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Medical trauma refers to the emotional or physical reaction to a distressing event in a healthcare environment. Causes may include undergoing a terrifying or painful situation, such as a difficult childbirth or severe illness; encountering medical negligence, like a failed surgery or incorrect treatment; or feeling ignored or invalidated during medical consultations.
“Any medical procedure could become traumatic if the patient is unaware of what’s happening,” explained Melissa Goldberg-Mintz, a psychologist and author of Has Your Child Been Traumatized?: How to Know and What to Do to Promote Healing and Recovery. “Pain often plays a significant role, and the experience can be deeply unsettling.”
Goldberg-Mintz frequently works with individuals who experienced trauma from complicated births and children who struggle with medical trauma due to confusion. “With young children, we do our best to explain and prepare them, but their limited understanding can make it challenging,” she noted.
Trauma can arise following a distressing incident
Trauma may emerge after a negative experience. “Situations can escalate quickly, becoming frightening and painful,” Goldberg-Mintz explained. For many, the loss of control, paired with fear and pain, creates a deeply unsettling experience. However, trauma doesn’t always result from such events.
In the initial weeks after the incident, it’s common to experience a mix of emotions, such as fear, sadness, or anger. “During this phase, many describe feeling a sense of unreality, but in a disturbing way,” said Jennifer Kowalski, a licensed professional counselor at Thriveworks. “There’s a clear divide between life before and after the event, marking a permanent shift.”
In the aftermath, both the body and mind undergo an adjustment period. “It’s something you may need to process gradually,” Kowalski noted. “The brain has a remarkable ability to cope, often temporarily setting the experience aside. Physically, you might cry or shake, but the full reality of the situation may not sink in immediately. Over time, it begins to surface, and that’s when it’s crucial to address it.”
Problems arise when these emotions linger and disrupt daily life. “Seeking help at this stage is vital; otherwise, you risk becoming trapped in that moment, unable to move forward or fully process what occurred,” Kowalski emphasized.
Avoidance is a natural trauma response
Avoidance is a key aspect of the trauma response. “It’s your body’s instinctive way of protecting you,” Goldberg-Mintz explained. In cases of medical trauma, this becomes complex, as avoiding routine healthcare can lead to long-term consequences, even though medical visits aren’t daily occurrences. “Avoiding medical settings feels simpler,” Goldberg-Mintz added.
To address avoidance, graded exposure therapy is a primary approach. This involves gradually facing fears in a safe and controlled environment.
“The goal is to feel challenged yet secure,” Kowalski stated. For instance, this might involve driving to the doctor’s office and parking, sitting in the waiting room, or starting with a telehealth session. Other methods include discussing potential scenarios at the doctor’s office and developing coping mechanisms, like practicing deep breathing during injections.
Having a trusted friend or family member to support you can also be beneficial. “If something becomes overwhelming or goes awry, this person can provide objectivity and advocate for you,” Goldberg-Mintz noted.
When to consider therapy
For those who have faced medical trauma, discussing their experience can be beneficial. While some may find comfort in confiding in a trusted friend or family member, others might require professional support. “If the trauma begins to significantly disrupt your daily life, it may meet the criteria for PTSD,” Goldberg-Mintz explained.
Common therapeutic approaches for PTSD include graded exposure therapy, EMDR, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Graded exposure therapy involves confronting traumatic triggers in a safe, controlled setting. EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) leverages specific eye movements to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on helping individuals reframe and process their experiences. “The key is finding the most effective way to cope and make sense of what happened,” Kowalski added.
