Understanding Repetition Compulsion and ACEs: A Personal Journey

The Power of Life's Lessons: Repetition Compulsion and ACEs

Is life presenting us with opportunities to learn until we finally grasp the lesson, or are we trapped in a cycle of repeating the same issues due to what's known as repetition compulsion? I didn’t even know what this term meant until I delved into the world of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Once I discovered it, I experienced a moment of sudden insight.

What is Repetition Compulsion?

According to the American Psychological Association, repetition compulsion is the unconscious need to reenact early traumas in an attempt to overcome or master them. These traumas are repeated in new situations that symbolically represent the repressed prototype. This could manifest in addictions, relationship choices, or obsessive-compulsive tendencies. For instance, when a friend continually dates the same type of person who isn’t good for them, it’s likely due to this compulsion.

My Personal Experience with Repetition Compulsion

In my case, I had to ask myself why I kept falling into the same cycles. What I discovered was that these patterns were so deeply rooted in my subconscious that even though I knew they weren’t the best for me, I continued them because they felt familiar and oddly comforting. This realization made it clear how detrimental deep-seated traumas can be on a person’s psyche.

The Challenge of Therapeutic Change

Repetition compulsion can act as a resistance to therapeutic change. The goal of therapy is not to repeat but to remember the trauma and understand its connection to present behavior—what is often called the "compulsion to repeat." Despite my determination, I wasn’t giving up on the problem, continually trying to solve it without realizing that I was stuck in the same approach. Recognizing that I was the one setting myself up for similar experiences was enough to spark a change in me.

ACEs and Their Impact on My Life

As I’ve shared before, my journey with the ACEs campaign began when I realized that my Multiple Sclerosis was largely linked to my ACE score of 7. I’m still in the process of working through my own traumas, and while it can be challenging, the rewards have been far greater. I feel calmer, problems are easier to deal with, and they don’t affect me as they used to—all positive changes that keep me committed to this journey.

My Path to Healing and Understanding the Subconscious

At the moment, I’m reading Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New Onby Dr. Joe Dispenza. However, my journey into the subconscious mind truly began in February 2022. Since then, I’ve read several books on the topic, and I must admit, much of the information I found came to me through social media. By following the right sources, I received a wealth of digestible information.Dr. Nadine Burke Harris’s TED talkwas the catalyst that sparked my campaign.

The Importance of Emotional Healing

I’ve come to understand how crucial it is to learn new ways to navigate life because I’m experiencing it firsthand. I’ve endured the consequences of a high ACE score and have realized how emotional healing can benefit both body and mind. The proof is in my own journey—when I started the campaign, I was walking with difficulty and using a cane. Over the past year, as I’ve worked through my traumas, I’ve shed the cane along with my emotional burdens.

Embrace Healing for a Happier, Healthier Life

I’m not claiming that exploring your traumas is a cure-all, but for me, the realization that stress was exacerbating my MS was transformative. I was carrying around a ball of stress linked to my traumas, and as I worked through them, my stress levels dropped, and my health improved. Let’s make this a year of healing because we all deserve to feel happier and healthier.