Traumatic stress takes shape through a variety of complex factors including persistent, chronic stress and any event that involves exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or violence. This can include serious risks to mother or child during childbirth, fear of loss of life or injury during medical events and witnessing distressing events or having a loved one experience such an event. Traumatic stress can also be exacerbated or preceded by factors in childhood.

While chronic stress and traumatic stress have symptoms of overlap, there are a few defining features of traumatic stress, including recurrent, intrusive distressing memories, dissociative reactions, avoidance of or efforts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts and feelings related to the event; as well as symptoms related to hypervigilance and changes to mood or cognition.

Some areas in my practice related to traumatic stress:

• Medical concerns and events, such as infertility, cancer and chronic health conditions

• Labor and delivery trauma

• Healthcare workers and secondary trauma

• Unresolved childhood stress and trauma

Traumatic stress can impact all areas of a woman’s life and leave her feeling both anxious and depressed. Compassionately identifying the factors and events that have contributed to traumatic stress and exploring comprehensive treatment approaches can bring support, relief and recovery.