The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study is one of the largest investigations ever conducted on the links between childhood maltreatment and later-life health and well-being.

http://www.acestudy.org/

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/ACE/

Growing up experiencing any of the following conditions in the household prior to age 18:

1. Recurrent physical abuse
2. Recurrent emotional abuse
3. Contact sexual abuse
4. An alcohol and/or drug abuser in the household
5. An incarcerated household member
6. Someone who is chronically depressed, mentally ill, institutionalized, or suicidal
7. Mother is treated violently
8. One or no parents
9. Emotional or physical neglect

Unfortunately, my childhood was such that I answered yes to all of them. Nine out of nine.

I was really surprised that having an incarcerated family member would fall into the abuse category. I had two in and out of jail quite frequently.

I think from now on if any of our physicians make our physical complaints seem like it's "all in our heads" we need to show them this pyramid.