“Your Childhood, Your Health, Our Greatest Investment” | Clayton Hilmert | TEDxNDSU

if I told you that stress and trauma

if I told you that stress and trauma during childhood are bad a really bad

during childhood are bad a really bad

during childhood are bad a really bad you probably find that unremarkable

you probably find that unremarkable

you probably find that unremarkable because you already knew that but did

because you already knew that but did

because you already knew that but did you know that stress and trauma during

you know that stress and trauma during

you know that stress and trauma during childhood can cause that child to grow

childhood can cause that child to grow

childhood can cause that child to grow up to have heart disease to develop

up to have heart disease to develop

up to have heart disease to develop diabetes to suffer from depression and

diabetes to suffer from depression and

diabetes to suffer from depression and to die at a younger age than he would

to die at a younger age than he would

to die at a younger age than he would have had he not had a stressful

have had he not had a stressful

have had he not had a stressful childhood well it’s true recent study

childhood well it’s true recent study

childhood well it’s true recent study after study has been showing that even

after study has been showing that even

after study has been showing that even after we passed down our best health

after we passed down our best health

after we passed down our best health advice right eat right exercise more

advice right eat right exercise more

advice right eat right exercise more don’t smoke that more adverse childhood

don’t smoke that more adverse childhood

don’t smoke that more adverse childhood experiences put that child at risk of

experiences put that child at risk of

experiences put that child at risk of growing up to have chronic disease and

growing up to have chronic disease and

growing up to have chronic disease and to die at a younger age so what I want

to die at a younger age so what I want

to die at a younger age so what I want to think about today is what can we do

to think about today is what can we do

to think about today is what can we do about this what can we do about this and

about this what can we do about this and

about this what can we do about this and two things come immediately to mind

two things come immediately to mind

two things come immediately to mind first we can get rid of childhood stress

first we can get rid of childhood stress

first we can get rid of childhood stress and trauma now you know having the goal

and trauma now you know having the goal

and trauma now you know having the goal and working toward reducing stress and

and working toward reducing stress and

and working toward reducing stress and trauma and childhood is very important

trauma and childhood is very important

trauma and childhood is very important but we’re never going to do away with

but we’re never going to do away with

but we’re never going to do away with stress and trauma entirely it’s just not

stress and trauma entirely it’s just not

stress and trauma entirely it’s just not possible so another thing that comes

possible so another thing that comes

possible so another thing that comes immediately to mind is we can have paid

immediately to mind is we can have paid

immediately to mind is we can have paid parental leave in the United States I

parental leave in the United States I

parental leave in the United States I know that’s what you were thinking do

know that’s what you were thinking do

know that’s what you were thinking do was know as a parent I can clearly

was know as a parent I can clearly

was know as a parent I can clearly remember those first precious moments

remember those first precious moments

remember those first precious moments with my son I have a very vivid memory

with my son I have a very vivid memory

with my son I have a very vivid memory of the first time I buckled him into his

of the first time I buckled him into his

of the first time I buckled him into his car seat to take him home from the

car seat to take him home from the

car seat to take him home from the hospital and I also have a very clear

hospital and I also have a very clear

hospital and I also have a very clear memory of the first time

memory of the first time

memory of the first time I had to leave him to go back to work I

I had to leave him to go back to work I

I had to leave him to go back to work I couldn’t believe that feeling of

couldn’t believe that feeling of

couldn’t believe that feeling of separation when we dropped him off at

separation when we dropped him off at

separation when we dropped him off at daycare that I was just gonna leave this

daycare that I was just gonna leave this

daycare that I was just gonna leave this little baby with people we just met and

little baby with people we just met and

little baby with people we just met and I can’t even imagine what it’s like for

I can’t even imagine what it’s like for

I can’t even imagine what it’s like for a working mother to go through this and

a working mother to go through this and

a working mother to go through this and the worst part of it was was when I

the worst part of it was was when I

the worst part of it was was when I would get home from work and I would

would get home from work and I would

would get home from work and I would actually be with him it got harder and

actually be with him it got harder and

actually be with him it got harder and harder to be with him I mean there were

harder to be with him I mean there were

harder to be with him I mean there were times it was near impossible felt near

times it was near impossible felt near

times it was near impossible felt near impossible to stop thinking about work

impossible to stop thinking about work

impossible to stop thinking about work you know that deadline next week that

you know that deadline next week that

you know that deadline next week that meeting I have tomorrow

meeting I have tomorrow

meeting I have tomorrow you know I’d be trying to be with him

you know I’d be trying to be with him

you know I’d be trying to be with him over here and trying to finish an email

over here and trying to finish an email

over here and trying to finish an email over here it just didn’t turn out well

over here it just didn’t turn out well

over here it just didn’t turn out well for either of us and so this is where I

for either of us and so this is where I

for either of us and so this is where I think we need to do a much better job

think we need to do a much better job

think we need to do a much better job you see we need to help parents be with

you see we need to help parents be with

you see we need to help parents be with their children and paid parental leave

their children and paid parental leave

their children and paid parental leave will help them do this without having to

will help them do this without having to

will help them do this without having to worry about their jobs or their income

but how is paid parental leave going to

but how is paid parental leave going to help us with that link between childhood

help us with that link between childhood

help us with that link between childhood stress and adulthood health well to

stress and adulthood health well to

