Ultimate Guide to Medical Trauma
Your one-stop guide to understanding how a stressful medical event can affect your body and your mind
Stressful medical procedures, or even invasive medical tests, can result in a prolonged stress response - otherwise known as a trauma response.
Whether you’ve just had surgery or you’ve long recovered from a childhood illness, memories of a stressful medical experience can stay with you. Maybe you can’t stop worrying about an illness coming back or you're dealing with the aftermath of a medical error. You might have nightmares about medical settings or even find it difficult to feel comfortable in your body.
Medical trauma can greatly impact your mental health, your relationships, and even your overall physical health. The good news is having more information about medical trauma can help you prepare for a potentially stressful medical procedure and can help you heal after this type of event. Knowing the signs of medical trauma can help you recognize these signs of trauma in yourself and help you understand when it’s time to seek treatment. Keep reading to learn more about the signs of medical trauma and what treatment for medical trauma might look like.
What is medical trauma?
There is a high correlation between physical health issues and trauma. Medical trauma refers to the psychological and emotional harm that can result from a traumatic event or situation involving medical treatment or care. This can include things like surgical complications, serious injuries or illnesses, diagnostic errors, or other adverse events that occur in a medical setting. Medical trauma can have a profound effect on your mental and emotional well-being. It is also imperative for your healthcare providers to be aware of the potential for this type of trauma and to take steps to prevent it or to help patients cope with it.
How can medical trauma affect you?
Medical trauma can have a profound impact on your life, both in the short term and the long term. In the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event, you may experience a range of psychological and emotional symptoms, such as fear, anxiety, depression, or anger. These symptoms can interfere with your daily functioning and your ability to participate in activities that you used to enjoy.
Over time, medical trauma can also lead to more long-term changes in a person's life. For example, you may develop chronic health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that can affect your overall quality of life. You may also develop a fear of medical care or avoidance of medical treatment, which can prevent you from receiving the care you need. This can also be known as medical anxiety. In some cases, medical trauma can even lead to social isolation or strained relationships with family and friends.
9 Signs of Medical Trauma
Some common signs of medical trauma include:
Feelings of fear, anxiety, or panic
Intrusive thoughts or memories of the traumatic event
Flashbacks or nightmares
Avoidance of anything that reminds you of the trauma
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy
Emotional numbness or detachment
Difficulty sleeping or changes in appetite
Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach pain, or rapid heartbeat
Risk Factors
People who are most at risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a medical event include those who have experienced a critical illness or injury, such as a heart attack or traumatic brain injury, and those who have undergone a surgical procedure or other invasive medical treatment.
Other factors that can increase a person's risk of developing PTSD after a medical event include a personal history of mental illness, a lack of social support, and a lack of access to quality mental health care. Additionally, people who have experienced multiple traumatic events, or who have a history of trauma in your past, may be at an increased risk of developing PTSD after a medical event. Women are also more likely than men to report trauma symptoms after a stressful medical event.
Medical Trauma and Your Relationship to Your Body
Body Image
First, medical trauma can alter your body image. Body image refers to an individual's mental representation and perception of one’s physical appearance. After experiencing medical trauma, you may begin to see your body in a negative light, viewing it as flawed, weak, or damaged. You may become preoccupied with perceived physical imperfections, and may become overly self-conscious or self-critical.
Self-esteem
Medical trauma can also lead to changes in self-esteem, which is an individual's overall sense of self-worth and value. After experiencing medical trauma, you may begin to see yourself as less valuable or capable than you did before, perhaps even more vulnerable. This can lead to feelings of shame, inadequacy, or worthlessness, which can further impact your body image and your overall relationship with your body.
Physical functioning
Furthermore, medical trauma can affect an individual's physical functioning, which is the ability of your body to perform various tasks and activities. You might be grappling with physical limitations or even adapting to life as disabled person in an ableist environment. These changes can be difficult to adjust to, and can lead to feelings of frustration, anger, or loss of control.
Medical Trauma and Your Relationships
Communication
One of the ways that medical trauma can affect an individual's relationships is by altering your communication patterns. After experiencing medical trauma, you may become more guarded or withdrawn, and may have difficulty expressing your thoughts and feelings. You may become less assertive or confident in your communication, and may have trouble setting boundaries or advocating for yourself. This can lead to misunderstandings or conflicts in your relationships, and can make it difficult for you to maintain healthy and fulfilling connections with others.
Intimacy
Medical trauma can also impact an individual's intimacy with others. Intimacy refers to the emotional closeness and connection that exists between two people. After experiencing medical trauma, you may become more distant or detached from your loved ones, and may have difficulty maintaining a sense of emotional closeness. You may also have difficulty with physical intimacy, particularly if your trauma involved injuries or physical changes that affect your body image or self-esteem. These changes can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, or disconnection in relationships.
Social Support
Additionally, medical trauma can affect your access to social support. Social support refers to the emotional and practical help that individuals receive from their social network, including friends, family, and community. After experiencing a traumatic medical event, you may find that your social support network becomes more limited or strained. You may lose touch with friends or loved ones during recovery, or you may find that your relationships become more one-sided or transactional. For example, you might hesitate in reaching out to your social supports for fear of feeling like a “burden”. This can make it difficult for you to cope with the emotional and psychological impact of your trauma, and can lead to feelings of isolation and vulnerability.
Treatment Option: Therapy for Medical Trauma
These changes after a medical event can be difficult to cope with, but therapy can be an effective way to help you heal and rebuild healthy and fulfilling connections with others. During therapy, individuals who have experienced medical trauma can talk about your experiences in a safe and supportive environment. This can help you to gain a better understanding of your feelings and reactions, and to develop healthy coping strategies to manage your symptoms. Therapists can also help individuals to develop a sense of control over your emotions and thoughts, and to work through any lingering feelings of guilt, shame, or anger.
Additionally, therapy can help individuals who have experienced medical trauma to rebuild your sense of trust and confidence in the medical system, and to develop a healthy relationship with your healthcare providers. This can be especially important for individuals who have experienced medical mistreatment or errors, as these experiences can lead to feelings of betrayal and mistrust.
Overall, therapy can be a valuable tool for individuals who have experienced medical trauma, helping you to heal, cope, and move forward in a healthy and positive way. To learn more about how therapy with a counselor at Revive Counseling and Consulting can help you and to schedule an appointment, click here.
