Childbirth trauma
Told friends at brunch that I'd started reading *The Body Keeps the Score*, even though I don't personally have any history of trauma that I know of.
They both immediately asked what about that traumatic birth experience with kiddo?
And I ... don't know how to feel about that. It doesn't feel like it was *really* trauma because ... um ... I chose to get pregnant and have a child, I guess?
Childbirth trauma
After that experience, I knew I could never go through it again, so kiddo remains an only child.
They're 23 years old now, and they have their own phobia about pregnancy & childbirth which I'd like to assume has nothing to do with my own trauma, but um maybe I'm wrong about that.
I don't feel like it was bad enough for me to qualify as a trauma *survivor*, you know? It was a horrible experience but I don't have flashbacks or anything.
Childbirth trauma
Oh, except for that time when I was having a pap smear and felt anxious about it. And the doctor reminded me to use the breathing exercises I used during childbirth. And it was at least 10 years later but I still freaked the fuck out and was sobbing on the exam table and I never went back to see that doctor again.
Gods dammit.
That was just once, okay?
Not trauma. Nope.
Childbirth trauma
@lookitmychicken first of all, that sounds awful and I’m sorry you had to go through all of that 🫂
secondly, I am not one to armchair diagnose other people but in case it helps you put things into context: this thread alone is a strong argument for at least 4 of the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Not all trauma is PTSD obviously, but either way you deserve to feel safe and to not have your feelings minimized, even by yourself
