Adults who had Medical Trauma as an Infant or Child

It is common for infants and children to undergo various medical interventions. Some are routine, while others are unexpected or invasive. Because infants and young children lack the language and ability to understand what is happening, it is common for them to respond with fear, confusion, and feeling out of control, especially if it involves hospital stays, painful procedures, or extended periods of separation from parents.  The brain can store these responses without the context, language, or the ability to process and make sense out of these events.

With parental comfort, patience and understanding, most children recover without long term effects. When support is limited or the events are prolonged or intense, the impact of a medical event on the nervous system may persist into adulthood causing symptoms of traumatic stress in medical situations, such as:

• Anxiety during routine medical visits, vaccinations, or blood draws
• Avoiding doctor visits and other medical settings until symptoms become severe
• Freezing or spacing out during medical visits
• Sensitivity to smells, sounds, or sights associated with medical care

 

Some adults with early medical trauma experience vague or unusual physical symptoms that may puzzle their doctor, including:

• Chronic unexplained pain, or pain that moves around the body
• Atypical headaches, body aches, fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue not relieved by rest
• Digestive issues such as stomach cramping, nausea, or irritable bowel syndrome
• Symptoms in areas of the body where childhood procedures were performed

And psychological symptoms such as:

• Hyper-focus on bodily sensations and what they might mean 
• Persistent worry about illness or bad health outcomes
• Reassurance seeking through multiple doctor appointments, second opinions, or excessive online research without a feeling of resolution

These patterns can be confusing until the link to early medical experiences becomes clear.

 

Healing from Medical Trauma
It's common for both the patient and the provider to miss the link between early childhood medical trauma and current adult symptoms. Being curious and open to exploring the role of parts in the expression of symptoms is the first step toward healing. 

As both a medical doctor and trauma psychotherapist, I bring an integrated approach to this work. If you have a trauma history and live with chronic illness, unexplained symptoms, or a sense that something is not right in your body, I can help you explore possible connectionswith past experiences. Using the IFS approach, my goal is to help you integrate early memories, restore a sense of internal safety, and help you move you toward better health and quality of life.

NOTE: Before using psychological approaches for new or unexplained symptoms, a medical evaluation by your doctor should always come first to identify any conditions that require medical treatment.

 

For a free 20-minute intro meeting call 415-785-4202, or send a secure message using the button below.

[Please note that my practice is limited to residents of California.]