Healing from Medical Trauma: Rediscover Resilience and Empowerment
What is medical trauma? Medical trauma refers to the distressing or overwhelming events that occur during medical treatment or healthcare encounters. It can encompass a wide range of experiences, such as invasive procedures, medical errors, unexpected outcomes, prolonged hospitalizations, chronic illness diagnoses, or witnessing traumatic events in medical settings. These events can leave a lasting impact on individuals, leading to various emotional and psychological responses.
If you’ve experienced medical trauma, it’s essential to recognize that your reactions and symptoms are valid and understandable. People may respond to medical trauma differently, but some common reactions include:
- Anxiety, panic attacks, or heightened fear related to medical environments or procedures.
- Intrusive thoughts, nightmares, or flashbacks of the traumatic event.
- Emotional distress, including sadness, anger, guilt, or shame.
- Avoidance behaviors, such as skipping medical appointments or refusing necessary treatments.
- Hypervigilance towards physical sensations or health concerns.
- Trust issues with healthcare providers or the medical system.
Shauna believes in a holistic and personalized approach to healing. The goal is to help you regain a sense of safety, resilience, and empowerment. The therapeutic process includes:
- Establishing a safe and supportive therapeutic relationship where you can share your experiences without judgment.
- Validating your emotions and providing a space for you to process and make sense of your trauma.
- Developing coping strategies to manage anxiety, panic, or other distressing symptoms related to medical triggers.
- Utilizing trauma-focused therapies such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulnenss-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Somatic Experiencing (SE) to address traumatic memories and promote healing.
- Exploring self-care practices and techniques to rebuild trust in yourself and the healthcare system.
Collaborating with other healthcare professionals, if necessary, to ensure comprehensive care for your physical and mental well-being.