stress and adulthood health well to understand this we need to understand

understand this we need to understand

understand this we need to understand how childhood stress is having an impact

how childhood stress is having an impact

how childhood stress is having an impact on adulthood health and I’ve been doing

on adulthood health and I’ve been doing

on adulthood health and I’ve been doing research on stress and health now for

research on stress and health now for

research on stress and health now for about 22 years and one thing I can tell

about 22 years and one thing I can tell

about 22 years and one thing I can tell you is that heart disease diabetes even

you is that heart disease diabetes even

you is that heart disease diabetes even depression they all have one thing in

depression they all have one thing in

depression they all have one thing in common and that is that stress is a

common and that is that stress is a

common and that is that stress is a significant factor when it comes to what

significant factor when it comes to what

significant factor when it comes to what causes these diseases and what makes

causes these diseases and what makes

causes these diseases and what makes them worse so how to stress do this well

them worse so how to stress do this well

them worse so how to stress do this well think of a time when you felt really

think of a time when you felt really

think of a time when you felt really stressed like like you’re driving down

stressed like like you’re driving down

stressed like like you’re driving down the road and the guy in front of your

the road and the guy in front of your

the road and the guy in front of your steps on the brakes and his car starts

steps on the brakes and his car starts

steps on the brakes and his car starts spinning sideways so you press on your

spinning sideways so you press on your

spinning sideways so you press on your brakes your car starts sliding toward

brakes your car starts sliding toward

brakes your car starts sliding toward the rail your heart is thumping your

the rail your heart is thumping your

the rail your heart is thumping your muscles are tensing you can feel your

muscles are tensing you can feel your

muscles are tensing you can feel your stomach drop like a rock

stomach drop like a rock

stomach drop like a rock this is a stress response technically

this is a stress response technically

this is a stress response technically it’s called the fight-or-flight response

it’s called the fight-or-flight response

it’s called the fight-or-flight response and it’s that shot

and it’s that shot

and it’s that shot of adrenaline that get your body working

of adrenaline that get your body working

of adrenaline that get your body working really hard to mobilize energy with

really hard to mobilize energy with

really hard to mobilize energy with hormones now we all have our own style

hormones now we all have our own style

hormones now we all have our own style of stress response

of stress response

of stress response you see when we’re children our minds

you see when we’re children our minds

you see when we’re children our minds and our bodies are learning how to

and our bodies are learning how to

and our bodies are learning how to respond to stress and once we learn a

respond to stress and once we learn a

respond to stress and once we learn a style we pretty much have that same

style we pretty much have that same

style we pretty much have that same style for the rest of our lives

style for the rest of our lives

style for the rest of our lives some researchers found this pattern with

some researchers found this pattern with

some researchers found this pattern with rats the rats that they had with pups

rats the rats that they had with pups

rats the rats that they had with pups were in cages together and they would

were in cages together and they would

were in cages together and they would remove the rat pups from the mothers

remove the rat pups from the mothers

remove the rat pups from the mothers care and this was very stressful for

care and this was very stressful for

care and this was very stressful for those rat babies and when they did that

those rat babies and when they did that

those rat babies and when they did that these rats grew up to be much more

these rats grew up to be much more

these rats grew up to be much more anxious they had much worse stress

anxious they had much worse stress

anxious they had much worse stress responses where they had elevated levels

responses where they had elevated levels

responses where they had elevated levels of stress hormones and every time we

of stress hormones and every time we

of stress hormones and every time we have these unhealthy stress responses

have these unhealthy stress responses

have these unhealthy stress responses they bring us one step closer to

they bring us one step closer to

they bring us one step closer to developing chronic disease so over a

developing chronic disease so over a

developing chronic disease so over a lifetime those steps build up the effect

lifetime those steps build up the effect

lifetime those steps build up the effect of stress occurs over a lifetime and

of stress occurs over a lifetime and

of stress occurs over a lifetime and that lifetime begins in childhood so

that lifetime begins in childhood so

that lifetime begins in childhood so what we need to do is we need to cheat

what we need to do is we need to cheat

what we need to do is we need to cheat teach our children to have healthier

teach our children to have healthier

teach our children to have healthier stress responses that they can carry

stress responses that they can carry

stress responses that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives

with them for the rest of their lives

with them for the rest of their lives and to do this we can look back at those

and to do this we can look back at those

and to do this we can look back at those rats I just told you about because the

rats I just told you about because the

rats I just told you about because the researchers found that when you took the

researchers found that when you took the

researchers found that when you took the rats and the rat pups were stressed and

rats and the rat pups were stressed and

rats and the rat pups were stressed and you place them back into the cage with

you place them back into the cage with

you place them back into the cage with their mothers some of the mothers were

their mothers some of the mothers were

their mothers some of the mothers were very nurturing and others were not how

very nurturing and others were not how

very nurturing and others were not how do we tell the difference

do we tell the difference

do we tell the difference well the nurturing mothers would

well the nurturing mothers would

well the nurturing mothers would immediately start licking and grooming

immediately start licking and grooming

immediately start licking and grooming and comforting these rats their pups

and comforting these rats their pups

and comforting these rats their pups where as an honoring mother wouldn’t do

where as an honoring mother wouldn’t do

where as an honoring mother wouldn’t do that and so although all of the rat pups

that and so although all of the rat pups

that and so although all of the rat pups went through the same childhood stressor

