How Childhood Medical Trauma Shapes Emotional and Mental Health

Childhood medical trauma is a subject that often goes unnoticed, yet its impact can be profound and lasting. Defined as the psychological stress that arises from medical experiences—such as surgeries, chronic illnesses, or painful procedures—this trauma can significantly shape a child’s emotional and mental landscape.

 

The Prevalence of Childhood Medical Trauma

 

Recent studies have shed light on the alarming statistics surrounding pediatric surgical traumatic stress (PSTS). According to a systematic review, up to 13% of children and adolescents exhibit symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following surgery. Additionally, 6% to 8% show elevated symptoms of depression or anxiety, while about 25% demonstrate both internalizing and externalizing symptoms.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network highlights that children’s reactions to medical trauma often relate more to their subjective experiences than the objective severity of the events. While many pediatric patients and their families demonstrate resilience, it’s crucial to recognise that up to 80% of children facing life-threatening conditions experience some degree of traumatic stress. Persistent reactions can severely impair daily functioning and adherence to medical treatment, impacting recovery.

My Medical Trauma Story

 

It took years to identify or even care why was so destructive and angry. I thought I was just broken.

My inability to process emotions, explosive reactions, uncontrollable rage, and reckless self-destructive behaviour led my decision-making throughout my teenage years. I felt powerless to stop it. I felt like a passenger in my body that was controlled by a relentless hunger for destruction.

But let me start at the beginning… I was born with hip dysplasia. The problem was, it wasn’t diagnosed until I was four. For years, I walked like Charlie Chaplin, and doctors told my parents I’d grow out of it. Finally, a sharp-eyed doctor spotted the real issue. Unfortunately, by then, I’d missed the chance for standard treatment. My parents decided to go with an experimental surgery instead.

That whole experience was intense and frightening. They put me through a process where I was suspended upside down for six weeks, then broke both my legs and set them into my hip sockets with pins. I can remember my nurses were amazing. Seeing my energetic personality, they made me a little skateboard so I could get around a bit during recovery. But what sticks with me most aren’t those moments of kindness; it’s the fear, the confusion, and the pain I went through.

Looking back, I thought I left that hospital with mostly good memories, but I eventually realized those experiences left deep marks on me. I later learned that I’d developed PTSD, which crept into my life, affecting my self-esteem, relationships, and mental health.

Living with Medical Trauma’s Impact

 

As I got older, the trauma I hadn’t processed started showing up in destructive ways. I had intense anger toward my parents—even though they loved and supported me. Later, I turned to substances, ran away from home, and rebelled in every way I could. I felt disconnected from my body, haunted by scars that made me feel different. At school, bullying added to this sense of isolation and worthlessness.

It took years of soul-searching and healing to start understanding how those childhood experiences had shaped my emotional struggles. No one offered me counselling or any kind of support after surgery, and I had no tools to help me make sense of what I’d been through.

Why Support and Awareness Matter

 

Childhood surgical trauma is far more common than people realise, and its effects go beyond the physical. We need to be more aware of how these experiences can shape kids emotionally.

In the UK, where I grew up we have a culture of ‘the stiff upper lip’ which teaches society to exercise self-restraint when expressing their emotions. This leads to trauma and issues being internalised and festering rather than being articulated and voiced. After time to fester these issues can mutate and suffocate a person’s sense of self, whether they truly represent the initial trauma event or a version of it that has been constructed within the individual’s mind.

Having a safe space to voice and process trauma is imperative for children in the hospital. Hospital experiences are scary no matter what age you are, but as a child, you have little in your memory to relate the event to and therefore rely on the cues around you to formulate a perception of what’s going on. When a child is surrounded by doctors and stressed-out parents, it is difficult for a child not to conclude that they are broken.

Awareness helps everyone—not just the kids but also the parents and caregivers who might not realise the lasting impact surgical trauma can have. Recognizing signs of trauma, like reliving events, avoidant behaviours, trouble processing emotions and reactions, avoiding reminders, or always being on edge, can go a long way in creating a safer, more supportive environment for healing.

Final Thoughts

 

Today, I’m proud of who I am—a resilient person shaped by my experiences. However, my journey has taught me that childhood medical trauma is something we really need to talk about. Kids deserve emotional support as they go through tough medical experiences, so they can move forward and live fully.

If you or someone you know is dealing with the effects of childhood medical trauma, please reach out for support. Healing is possible, and you’re not alone.

Resources

 

Below are some great resources and tools I have found that have helped me understand my trauma responses better.

Reading: The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Kolk, B. V. (2014). reveals how trauma impacts both the mind and body. It explains how past experiences shape our emotional and physical responses, often without us realizing it.

Through relatable stories and cutting-edge therapies like mindfulness, yoga, and EMDR, the book shows how we can understand and heal from trauma. It’s a powerful read for anyone looking to take charge of their emotional health and rebuild a sense of safety and balance.

Exercise: Daily journaling and evaluating my responses to people and situations; are they validated? Do I know why I reacted a certain way—was the reaction appropriate to the situation or a complete overreaction? What could I do next time to:

1. See the potential for reaction earlier.

2. Avoid the situation.

3. Respond in a way that is proactive and aligned with who I am, rather than a reactive force.

Meditation: I find it very hard to sit and meditate. It’s impossible to sit still. I have found this Medito app which has guided practices and is great if you are also having trouble sleeping. I normally lie down to meditate, as my hips don’t allow for me to sit cross-legged. Make sure you are also in a room or environment where you feel safe.