What is medical trauma?
Trauma begins as intense stress to the nervous system from the stress of a life-threatening situation, or as ongoing stress. As human beings, we rely on our autonomic nervous system to work unconsciously, in order to regulate bodily functions like blood pressure, digestion, and temperature. These are normal functions in the brain. However, the caregivers of medically fragile children experience trauma in the form of witnessing intense medical emergencies, as well as ongoing chronic stress to the system that takes place as they go far beyond typical medical efforts to care for their child. Trauma can impact a caregiver’s autonomic nervous system by causing hyperarousal. It becomes “stuck” in survival mode, causing distress.
