Healing After Medical Trauma: Brainspotting for Body-Based Fears
Medical procedures and health scares are a part of life for many people. Whether it’s a surgery, a difficult diagnosis, a frightening hospital stay, or even a routine procedure that didn’t go as planned, these experiences can leave a mark that lingers long after the physical wounds have healed. If you find yourself feeling anxious about doctor’s appointments, avoiding medical care, or experiencing unexpected fear or panic in medical settings, you may be carrying medical trauma.
Medical trauma is real, and it’s more common than you might think. The good news is that healing is possible. With the right support, including body-based therapies like brainspotting, you can process what happened, ease your fears, and reconnect with your body in a way that feels safe again.
What Is Medical Trauma?
Medical trauma refers to the emotional and psychological impact of medical events that feel overwhelming, frightening, or out of your control. This can include:
Emergency surgeries or unexpected complications
Painful or invasive procedures
Difficult childbirth experiences
Long hospital stays or time in intensive care
Receiving a life-changing diagnosis
Feeling ignored, dismissed, or not believed by medical professionals
Witnessing a loved one go through a medical crisis
Even when everything “turns out okay,” the experience can leave behind anxiety, hypervigilance, or a sense of mistrust toward your own body or the healthcare system.
How Medical Trauma Shows Up
Medical trauma doesn’t always look like classic PTSD. Sometimes, it’s subtle and shows up in everyday life:
Avoiding doctors or medical appointments, even when you need care
Feeling panicky, dizzy, or short of breath in medical settings
Flashbacks or intrusive memories about the event
Trouble sleeping, especially before appointments
Increased anxiety about your health or the health of loved ones
Difficulty trusting your body or feeling “at home” in it
Physical symptoms like pain, headaches, or stomach issues that don’t have a clear medical cause
You might even feel ashamed or confused about your reactions, especially if others minimize what you went through. But your feelings are valid, and you’re not alone.
Why Is Medical Trauma So Impactful?
Medical settings can be especially triggering because they often involve:
Loss of control: You may have had to trust strangers with your body or decisions about your care.
Vulnerability: Medical procedures can feel invasive or expose you physically and emotionally.
Pain or fear: Even routine procedures can be scary, especially if you’ve had a bad experience before.
Communication gaps: Not feeling heard, respected, or informed can add to the trauma.
These factors can leave your nervous system on high alert, making it hard to relax—even long after the event is over.
How Brainspotting Helps Heal Medical Trauma
Brainspotting is a gentle, body-based therapy that helps you process and release trauma stored in the body and nervous system. Unlike traditional talk therapy, brainspotting doesn’t require you to retell or relive every detail of your experience. Instead, it helps you access the deeper layers where fear, pain, and helplessness are held.
Here’s how a brainspotting session for medical trauma might look:
Tuning In: With your therapist, you focus on the sensations, emotions, or memories that come up when you think about the medical event or your fear of medical settings.
Finding Your “Brainspot”: Your therapist guides you to find an eye position that connects to the feeling or memory. This “brainspot” acts as a doorway to the part of your brain where the trauma is stored.
Gentle Processing: As you focus on the brainspot, you notice what comes up—thoughts, images, emotions, or body sensations. There’s no pressure to talk or analyze; just being present is enough.
Release and Relief: Over time, many people notice their anxiety lessens, their bodies feel safer, and medical settings become less triggering.
Brainspotting works at your pace, giving you control over the process. It’s a way to honor your experience, reconnect with your body, and build new, positive associations with medical care.
Tips for Supporting Your Healing
While brainspotting can be a powerful tool, there are also steps you can take on your own to support your healing journey:
Acknowledge what happened: Give yourself permission to recognize your experience as trauma, even if others don’t understand.
Practice grounding techniques: Deep breathing, feeling your feet on the floor, or holding a comforting object can help calm your nervous system in medical settings.
Bring a support person: If possible, take someone you trust to appointments for emotional support.
Prepare questions and advocate for yourself: Write down your concerns ahead of time and don’t hesitate to ask for what you need.
Celebrate small wins: Every step you take—making an appointment, walking into a clinic, or speaking up for yourself—is a victory.
You Deserve Compassionate Care—From Others and Yourself
Medical trauma can make the world feel smaller and scarier, but it doesn’t have to define your relationship with your body or your health. With patience, support, and the right tools, you can heal old wounds and move forward with more confidence and peace.
If you’re struggling with medical trauma or anxiety around healthcare, you’re not alone. Brainspotting offers a gentle, effective path to reclaiming your sense of safety and agency. Reach out if you’re curious about how this approach can help you, or if you just need someone to listen. You deserve care that honors your whole self—body, mind, and spirit.