I apologise if this question has been asked. I did experience trauma as a child aged 6 onwards. I remember this and have flashbacks etc.

I had a traumatic birth and my mother's pregnancy with me was traumatic and she was hospitalised for most of it. At birth, there was something wrong with me. For the first weeks of my life, I had tests and x-rays and scans constantly. This was a traumatic time for my parents, not knowing what was wrong with me. They eventually diagnosed me and I only needed check-ups every few months. Could I be suffering trauma from this? I really struggle with doctor's appointments, blood tests, injections, hospitals etc. I find it very traumatising. Is this from being a baby in a hospital and being afraid? My malformation was connected with my head. To this day, I can't bear anyone touching my head. Again..connected....?

Thank you.

Hi dis.

It sounds more like it could be conditioning. A learned response from your parents. Your parents would have reacted stressfully to that type of environment because of their experience with you, and to your head injury also.

bec

Did a doctor diagnose you with PTSD?

It would be hard to say if your birth caused it, but I'm wondering what your doctor has told you.

Also, have you had any other traumatic events in your life?

Tammy

Yes, I see a psychiatrist. I was abused as a child.

I think bec hit a point with conditioning which falls more in line with secondary PTSD because your parents would have certainly been traumatized. Obviously this is going off the very limited info you provided at this point. The carers section has a lot of info on this phenomenon.

I won't even begin to act like I have a clue as to "crib trauma".

Are these things trauma for you or stressful? It would be helpful if you are more clear. How are they trauma to you?

I do believe that that these early experiences have an impact.
I have an experiences that make me believe that mothers feelings/PTSD is moving over to the child:

My mother was married to an alcoholic before she married my father. I was born years later. i always had trouble when my husband was drinking alcohol. I never knew why, because I personally never had much or bad experiences with alcohol.
I am sure now I took on her feeelings/PTSD symptoms. She never talked about it, but I still would grow up with it.
I don't know how much that connects to your situation?

Dear Dis...

I sufferd an abusive ( Very) childhood also. I was abandoned in orphanges from the time I was 2.After my first visit with my counselor she made this statement as I was leaving.." First we will fix the child..then we will fix the woman." needless to say..she is key to me. I am 56 and thought I was well over all that.though actually I just never dealt with it. I know a smell or a sound can take me back at any time. Could that be? It left me trying to " be good enough" for the rest of my life. If only I were prettier, smarter or more well behaved they would love me. I thought if I admitted these feelings I would be considered weak. I worked harder and attempted to help anyone and everyone in order to divert my attention from the real problem. Can it go back as far as you are saying..it's anybody's guess. I know I am now concentrating on helping myself. Good luck and God bless

I have a lot of interest in this subject. When I was living out in CA, I considered going to Santa Barbara to the Graduate Institute to get my degree in Perinatal/Prenatal Psychology degree. It is still very controversial as to how much influence early trauma has on children.

I know that some people believe that if you have had trauma before memory is developed (age three), then there is no way you can be influenced by it. I don't believe this. I think that when a baby is under extreme stress, physical changes and chemical reactions take place that "can" change the way the baby thinks or the way the baby's brain develops. People now know that babies bond within their first year and their personality develops well before they are three....so people can't say that trauma doesn't affect babies that don't have developed memories.

Hi Disconbobulated,
I had read some articles (unfortunatelly, can not find them now) about a possibility of the impact of the very early traumatic experience on the future development, and I learned that this is still questionnable. See, birth is not easy for any baby, so we all were more or less traumatized. At the same time, being born sick and undergoing multiple painful procedures is certainly not normal, and thus _may_ be counted as an extreme traumatic experience. But, as several people mentioned here, you could learn responses from your parents.
I have some experience with that: had a painful procedure (benign tumor removal by creodestruction) at 6 months old, and, according to mom, since then I developed fear of people wearing white gawns.

My instinctive response to you is YES...trauma in infancy is very real. I started a new post this morning (before I found your post!) asking if anyone else had experienced trauma as a baby due to medical intervention. I was born two months premature in 1959 -- spent my first three months in an incubator and an Isolette; was resuscitated; had many necessary interventions, etc. The environment of a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) is one of constant alarm -- bright lights, beeps, constant necessary invasions --> feeding tubes, IVs, etc. --

I recently found two marvelous books that have helped me to make sense of my trauma. The first is called The Trauma Spectrum, by Robert Scaer -- there is a chapter on preverbal trauma, as well as an excellent overview of how trauma marks the brain and central nervous system. The second book is called A General Theory of Love, by Thomas Lewis, et. al. It is both practical and poetic -- a brilliant read. Both contain complex information and theories that can be challenging to get through...but are so worth it.

I, too, couldn't stand to be touched on my head for years. Infants' skulls are not fully calcified at birth and are extremely sensitive. In therapy, I came to crave a firm and containing touch -- my therapist would place her hands on the sides of my head and apply gentle pressure...and I learned to stay in my body. I still love to be held firmly and securely

Yes, yes, yes...your experience is real; your trauma was real. Trust your body and instincts.

In healing -- Roo.