Meg Appelgate

Yeah, you're not far off. When survivors of the industry finally get out of these programs, we're starting to see the full scope of damage. We're talking mental health issues like complex PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and personality disorders. But it doesn't stop there. Housing insecurity, lack of job training, poor educational outcomes— and even higher chances of suicide.

Yeah, you're not far off. When survivors of the industry finally get out of these programs, we're starting to see the full scope of damage. We're talking mental health issues like complex PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and personality disorders. But it doesn't stop there. Housing insecurity, lack of job training, poor educational outcomes— and even higher chances of suicide.

It's like a nightmare bingo card of long-term effects, all tied to something called adverse childhood experiences.

It's like a nightmare bingo card of long-term effects, all tied to something called adverse childhood experiences.

It's like a nightmare bingo card of long-term effects, all tied to something called adverse childhood experiences.

Yeah. So basically, they're traumatic events that happen before you turn 18 and can mess with your entire life, your health, your opportunities, your stability. They're grouped into three categories, abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction.

Yeah. So basically, they're traumatic events that happen before you turn 18 and can mess with your entire life, your health, your opportunities, your stability. They're grouped into three categories, abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction.

Yeah. So basically, they're traumatic events that happen before you turn 18 and can mess with your entire life, your health, your opportunities, your stability. They're grouped into three categories, abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction.

The original study and decades of follow-up research has linked these experiences to a greater chance of chronic disorders, obesity, behavioral changes, autoimmune disease, depression, alcoholism, you name it.

The original study and decades of follow-up research has linked these experiences to a greater chance of chronic disorders, obesity, behavioral changes, autoimmune disease, depression, alcoholism, you name it.

The original study and decades of follow-up research has linked these experiences to a greater chance of chronic disorders, obesity, behavioral changes, autoimmune disease, depression, alcoholism, you name it.

Yeah, childhood trauma is like a ghost that haunts you well into adulthood. And get this, there's a questionnaire for adverse childhood experiences. It's like a trauma scorecard with 10 different types of abuse scenarios that can happen in childhood. For every one you check off, you get a point. And trust me, you really don't want a high score on this test.

Yeah, childhood trauma is like a ghost that haunts you well into adulthood. And get this, there's a questionnaire for adverse childhood experiences. It's like a trauma scorecard with 10 different types of abuse scenarios that can happen in childhood. For every one you check off, you get a point. And trust me, you really don't want a high score on this test.

Yeah, childhood trauma is like a ghost that haunts you well into adulthood. And get this, there's a questionnaire for adverse childhood experiences. It's like a trauma scorecard with 10 different types of abuse scenarios that can happen in childhood. For every one you check off, you get a point. And trust me, you really don't want a high score on this test.

What's even more mind-blowing is that many of the scenarios on that list match up perfectly with the kinds of abuse happening in these programs.

What's even more mind-blowing is that many of the scenarios on that list match up perfectly with the kinds of abuse happening in these programs.

What's even more mind-blowing is that many of the scenarios on that list match up perfectly with the kinds of abuse happening in these programs.

Yep, pretty much nailed it. To give you an idea of how true that is, if I myself had filled out the questionnaire before I was sent away, my score would have been a 1 out of 10. Now, because of what I had to go through during three and a half years in institutions, my score is now a seven. And higher scores aren't just a bad look. They can literally kill you.

Yep, pretty much nailed it. To give you an idea of how true that is, if I myself had filled out the questionnaire before I was sent away, my score would have been a 1 out of 10. Now, because of what I had to go through during three and a half years in institutions, my score is now a seven. And higher scores aren't just a bad look. They can literally kill you.

Yep, pretty much nailed it. To give you an idea of how true that is, if I myself had filled out the questionnaire before I was sent away, my score would have been a 1 out of 10. Now, because of what I had to go through during three and a half years in institutions, my score is now a seven. And higher scores aren't just a bad look. They can literally kill you.