, determines its effects.

Chronic toxic stress alters danger perception, leading to maladaptive behaviors.

Toxic stress without support can harm childhood brain development.

Stress is unavoidable. It is a part of all of our lives. Its causes, timing, and nature determine its impact on our bodies and our minds.

Not all stress is the same. It varies from common challenges of everyday life to life-threatening events. “Positive” stress, the mild or brief stress of doing things for the first time—a job interview, the first day of school, a first date—is a frequent and necessary occurrence. It arouses some anxiety, but demands of new experiences also help us grow and develop new strengths and skills. We need them.

“Tolerable” stress is exposure to a greater threat or adversity, such as the death of a loved one or a natural disaster. These more serious situations evoke a strong activation of our stress response system, the built-in neurobiological warning system that is set off when we perceive a threat. The hormones released by our stress response system—adrenaline, cortisol—prepare our bodies for immediate action, the fight (confront the danger) or flight (flee) response. Talking with others after such events helps us to calm our stress response and return........

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