Coping with Medical PTSD: How to Heal from Bad Experiences
As a childhood cancer survivor, I know a thing or two about medical PTSD. I vividly remember having a massive panic attack in 8th grade during a big cancer check-up at Colorado Children’s Hospital. I had to get blood work and a scan, and the anxiety hit me like a wave. I was hyperventilating, I couldn’t breathe, and I was crying uncontrollably.
After that appointment, my oncologist recommended that I start seeing a therapist to work through my medical trauma. That was the first of many therapists I’ve seen throughout my life, and honestly? Each one has helped me process different aspects of my medical PTSD in ways I never could have done alone.
If you’ve had traumatic medical experiences—whether from chronic illness, painful procedures, misdiagnoses, or dismissive doctors—you’re not alone. Medical PTSD is real, and it can impact your mental and physical health. But healing is possible. Here are some ways to cope and start feeling safer in medical settings.
1. Talk About It with Loved Ones
Keeping your trauma bottled up can make it feel even heavier. Opening up to trusted friends, family, or your partner can help you feel supported and validated. Even if they don’t fully understand what you’ve been through, just having someone listen and acknowledge your pain can make a huge difference.
Try saying:
💬 “I’ve been feeling really anxious about my next doctor’s appointment because of past experiences. Can I talk to you about it?”
Sometimes, just voicing your fears out loud helps take away some of their power.
2. Connect with Others Who Understand
There’s something incredibly healing about talking to people who get it. Whether it’s through online support groups, social media communities, or local meetups, connecting with others who have been through similar experiences can be validating and comforting.
You might consider joining:
Facebook groups for chronic illness survivors
Reddit threads on medical trauma recovery
Local or virtual support groups for medical PTSD
Knowing you’re not alone in this journey can help you feel seen and supported.
3. Work with a Trauma-Informed Therapist
Therapy has been a game-changer for me. I’ve worked with multiple therapists throughout my life, and each one has helped me tackle different aspects of my medical trauma. If you struggle with panic attacks, avoidance, or severe anxiety around medical settings, a therapist who specializes in trauma (especially medical PTSD) can help you process your experiences in a safe and structured way.
Types of therapy that may help:
✅ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Helps reframe negative thoughts and responses
✅ Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – Often used for PTSD and can help process traumatic memories
✅ Somatic Therapy – Focuses on the mind-body connection and releasing trauma stored in the body
If therapy feels overwhelming, even just starting with a support group or online mental health resources can be a great first step.
4. Develop Coping Tools for Medical Appointments
If medical settings trigger your anxiety, it helps to have a coping plan in place. Some strategies that have worked for me include:
✨ Bringing a support person – Having someone with you can make appointments feel less scary.
✨ Practicing grounding techniques – Deep breathing, counting objects in the room, or holding a calming object can help when anxiety spikes.
✨ Requesting accommodations – If certain things make you more anxious (like bright lights, loud noises, or certain procedures), let your provider know ahead of time. Many offices are willing to make adjustments.
✨ Scheduling appointments at low-stress times – If possible, avoid scheduling medical visits during busy or stressful periods in your life.
Little changes can make a big difference in how you experience medical environments.
5. Rebuild Trust with Healthcare Providers
One of the hardest parts of medical PTSD is learning to trust doctors again—especially if past experiences left you feeling dismissed or invalidated. While not all doctors are the same, it’s okay to be selective about who you see.
Consider:
🔹 Finding a provider who specializes in your condition
🔹 Reading reviews or asking for recommendations from others with chronic illness
🔹 Advocating for yourself – If a doctor isn’t taking you seriously, don’t be afraid to speak up or switch providers.
You deserve to feel safe and heard in medical settings.
6. Give Yourself Grace—Healing Takes Time
Recovering from medical PTSD isn’t linear. Some days, you’ll feel okay. Other days, an appointment or a medical trigger might bring everything flooding back. And that’s normal.
The key is to be gentle with yourself. Healing isn’t about “getting over” your trauma—it’s about finding ways to live alongside it with less fear and more control. Every step you take to prioritize your mental and emotional well-being is a step toward reclaiming your power.
Last Thoughts
Medical PTSD is real, and if you’ve been through traumatic medical experiences, you’re not alone. There are ways to heal, cope, and take back control over your health journey. Whether it’s through therapy, support systems, or self-advocacy, you deserve to feel safe and heard in medical settings.
If you’ve dealt with medical trauma, what has helped you the most? Let’s start a conversation and support each other in this healing journey.
