Survey can help you determine effects

HARLINGEN – Victims of childhood trauma can take a survey to determine how much the abuse has affected their adult lives.

The Adverse Childhood Experiences Survey asks such questions as “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?” Yes or no? If yes, check a box at the bottom of the page.

ACE is a list of 10 questions created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Every time a victim answers yes to a question, the severity of the person’s problems resulting from abuse increases. It also shows the likelihood of an ACE survivor committing suicide, said Janet Magee, founder and executive director of Blue Sunday Child Abuse Prevention Initiative.

Magee says she uses the ACE survey in her WINGS class where women learn how to release themselves from their past.

After taking the survey, the women in the class use material from ACE Overcomers to gain control of their lives.

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