How Women Can Cope with Medical Trauma

One type of trauma that isn’t that widely talked about is medical trauma.

Medical trauma can occur with any type of medical issue like terminal illness, a heart attack, cancer, COVID, receiving poor treatment, or staying in an intensive care unit.

Women are more likely to experience medical trauma compared to men due to pregnancy and any complications that could occur during or after the birthing process.

Medical trauma can cause the development of anxiety, complicated grief, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Here’s how women can cope.

Practice Mindfulness

Anxiety stems from worrying about events that happened in the past or situations that haven’t occurred yet in the future. Practicing mindfulness can help channel those negative thoughts and emotions into bringing your attention back to the present moment.

There are many different mindfulness techniques out there, so you’ll have to try some out and see what works best for you. Here are a few ways to get started with practicing mindfulness:

• Breathing techniques
• Start journaling
• Practice yoga or meditation
• Visualization exercises

Move Your Body

Exercise is a great way to help you feel better from the inside out. Movement is not only good for your physical health, but it’s also good for your mental health as well. If you’re not into exercising, don’t worry. Moving your body can look different for everyone.

If you like running, go for a run. If you’re more into lifting weights, hit up your local gym. Maybe you’d rather attend a workout class with a friend. If none of those ideas pique your interest, try going for a walk around your neighborhood or hop on your bike and explore a new area.

Prioritize Your Sleep

Some of the signs and symptoms you’re experiencing due to medical trauma may be making sleep a little more difficult for you. Falling asleep or staying asleep may become increasingly difficult, no matter how exhausted you are.

That being said, sleep is essential for proper rest and recovery. Try some of these sleeping tips so you can get your sleep schedule back on track again:

• Try to go to bed at the same time each night.
• Wake up at the same time each morning (yes, this includes weekends).
• Make your room as comfortable as possible.
• Avoid screens at least 30 minutes before bed.

Maintain Your Social Connections

Living with medical trauma may cause you to withdraw or isolate yourself, even from loved ones. This can leave us not only feeling alone, but feeling anxious and depressed. Despite feeling alone, your loved ones are there and have always been there for you, no matter what you’re going through. Lean on them for support during this time.

Hanging out with friends and family can be a great distraction from what you’re going through. If you feel comfortable, you can also share your thoughts and feelings with them. They can provide a listening ear as a way for you to vent, or they may be able to share their own personal experiences of going through the same thing.

Whatever you need, they’ll be there for you, through the good times and the bad times.

Go to Therapy

Reaching out to a therapist is one of the best ways you can cope with medical trauma. A licensed and trained therapist will be able to help you work through any negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions that were caused by the medical trauma that you endured. They’ll also be able to provide you with coping mechanisms to help you move forward and overcome the trauma you’re experiencing.

Recovering from any type of trauma can be difficult, but help is possible. Reach out to us today to set up a consultation.