Eileen Davidson | @chroniceileen
It’s rare to find a patient with any chronic condition who hasn’t experienced medical gaslighting at some point in their health care journey. However, they may not realize that their negative experience has a name and that it’s a problem within the medical system that needs to change.
Understanding medical gaslighting might initially seem challenging — one might even think the problem is their fault — but once explained, it often resonates with many, providing a name to a common problem faced by an alarming number of patients. When I first learned about medical gaslighting, it felt like a light bulb went off. It explained so many experiences that had left me feeling dismissed and doubting myself. Recognizing this gave me clarity and validation, allowing me to reframe my past interactions and understand they weren’t reflective of my worth or credibility as a patient.
My diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis was delayed due to medical gaslighting and my family physician’s bias, combined with my young age and recent pregnancy, significantly impacting my health. At the time, however, I blamed myself for what I was experiencing, unable to put a name to it. I questioned everything— was I just imagining my pain? Was I overreacting? I even began to feel guilty for taking up doctors’ time with my concerns, convinced they saw me as dramatic or difficult. That self-doubt crept into every aspect of my life, making me second-guess not just my health but also my instincts and credibility.
It took years for me to finally advocate for myself enough to get proper testing—an exhausting process that required pushing through the dismissive attitudes I had internalized. In fact, it took me specifically requesting to be tested for rheumatoid arthritis, five whole years after the symptoms began. By that point, the physical toll on my body was undeniable, but the mental and emotional toll of not being believed had also left its mark.
That wasn’t the only time I’ve experienced the negative impact of medical gaslighting. In my journey with a progressive chronic systemic disease, I still come across it occasionally — but the difference now is that I can recognize it and advocate for myself. Something which took me years to figure out how to do.
What is medical gaslighting?
Initially, I didn’t realize that I was experiencing medical gaslighting—I hadn’t even heard of the term. I would leave doctor appointments feeling uneasy, embarrassed, and angry at myself. I felt dismissed and questioned whether I was being dramatic or imagining my symptoms. My concerns were often brushed aside, and it made me doubt what I was telling them about my own body and health.
The care I received felt inadequate because my symptoms weren’t taken seriously. Instead of thorough examinations or tests, my pain was attributed to stress, hormones, or even just being a tired new mom. Meanwhile, I was scared about what the future might hold. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to care for my child or continue working if the pain got worse.
Understanding medical gaslighting was an eye-opening moment for me. It gave me the validation I needed to realize the problem wasn’t with me — it was with the care I was receiving. Recognizing it was the first step in learning how to advocate for myself and use clear communication to get my needs met.
Medical gaslighting happens when a health care provider dismisses, downplays, or outright ignores what you’re telling them about your own body and health. This can have serious consequences, including missed treatment opportunities, worsening of diseases, and even death.
The impact of medical gaslighting
Medical gaslighting can lead to several negative outcomes:
- Delayed diagnosis: Patients may experience delays in receiving an accurate diagnosis, which can result in the progression of their condition.
- Emotional toll: Patients may suffer from increased depression, anxiety, lowered self-confidence, guilt, and self-blame.
- Medical burnout: Repeatedly experiencing medical gaslighting can lead to frustration and exhaustion, causing patients to lose trust in the health care system.
Certain groups of people are especially vulnerable to medical gaslighting. It can be particularly harmful and common for:
- Women: Women are often told that their symptoms are due to stress or anxiety rather than being investigated thoroughly.
- People of colour: People of colour may encounter racial biases that result in inadequate or delayed care.
- Individuals with chronic or rare conditions: These patients often struggle to have their experiences validated because their symptoms don’t fit the more common medical profiles.
- Weight Bias: People who are considered overweight often experience medical gaslighting, where their symptoms are dismissed or attributed solely to their weight, leading to delayed diagnoses and inadequate care.
Examples of medical gaslighting
Medical gaslighting takes many forms:
- Downplaying symptoms: A doctor might tell a patient that their pain is “just stress” or “all in their head,” even when the patient knows something is seriously wrong.
- Ignoring concerns: This occurs when a patient repeatedly brings up a specific symptom, but the doctor doesn’t take it seriously or fails to ask follow-up questions or refer for appropriate testing.
- Blaming external factors: A doctor might attribute a patient’s symptoms to weight, hormones, or mental health issues without thoroughly investigating other potential causes.
- Refusing to discuss symptoms: A health care provider might dismiss a patient’s concerns without engaging in a meaningful conversation about their symptoms.
- Insisting on one treatment option: A doctor might push a specific treatment without considering shared decision-making — that is, discussing other possible options and giving the patient a choice in their treatment path.
Tips for patients experiencing medical gaslighting
Patients aren’t powerless. Here are steps you can take if you’re experiencing medical gaslighting:
- Educate yourself: Learn about your condition and medical terminology to communicate more effectively with your doctor.
- Document everything: Keep a health journal to record your symptoms, their frequency, potential triggers, and interactions with healthcare providers.
- Be assertive and clear: Ask questions, request explanations, and seek second opinions if your concerns are dismissed. Clearly articulate your symptoms and their impact on your daily life.
- Bring support: Bring a trusted friend or family member to appointments for emotional support and advocacy.
- Know your rights: Familiarize yourself with your patient rights, including the right to be heard and to seek second opinions. Maintain composure during appointments and persistently seek the care and validation you deserve. If necessary, file a formal complaint and document your interactions.
- Be persistent: Being persistent when seeking medical care is crucial, especially when experiencing medical gaslighting, because it ensures your concerns are heard and increases the likelihood of an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. Remember, advocating for your health is not being annoying or taking up resources—it's your right as a patient. Healthcare systems exist to support you, and your persistence is vital to getting the care you deserve.
- Consider a social worker: Social workers can play a vital role in addressing medical gaslighting by advocating for patients, ensuring their concerns are taken seriously, and connecting them with resources for proper care. They provide emotional support, help navigate complex healthcare systems, and empower patients to communicate effectively with their providers.
If you’re experiencing medical gaslighting, know that your symptoms are real. Your experiences are valid and you deserve health care providers who listen, investigate, and treat you with respect.
Keep advocating for yourself until you find the care you deserve. The path to proper diagnosis and treatment shouldn’t feel like a battle, but from my own experience, I know persistence is crucial. For me, it meant years of frustration, self-doubt, and repeatedly demanding proper care before I finally got answers — and knew how to speak up for myself. It’s exhausting and unfair, but we have to keep fighting to be heard.
Eileen is a patient advocate and writer from Vancouver, BC. You can follow her on Instagram at @chroniceileen.
.jpg)
