Invisible scars: Recognizing and treating medical trauma, with James C. Jackson, PsyD

Medical trauma encompasses the emotional, physical, and cognitive distress resulting from harrowing medical experiences such as critical illness, difficult childbirth, or chronic gaslighting by providers. Dr. Jim Jackson, a psychologist and director of Vanderbilt’s ICU Recovery Center, explains that while often overlooked, medical trauma manifests in high rates of PTSD, anxiety, and depression, sometimes rivaling the psychological impact seen in combat veterans. A significant hallmark of this trauma is profound avoidance, where patients skip life-saving care to avoid "returning to the scene of the crime." Effective recovery often involves Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which encourages patients to live a value-driven life alongside their medical challenges rather than waiting for symptoms to disappear. Because family members often experience higher rates of PTSD than patients themselves, recovery requires a multifaceted support system and a shift in medical practice to prioritize mental health outcomes as much as physical survival.