The ACE test, or Adverse Childhood Experiences test, is used to figure out if maybe the reason you have a mental illness, have bad habits, or anything that could affect your physical health. There are 10 different areas of the ACE test which are: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical or emotional neglect, family member with a mental illness in your household, incarceration of a family member in your household, neglect from your mother, substance abuse within the household, and divorce.

The three main categories of the ACE test are abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. The higher you score, the more likely you are to have symptoms. Many people who score on high on the test have trouble concentrating or can be very impulsive. ACE testing is a way to determine how at risk you are for a chronic disease. If you score more than four on your ACE test, your risk for these things can be very serious.

This is a test you usually take when you are around the age of 18, and then it tells you the risk factors that have developed because of this childhood trauma. The test doesn’t guarantee any of the “warning signs”, and not everyone that has trauma has depression or health problems. Some people with trauma do remarkably well in life, even if they have a high score on the ACE test.

Getting a high score on the ACE test does not mean that you are going to have depression or drug problems. Some deal with trauma very well, by getting counseling or having loving friends and family members. Others, don’t do so well in life and can become lazy, have issues with substance abuse, or physical or mental illnesses.

All of this research makes one thing clear though: one of the main sources of having health or mental issues is childhood trauma. ACE testing is very beneficial because it helps us know what is causing the issues and if you have symptoms of anything earlier on, you can treat it sooner. Childhood trauma is a very serious thing, and shouldn’t be taken lightly by anyone.

If you would like to take the ACE test- http://www.ncjfcj.org/sites/default/files/Finding%20Your%20ACE%20Score.pdf