Medical Trauma: Why Women Are Particularly Vulnerable
Trauma can impact anyone at any time. It doesn’t discriminate or seek out one sex over another. However, statistics show that women are often more likely to experience traumatic events than men. That’s especially true when it comes to medical trauma.
If you’ve gone through a medical experience that caused physical, emotional, or psychological harm, it could be considered medical trauma. How your mind and body respond to that type of trauma can negatively impact your quality of life.
Unfortunately, as a woman, you might experience more challenges in dealing with medical trauma than your male counterparts. Let’s take a closer look at what this type of trauma is and why women are particularly vulnerable.
What Are the Causes of Medical Trauma?
There’s no one specific cause of medical trauma. It should come as no surprise that medical procedures can be a little frightening and overwhelming to begin with. Some people even get anxious over routine procedures. When putting your health — and potentially your life — in someone else’s hands, it’s understandable to feel a bit on edge.
But, when a medical professional you’ve chosen to trust makes a mistake, or an unexpected accident occurs, it can leave lasting emotional scars that contribute to symptoms of trauma for years.
With that in mind, some common situations that can contribute to medical trauma include cancer, heart attacks, stays in the ICU, or other unexpected health events. For women, childbirth can be a common cause, especially if something goes wrong during the experience.
What Are the Signs of Medical Trauma?
You might not always fully understand or process what you’ve gone through immediately. But, if you’re experiencing symptoms of medical trauma, it’s important to acknowledge them so you can get the help you deserve. While everyone might show signs a bit differently, some of the common symptoms include:
Fear and anxiety
An aversion to going to the doctor
Digestive issues
Difficulty sleeping
Nightmares
Aches and pains
Medical trauma can also cause extreme depression, making you feel both hopeless and helpless, especially when you think about the event that occurred and how it impacted your future.
Why Are Women More Vulnerable?
Anyone can experience medical trauma. But, there are often more “opportunities” for women to be exposed to it. Again, childbirth and pregnancy can be a big risk. Some pregnancies are complicated and require frequent care. Not every birthing experience goes smoothly, either. Some women have to undergo emergency C-sections. Others might give birth prematurely and have to deal with their baby being sent to the NICU.
In addition to traumatic child-birthing experiences, women are often more likely to experience trauma with cardiac events. Because they present symptoms differently than men, they might not get the medical care they need right away, leading to improper checking, misdiagnosis, and potential trauma.
The worst risk factor, however, is believability. Even in the 21st century, women aren’t believed as often in the medical world as men. Some medical professionals might downplay your symptoms or not give you the full check-up you need. That can leave you feeling emotionally traumatized and scared about your symptoms getting worse.
What Can You Do?
As a woman, it’s essential to advocate for yourself when it comes to all of your medical procedures. Whether routine or unexpected, speaking up for your well-being should be a top priority. If you’re uncomfortable doing that, consider bringing someone from your support system who can be a strong voice for you.
Because women are particularly vulnerable to medical trauma, you might have already experienced it. Or, maybe you’re struggling to self-advocate and need some help finding your voice. It’s never too early or too late to reach out for support. Contact me today for a consultation for trauma therapy.