went through the same childhood stressor

went through the same childhood stressor of being removed from their mother’s

of being removed from their mother’s

of being removed from their mother’s care they grew up to be very different

care they grew up to be very different

care they grew up to be very different rats see the adult rats that had non

rats see the adult rats that had non

rats see the adult rats that had non nurturing mothers they grew up to be

nurturing mothers they grew up to be

nurturing mothers they grew up to be those anxious stressed rats that I told

those anxious stressed rats that I told

those anxious stressed rats that I told you about the ones that received a

you about the ones that received a

you about the ones that received a nurturing care after stress they grew up

nurturing care after stress they grew up

nurturing care after stress they grew up to be a lot less anxious in fact they

to be a lot less anxious in fact they

to be a lot less anxious in fact they were adventurous and they had much

were adventurous and they had much

were adventurous and they had much healthier responses to stress so the

healthier responses to stress so the

healthier responses to stress so the point here is that childhood stress

point here is that childhood stress

point here is that childhood stress happened childhood stress happens and

happened childhood stress happens and

happened childhood stress happens and what made a difference was whether or

what made a difference was whether or

what made a difference was whether or not the rat pup received licking and

not the rat pup received licking and

not the rat pup received licking and grooming comforting care after the

grooming comforting care after the

grooming comforting care after the stress

so before we start teaching parents to

so before we start teaching parents to be better liquors and groomers we should

be better liquors and groomers we should

be better liquors and groomers we should be doing everything in our power to make

be doing everything in our power to make

be doing everything in our power to make sure that they can be there to offer

sure that they can be there to offer

sure that they can be there to offer comfort and in the United States we make

comfort and in the United States we make

comfort and in the United States we make it very hard for a lot of families to do

it very hard for a lot of families to do

it very hard for a lot of families to do this you see if we look around the world

this you see if we look around the world

this you see if we look around the world there are only eight countries that do

there are only eight countries that do

there are only eight countries that do not have paid parental leave policies

not have paid parental leave policies

not have paid parental leave policies eight the United States is one of those

eight the United States is one of those

eight the United States is one of those eight the other seven countries have a

eight the other seven countries have a

eight the other seven countries have a combined population that is one fiftieth

combined population that is one fiftieth

combined population that is one fiftieth the size of the United States combined

the size of the United States combined

the size of the United States combined and they have a combined economy that is

and they have a combined economy that is

and they have a combined economy that is one five hundredth the size of the

one five hundredth the size of the

one five hundredth the size of the United States we do not belong on this

United States we do not belong on this

United States we do not belong on this list now if we look at a list we do

list now if we look at a list we do

list now if we look at a list we do belong on with other industrialized

belong on with other industrialized

belong on with other industrialized wealthy countries that in fact have paid

wealthy countries that in fact have paid

wealthy countries that in fact have paid parental leave we have the worst rate of

parental leave we have the worst rate of

parental leave we have the worst rate of infant mortality among them the worst

infant mortality among them the worst

infant mortality among them the worst more babies die in our country than in

more babies die in our country than in

more babies die in our country than in any of these others every year we have

any of these others every year we have

any of these others every year we have the highest rate of obesity and we have

the highest rate of obesity and we have

the highest rate of obesity and we have the 34th right we’re behind 33 other

the 34th right we’re behind 33 other

the 34th right we’re behind 33 other countries in life expectancy I mean

countries in life expectancy I mean

countries in life expectancy I mean these numbers are very surprising to a

these numbers are very surprising to a

these numbers are very surprising to a lot of people but it’s where we stand

lot of people but it’s where we stand

lot of people but it’s where we stand now I’m not saying that paid parental

now I’m not saying that paid parental

now I’m not saying that paid parental leave is going to drastically change

leave is going to drastically change

leave is going to drastically change these numbers all by itself but what I

these numbers all by itself but what I

these numbers all by itself but what I am saying is that it’s clear to me that

am saying is that it’s clear to me that

am saying is that it’s clear to me that an essential next step is that we do

an essential next step is that we do

an essential next step is that we do everything in our power to make sure

everything in our power to make sure

everything in our power to make sure that families can be with their children

that families can be with their children

that families can be with their children and paid parental leave is a way to do

and paid parental leave is a way to do

and paid parental leave is a way to do this so that these children can grow up

this so that these children can grow up

this so that these children can grow up to have health happier longer lives paid

to have health happier longer lives paid

to have health happier longer lives paid parental leave is for our children for

parental leave is for our children for

parental leave is for our children for our children’s health not only as

our children’s health not only as

our children’s health not only as children but as adults because they are

children but as adults because they are

children but as adults because they are our greatest investment