Medical Trauma & PTSD: Signs, Symptoms, and How to Cope

What is Medical Trauma?

 

Medical trauma is a “complex negative psychological and physiological response” to a surgery or medical procedure. It is a form of PTSD. It does not have to be a response to a negative experience. It could manifest from a smooth-sailing medical treatment or diagnosis. A common thread among medical PTSD cases could be a threat to life, however, this isn’t always the case. Experiencing repeated, complicated and long-term medical conditions, even if not life-threatening, could cause medical trauma.

Can Medical Trauma Cause PTSD?

 

Yes! For years I struggled with poor mental health. I suffered from anxiety and panic attacks, triggered by big crowds, loud noises and stressful situations in public. Sometimes, these panic attack episodes would start seemingly from nowhere, even when I was in school or relaxing with friends.

The connection between my mental health issues, and my medical experience, was not made until a lot later in my life. It felt like a puzzle – I had to put the pieces together. Suddenly, after a therapist suggested I may have medical PTSD, things started to make sense. Panic attacks triggered by loud crowds were understandable – I was constantly on ‘fight or flight’ mode.

My only understanding of PTSD came from war films. I was not a war veteran, and had never been in the army, so how could I have PTSD?

The fact is, PTSD can stem from any traumatic event. Even if it doesn’t fit into the known mould of what trauma is. Medical PTSD specifically is lesser known, and rarely talked about.

Sometimes, PTSD and trauma can manifest and creep out in ways you may not expect!

 

Signs Of Medical Trauma

 

Your trauma response is how you respond to the traumatic event. This could come up immediately after the event happened, or at a later date when triggered. This can develop into medical PTSD if severe.

Here are some signs that you may be experiencing medical trauma.

Side effects on your mental health

 

• Memories: feelings, smells, and sights might keep recurring in your thoughts. It could be difficult to get rid of them. It may also take you back to the exact time of the memory – this is called a flashback.
• Avoidance: you may purposefully avoid the location of the original trauma. For medical trauma, this is probably a hospital or medical facility. You may avoid hospital appointments and check-ups, despite this making your symptoms worse.
• Mistrust of medical professionals: If you had traumatic medical experiences at a young age, you could develop a lifelong mistrust of medical professionals. Especially before the age of 7, as you are still cognitively developing your understanding of the world. If you see medical professionals as people who cause pain and fear then even as an adult you can carry an underlying mistrust, even if you rationally know they are only trying to help, your inner child still identifies them as pain givers.
• Disassociation– Medical trauma can cause you to disassociate in stressful situations as a defence mechanism, often feeling like two separate people, one moving the body and the other an observer unable to control the physical behaviour in the moment
• Emotional dysregulation– difficulty moderating the intensity and quality of emotions which can impact your relationships with others and leave you feeling unworthy or unable to speak up for yourself.
• Mental health struggles: suffering from medical trauma can result in suffering from other mental health issues too, such as anxiety and depression. Often, trauma leads to a constant state of anxiety – a sense of fight or flight. This makes people feel on edge a lot of the time. This can then lead to anger issues, irritability, panic attacks, poor sleep, and trouble concentrating.

 

Lesser-known effects on your physical health

 

Being in a constant state of stress for a long time can have adverse effects on not just our mental health, but physical too.

When living with PTSD and medical trauma, your mind tells your body that you are in danger – you live on high alert, as if the traumatic event is still ongoing. Your body then reacts accordingly.

Some physical symptoms may include shaking, sweating and feeling sick when reminded of your traumatic experience or faced with a trigger, such as going to the hospital.

Cortisol is our body’s stress response. Our cortisol levels tend to increase as we experience stressful situations.

However, if you suffer from PTSD, these cortisol levels may not go back to normal after the stressful instance is over.

Therefore, if you suffer from long-term periods of stress (which may come with medical PTSD), you’re likely to suffer from high cortisol levels.

This can have a physical impact on your health.

For example, it can:

• Disrupt your sleep
• Impact your digestive system
• Increase migraines

PTSD has also been found to be linked to obesity and weight gain, as well as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Another symptom of medical trauma, or any form of PTSD, is numbing. To try to forget about the traumatic experience, some people may “seek sensations that will overpower the effects of trauma they feel in their body.” This could take the form of alcohol, drugs, sex, or high-risk activities such as gambling or extreme physical sports.  

 

How to deal with medical trauma

 

An important first step to coping or overcoming your medical trauma is talking about it.

You may feel a lot of shame or complicated feelings. Maybe you feel like your medical experience wasn’t actually traumatic enough to count as PTSD. You may not yet understand how your physical trauma is linked to your mental health.

But talking about this with a close friend, family member or therapist will help to clear the fog.

Once I started to explore my own history, it became easier to make the links between my mental and physical health. Once I recognised my experience as trauma, and called it what it was; PTSD, I felt an instant relief. That it had a name, and I wasn’t crazy.

Keeping a diary of your symptoms, like a mental health tracker may also help. It can help you link your symptoms to certain triggers.

Treatment options for medical trauma

 

There are several effective treatments for medical PTSD and trauma, focusing on reducing distress, improving coping mechanisms, and restoring a sense of control.

Trauma-focused therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), can help you to process traumatic experiences and reframe negative thoughts.

Medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can also help manage the anxiety and depression that you may experience with PTSD. Additionally, mindfulness practices, support groups, and lifestyle changes, such as exercise and stress management techniques, can aid in healing.

Conclusion

 

Medical trauma and PTSD can have a profound impact on both mental and physical well-being, often in ways that are not immediately apparent. Understanding the signs, effects, and treatment options is essential for healing and regaining control.