ACEs, or Adverse Childhood Experiences, is an emerging scientific paradigm that explains the cause and effect relationships between childhood trauma and lifelong developmental issues including mental health diagnoses, physical wellness challenges, and substance use disorders.

There are 10 categories of Adverse Childhood Experiences:

1. Sexual abuse

2. Physical abuse

3. Emotional abuse

4. Physical neglect

5. Emotional or psychological neglect

6. Parental drug or alcohol abuse

7. Domestic violence

8. Parent with mental health diagnosis

9. Parent incarceration

10. Parental separation or divorce

Even though it's possible to have mutliple experiences within a category, one experience in a category and it is tallied on the questionnaire. It's possible for a child to tally 10 ACEs, which would be horrific.

The tipping point for ACEs is 4 or more, which exponentially increases the risk of the child developing lifelong developmental challenges.

It is believed that the new baseline for addiction is 4 or more ACEs, and that 70-80% of incarcerated folks have a score of 4 or more ACEs.

While my childhood was neither idyllic nor horrific, my ACEs score is at least a 4, and I struggled with alcoholism, depression and self-loathing for 51 years.

I'm writing a memoir about my experiences to raise ACEs awareness. That's the first step. Intervention and prevention will come later.

In the first picture of me I appear to be a happy two year old. The second picture is my kindergarten picture. The abuse and neglect were already taking their toll.

I'm a Minimalist and utilitarian, and I need help with my living expenses while I finish writing my memoir (a few months).

Straight Talk phone $60

1998 Ford Ranger insurance $85

Gas for auto $60

Utilities $40-50

Food $200

I don't own a television, so no monthly cable bill.

The ACEs Awareness wave is coming, and I want to help as many people as possible understand ACEs and their impact on humanity.