By Jenna Feeney, Guest contributor
I first learned about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the Aug. 21, 2023, Fearless newsletter guest column by Krista Tedrow, and the concept was further discussed in the Nov. 13, 2023, article about The Beacon. I sought out the ACEs questionnaire and discovered I have a score of 5/10. A score of 4 or more is considered high, and the higher the ACE score, the higher the risk is for a slew of negative health outcomes.
Women are more likely to report higher ACEs than their male counterparts. In addition to the long list of negative health outcomes a higher ACEs score may contribute toward, women may also encounter unique negative outcomes including pregnancy complications and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). I share this not for sympathy, but to raise awareness of how trauma and women’s health are deeply connected.
I started my period when I was 10 years old – another possible consequence of a higher ACEs score. I started seeing a gynecologist when I was 12 because of long period duration, heavy flow, severe cramps and extreme moodiness. I was prescribed birth control and told to take ibuprofen, the typical response when women (or girls) seek medical help for female issues.
Over the next 20 years, the cramps and PMS worsened with each period. I felt like I had no control over my emotions or my mental state. I struggled with moderate persistent depression outside of my period, and the week leading into each period was a game of emotional roulette. Could everyone sense how unstable I felt? Would I survive until tomorrow?
I am very fortunate that I was able to function well enough through school, college and work. I got married and have had three wonderful children. But still, each month followed the same exhausting cycle – weeks dominated by mood swings, pain and recovery – before starting all over again.
Nobody told me this was abnormal. My trauma wasn’t visible or part of the conversation with doctors, so its impact on my health was never recognized. I think many of the women in my family also have higher ACEs scores and struggled with PMDD, making these struggles common enough that they felt normal rather than concerning. It wasn’t until I learned about ACEs through Fearless and PMDD through Mindspring Mental Health Alliance that I realized I don’t have to live this way.
Mindspring Mental Health Alliance is a local nonprofit that provides free education and resources about mental health. They periodically host a webinar on special issues in women’s mental health which helped me better understand PMDD.
There is no cure for the negative health outcomes of having a higher ACEs score, nor is there a simple solution for PMDD. Both will vary significantly from person to person, and various treatment options will have varying results. What I have found helpful are talk therapy, antidepressant medication, honest communication with my doctor, getting seven to eight hours of sleep at night, using a happy light in the winter, fueling my body with healthy food, strength training, maintaining a positive social network of friends and daily check-ins with myself about how I’m feeling and what I need. I still struggle through PMDD week. Making a plan in writing with my therapist has given me a tangible directive of what I need to do when life is particularly difficult.
I am worried about when my two daughters enter puberty and begin their periods. I cannot control the genetic components of my higher ACEs score that may have passed down to them. They are more likely to have PMDD because I have it. I don’t want to see them struggle. But I can model what self-care looks like. I try to observe their behaviors and keep an open line of communication with them about their feelings. I want them to know that I’m here for them, there are options and they are strong enough to handle whatever comes their way.
Life can be hard. ACEs and PMDD make everything more challenging. And sometimes surviving through it all is hard. We need to talk more openly about how childhood trauma impacts women’s health – and we need to listen when women say something isn’t right. If this story sounds familiar, know that you are not weak, broken or alone. There are resources, treatments and support available. We owe it to ourselves and the next generation to ask for better care and to believe that healing, while not simple, is possible.
Jenna Feeney lives in the Des Moines metro area. She is a wife, a mother of three elementary-aged children, a full-time employee and an aspiring crazy cat lady.
