Starlight Stories
"It was a really traumatic experience" How play helped to heal hospital anxiety
When Sfiyah was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, her weakened immune system meant frequent hospital visits and ongoing treatment. Over time, those visits became increasingly distressing, until play changed everything.
Her mother, Parvina, recalls one particularly painful experience:
“It was a really traumatic experience for her. She had to be pinned down, and they didn’t notice she was having a panic attack. She was utterly traumatised. It’s taken her three years to gain the courage to have a blood test without fainting or panicking.”
For Sfiyah, like many children, being physically restrained for treatment caused long-lasting fear and emotional distress. She began refusing medication and meals, and her mental health suffered.
Everything shifted when a nurse referred her to a health play specialist.
“Her mood changed from the first visit,” said Parvina. “She managed to forget her worries, relax, and open up about what was bothering her. My daughter hadn’t laughed in such a long time. It was such a relief to see Sfiyah be her true self again, all thanks to the health play professional who brought the healing power of play.”
Even Sfiyah now recognises the difference play makes: “A world without play is a world without fun. Play brings out the child in us and helps us forget our worries.”
Sfiyah’s story exemplifies how healthcare can cause trauma for children. For further information about, download Starlight's Causes of Trauma from Children’s Healthcare report, released to mark Play in Healthcare Week 2025 (13–19 October).
The report explores how restraint during medical procedures can cause trauma, and how therapeutic play can help prevent it.
