Medical Trauma

What Causes Medical Trauma?

Answering the question of “what is medical trauma” necessitates a closer look at its potential causes. Medical trauma can be caused by a number of medical interventions or procedures, including:

• Procedures: Intense surgeries, invasive medical tests, or treatments that involve pain, anesthesia, or loss of control over your body and its regular functions.
• Serious diagnoses: Receiving a life-changing or terminal diagnosis can lead to profound emotional distress.
• Complications or medical errors: Mistakes, complications, or adverse reactions during medical procedures can leave lasting emotional scars.
• Prolonged hospitalizations: Extended stays in medical facilities can lead to feelings of isolation, helplessness, and vulnerability.

Serious interventions that involve your body can be difficult to process on their own, and if your mobility, cognition, bodily functions, or emotions are affected by your medical treatment, then seeking psychological care might be beneficial.

Medical Trauma Symptoms

Like other types of trauma, individuals with medical trauma can experience complications or long-term effects to their physical and mental health. 

Symptoms of medical trauma may vary from person to person but often include:

• Flashbacks and nightmares related to medical events.
• Anxiety, panic attacks, or avoidance of medical care.
• Intrusive thoughts about the traumatic event.
• Emotional numbness, depression, or withdrawal.
• Physical symptoms like headaches, digestive issues, or fatigue.

In some cases, medical trauma can result in an individual refusing to seek further medical help (or expressing great reluctance to see a doctor, take prescriptions, etc.). 

EMDR and Medical Trauma

What To Expect From an EMDR Session

EMDR sessions may differ from patient to patient, so your experience may be slightly different than the below description. That said, an EMDR session typically involves the following stages:

1. Assessment: The therapist evaluates the client’s medical trauma history and identifies target memories.
2. Desensitization: The client focuses on the traumatic memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping, to reduce emotional distress.
3. Reprocessing: The therapist helps the client replace negative beliefs and emotions associated with the trauma with more positive ones.
4. Integration: The client works to integrate the new beliefs and emotions into their daily life.

Our Medical Trauma Therapy

At Northwest EMDR, we offer specialized therapy services for individuals dealing with medical trauma. Our experienced therapists are trained in EMDR and other evidence-based therapies to help you heal from your medical trauma.

Aside from EMDR, Northwest provides a wide range of therapy options to address various mental health concerns. These include:

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A goal-oriented therapy that focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors.

Talk Therapy: Traditional psychotherapy that provides a safe space to discuss and process emotions and experiences.

Group Therapy: Supportive group settings where individuals can share and learn from others facing similar challenges.

Family Therapy: A family-centered approach to addressing relational and communication issues.

Make an Appointment with a Medical Trauma Therapist Today!