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Therapy in a Nutshell

How to Heal from Medical PTSD aka Medical Trauma

Therapy in a Nutshell

Therapy in a Nutshell -Emma McAdam

Mental Health, Education, Health & Fitness:mental Health, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness

4.8658 Ratings

🗓️ 25 July 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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 Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.therapyinanutshell.com 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. Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome back to another episode of the Therapy in a Nutshell podcast. I'm Emma McAdam and I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist.

0:07.0

And this podcast is all about taking the life-changing, but usually kind of complicated topics of therapy and boiling them down into simple, easy to understand concepts that you can use in your daily life.

0:19.0

If you find today's episode as helpful to you, please pass it on to someone else who could benefit from it as well.

0:23.6

Each podcast episode comes from a corresponding video you can find on the Therapy in a Nutshell YouTube channel.

0:28.6

Also, these podcasts are educational and don't replace the advice or direction you may be receiving from a therapist or other health professionals.

0:36.6

Now please, enjoy the episode. Okay, I know I'm not the only one health professionals. Now please enjoy the episode.

0:38.3

Okay, I know I'm not the only one who gets nervous about going to the dentist and medical procedures can be scary and intense.

0:45.3

They can even be traumatizing. In one of my recent group calls with the therapy in a nutshell members, I met Kathy,

0:51.3

and we had a follow-up call in which she described what it was like

0:55.2

to have her heart restarted. You know the science fiction movies where they go into a black hole,

1:01.2

and there's nothing around you, it's just total blackness. You have, I don't have a ceiling,

1:07.2

I don't have walls, I don't have a floor. I am just free falling into blackness.

1:12.6

And it's like falling into this pit of black and no control and just totally, totally

1:21.6

terrified, just totally terrifying.

1:25.6

What Kathy described as medical trauma, which is psychological trauma that stems from a medical incident.

1:32.3

This can happen after an emergency or accident or planned procedures like surgeries or routine treatments.

1:39.3

It might come with a new diagnosis like cancer or from dealing with dismissive or harmful medical

1:45.5

professionals. Medical trauma is surprisingly common so in this video we'll explore what

1:50.0

causes it, how your body can become your trigger, and how you can heal and some

1:54.8

things you can do to prevent it for yourself and your kids.

2:04.5

I had congestive heart failure when I was in my 30s.

2:08.0

And they couldn't figure out why it happened.

...

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