Can a medical event cause PTSD?

Many people I sit with have experienced a significant, life-changing medical event that completely overhauled their lives. Some are left struggling with painful memories, avoiding experiences that once brought them joy, shifts in their moods, feeling on edge, disconnected, or despondent. These can all be symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

PTSD was first formally recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) in 1980, in part because of growing attention to the experiences of war veterans. We now know that other significant, life-changing events can also cause PTSD. Research has documented PTSD following serious illness, car accidents, frightening medical procedures, and other traumatic medical experiences.

Talk therapy can help alleviate PTSD symptoms by allowing people to process painful memories, calm the nervous system’s fight-or-flight response, and illuminate a path forward. When something traumatic happens, our brains can create pathways that are almost like roads leading us back to traumatic memories. Therapy can help us build new roads, forging new paths toward healing.

Therapy for Medical Trauma in Los Angeles

If you’re struggling after a serious illness, accident, hospitalization, or other medical event, I offer therapy in Los Feliz and online throughout California. Learn more about therapy for chronic illness and medical trauma.