September 11, 2022

E52: InvisiYouth Chat Sessions with staff and board members of the Center for Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress Gaby Vega, Darlene Barkman, and Dr. Kimberly Canter

1 hour 2 minutes

When you have three special guests on one podcast episode, you know it’s gonna be a good time. And today’s topic benefits from lots of perspectives because we’re talking about PTSD, also known as post-traumatic stress and specifically medical trauma/triggers. While we’re not making a melancholy podcast episode, we know this is a topic super important because let’s face it…when you’re a young adult living with a chronic illness/disability, chances are that you’ve dealt with a sort of trauma or triggering experience related to your health.

Today’s episode has three staff and board members from the Center of Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress (CPTS), which aims to improve support and knowledge around this topic to address the emotional, lifestyle and psychological needs of young people, families and the medical community. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, CPTS is highlighting many of its beneficial trauma-focused care in its resources. We’re thrilled to have CPTS program coordinator Gaby Vega, pediatric psychologist and research scientist Dr. Kimberly Canter, and Darlene Barkman who’s worked in patient-centered care from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Here’s the Four Hot Takeaways from the podcast episode:
0:00 - Podcast Intro Time
4:37 - The ladies give a crash course in PTSD, how the “three E’s” can be a sign in identifying that you’re dealing with triggering stressors and the number one stigma around PTSD that stops young people from seeking supports.
20:56 - Build you the guidebook on finding all the supports, advice and tools to navigate living your life with medical and health traumas/triggers, like how to get family involvement that’s not overwhelming, the best way to bring up worries to your doctors, and why adapting and routines are great tools to combat your triggers.
39:30 - INTERMISSION STORY TIME and on this podcast founder Dominique sharing a story about her own PTSD physical trigger from her chronic illness journey that connects tennis, filming a Spanish university project and black outs into one place.
51:10 - Wrap up the podcast and our guests are sharing some of the best tools to add to your toolkit when dealing with these stressors and PTSD with health traumas so you can tackle advising parents how to “support not help,” when to advocate with your medical team when you feel that intimidation, and how tools on the Healthcare Toolbox from CPTS prove independent vetted research can support your journey to thrive with wellness long-term.

Please like, comment, subscribe and share this episode, follow CPTS @pedtraumastress and at healthcaretoolbox.org . Please check out the InvisiYouth Charity Shop to buy yourself or someone you care about our limited edition Subtle Activist Color Block bracelet on www.etsy.com/shop/invisiyouthcharity with free shipping globally, and please support InvisiYouth Charity by donating, following and joining our programs and community @invisiyouth!