How to Heal from Medical PTSD aka Medical Trauma

Jul 25, 2025

Medical trauma can lead to PTSD, presenting signs like a fear of doctors, anxiety, and emotional numbness. Personal stories reveal how severe medical conditions contribute to these feelings of helplessness. Healing strategies discussed include mindfulness and somatic therapy, aimed at restoring a sense of safety. The role of healthcare providers is crucial in creating supportive environments, emphasizing patient empowerment. Resources for coping with medical PTSD and self-advocacy play a vital role in the recovery journey.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Kathy's Medical Trauma Story

Kathy describes her medical trauma experience with a heart transplant and ICD shocks that caused severe fear and hypervigilance.
She felt like she was free-falling into blackness, powerless and terrified during her medical emergencies.

INSIGHT

Causes Behind Medical PTSD

Physical pain, loss of control, and helplessness during medical emergencies increase risk of PTSD.
Children are especially vulnerable due to lack of understanding and restraint during medical care.

ANECDOTE

Ignored Pain Intensifies Trauma

Kathy shares an experience where a medical technician ignored her pain during an echocardiogram.
This dismissal strengthened her fear and trauma around future medical procedures.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Medical trauma can cause PTSD, with signs like fear of doctors, flashbacks, anxiety, avoidance, panic attacks, and emotional numbness after medical experiences. Check out my FREE grounding Skills course here: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/grounding-skills-for-anxiety-stress-and-ptsd

Here's the guide about recognizing distress so you can help to prevent medical trauma: https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources//pediatric_toolkit_for_health_care_providers.pdf

Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership

Medical trauma can have a deep and lasting impact, often leading to PTSD. Signs of PTSD from medical trauma include persistent fear of hospitals, panic attacks during medical visits, nightmares about past procedures, and emotional detachment. Medical trauma symptoms and signs can also involve hypervigilance, irritability, avoidance of necessary care, and distrust of healthcare providers. Some people may experience physical symptoms like racing heart, nausea, or dizziness when reminded of their trauma. Others might struggle with depression, anxiety, or feelings of helplessness related to their medical experiences. PTSD from medical trauma can develop after surgeries, ICU stays, childbirth complications, invasive procedures, or medical negligence. Recognizing the signs of PTSD and medical trauma symptoms early can help prevent long-term emotional suffering. Treatment often includes trauma-focused therapy, EMDR, or somatic therapies designed to help the body and mind heal from overwhelming experiences. Understanding that medical trauma is real and valid is the first step toward recovery.

Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell

Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com

Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanutshell

Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/best-self-help-books

Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe

If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.