We should be able to trust our medical professionals. But what happens when our trust in that health care provider, or in the health care system, in general, gets broken? What about if we emerge from a medical episode with a newfound phobia or fear? Some may find it difficult to comprehend that there are adults who are desperately afraid to go to the doctor or dentist. But in truth, medical trauma is real, serious, and can be extremely painful, either physically or emotionally. And it is more prevalent than you may think.

This post will explain what medical trauma looks like and how to cope or help a loved one cope with it.

And learning to cope is essential, because we must be able to seek medical help regularly throughout our lives to maintain our mental and physical health.

What Is Medical Trauma?

Medical trauma often results from a traumatic experience in a medical setting, which may lead to mental health conditions such as anxiety or Medical PTSD.

Medical trauma can stem from events such as an extremely painful procedure, a procedure or surgery gone wrong, malpractice, or doctor-patient harassment.

It is essential for us to recognize that even though another person may not view what we went through as traumatic, it doesn’t make our experience any less painful.

And it doesn’t make our feelings of anxiety or fear any less valid.

Trauma is exceptionally subjective, and while the term medical trauma is not an official diagnosis, it can be debilitating, and in some cases, lead to chronic fatigue and other ailments.

If we believe we suffer from medical trauma, we may need to seek therapy to fully resolve it.

What Does Medical Trauma Look Like?

Symptoms of this condition can manifest itself through emotional and physical responses.

This is because we store trauma in the body, and when exposed to specific triggers, the body can react, often in the form of panic attacks.

These triggers can be anything from the smell of disinfectant to being in a doctor’s office.

Anything that reminds us consciously or unconsciously of the event can trigger emotional and physical distress.

Physical symptoms may be heavy breathing, sweating, racing heartbeat, GI issues, or nausea.

Some may experience numbness or tingling in the extremities when exposed to triggers.

Emotional symptoms can manifest as anger, fear, sadness, dissociation, substance use, and eating disorders.

Because of this, those who experience medical trauma may make a conscious effort to avoid specific triggers.

For example, doctor-sexual assault and harassment are among the leading causes of medical trauma that have led to an influx of women preferring to get treated by female doctors and avoiding male doctors altogether.

How To Cope

To deal with medical trauma, most will likely need to see a licensed professional.

Depending on the trauma type or severity, a therapist may suggest different actions to help form healthier coping skills.

For example, for those who experience chronic physical pain as a result of a medical encounter gone wrong, a psychologist may work with you to deal with physical pain through relaxation training, talk therapy, and other mental coping skills.

While it may be a difficult subject, knowing what medical trauma is, what it looks like, and how to cope with it can give you or a loved one a chance at a happier life.

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KindCompassCoach

Joan Senio is the founder of KindCompassCoach. Her career includes 20+ years as a health care executive and 15 years (and counting) as a consultant. The common thread through Joan’s professional life has been a commitment to lead, mentor and coach current and future leaders, and women from all walks of life. KindCompassCoach provides information and advice grounded in Joan’s personal experience; however, all articles are backed by research and provide facts and advice from a wide variety of experts. Joan also serves as a thought-leader for KuelLife.com and is a regular contributor to PsychReg and Sixty and Me.