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Medical Gaslighting Meaning

Medical Gaslighting Meaning

What is Medical Gaslighting?

Published on October 23rd 2024
Written by Jesse Driessen

Key Takeaways

    • Medical gaslighting occurs when healthcare professionals dismiss a patient’s symptoms, often attributing them to psychological causes without proper investigation.

    • Women and people of colour are disproportionately affected by medical gaslighting, with 80% of women feeling their concerns are minimized.

    • Implicit biases and systemic flaws in healthcare contribute to women receiving fewer pain treatments and facing longer diagnostic delays than men.

    • Medical gaslighting can lead to delayed diagnoses, unnecessary physical suffering, and long-term psychological issues like anxiety and depression.

    • Patients can combat gaslighting by advocating for their care, seeking second opinions, bringing support to appointments, and documenting their symptoms carefully.

What does Medical Gaslighting mean?

Medical gaslighting refers to the experience of having your symptoms, concerns, or medical conditions dismissed, minimized, or explained away by a healthcare professional. Rather than receiving validation or adequate care, patients experiencing medical gaslighting may hear phrases like:

    • “It’s all in your head.”
    • “You’re just stressed.”
    • “You’re overreacting.”

This can leave patients feeling invalidated and can delay necessary treatment. Medical gaslighting can be subtle, often framed as concern or a professional’s attempt to calm a patient. But for those living with complex or chronic conditions, this dismissal can have serious consequences on their health and well-being.

This issue is particularly prevalent among women, who may face biases that result in their pain being underestimated or overlooked. A staggering 72% of Millennial Females report feeling that their doctor ignored, dismissed, or minimized their health concerns. In the same study, 66% of women reported that they had been told by a doctor that their physical symptoms were simply due to stress.

As a result, medical gaslighting can have a detrimental effect on how women are treated by healthcare professionals. For example, women reportedly receive 25% fewer painkillers in emergency rooms compared to men, which underscores the systemic issues in how their pain is perceived and treated.

Why Does Medical Gaslighting Happen?

Medical gaslighting can occur for a number of reasons, including:

    • Bias in Healthcare. Studies show that women, people of color, and individuals with chronic illnesses are more likely to have their symptoms dismissed or minimized by healthcare professionals. Bias can affect how seriously doctors take their patients, leading to poorer quality of care.

    • Time Constraints. Doctors are often under time pressure and may default to “common” explanations for a patient’s symptoms without fully investigating their unique situation.

    • Complexity of Chronic Illnesses. Conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or autoimmune disorders don’t always present clear diagnostic criteria. If a doctor can’t immediately identify the cause of a patient’s symptoms, they may assume the issue is psychological or related to lifestyle factors.

The Impact of Medical Gaslighting

The effects of medical gaslighting can be devastating. Patients may start to doubt their own experiences, delay seeking further medical advice, or stop advocating for themselves altogether. This can lead to worsening symptoms, mental health challenges, and even long-term physical health damage.

For example, a person suffering from chronic pain might feel compelled to downplay their discomfort after repeated dismissals, leading to missed diagnoses or lack of access to effective treatment. The cumulative effect of being gaslit over time can make patients feel like they aren’t worthy of care or that their symptoms aren’t legitimate.

How to Tackle Medical Gaslighting in Medical Appointments

If you suspect you’ve been a victim of medical gaslighting, don’t give up hope. There are ways to reclaim control during your medical appointments and advocate for the care you deserve. Here are some practical strategies to consider:

1. Document Your Symptoms

One of the best ways to counteract gaslighting is to keep a detailed record of your symptoms. Apps like Bearable can be extremely helpful for tracking symptoms, medication, lifestyle factors, and mood. Having this data at your fingertips makes it easier to provide a clear, evidence-based picture of your health to your doctor.

Example: If you experience migraines, note the time, severity, and potential triggers of each episode. If a doctor tries to brush off your concerns, you can pull up the data to demonstrate a pattern or worsening trend.

2. Ask Specific Questions

If you feel your symptoms are being dismissed, ask your doctor to explain their reasoning in detail. This forces them to engage more deeply with your case and can prevent the all-too-common “You’re just stressed” response.

Example: Rather than accepting a vague answer, ask something like, “What tests or diagnostic steps are we missing to rule out other conditions?” or “Can you explain why you believe stress is the primary cause of my symptoms?”

3. Bring a Support Person

Having a close friend or family member in the room can help you feel more confident in advocating for yourself. A support person can help you remember key points of the conversation, validate your concerns, and even speak up if they feel your symptoms are being ignored.

Example: If you’re nervous about confronting a dismissive doctor, bring a friend or family member who can back you up if your concerns are minimized.

4. Seek a Second Opinion

If you feel unheard or dismissed by your doctor, don’t hesitate to seek out a second opinion. Sometimes, a fresh perspective from a different healthcare provider can be invaluable.

Example: If you’ve been told your fatigue is due to anxiety but feel there’s something more going on, seeing a specialist or another doctor who is more familiar with your condition can provide new insights.

5. Be Assertive About Your Needs

It can be hard to speak up when you’re being gaslit, but it’s essential to clearly express your concerns. Be assertive about what you need from your doctor and how you expect them to support your care.

Example: If your pain is being dismissed, you could say, “I need you to take my pain seriously because it’s affecting my daily life. I would like further testing or a referral to a specialist.”

6. Trust Yourself

One of the most damaging aspects of medical gaslighting is how it can make patients doubt their own experiences. Trust yourself. You are the expert on your body. If something feels wrong, it likely is, and you deserve to have that explored and validated.

Example: Remind yourself that just because one doctor didn’t take your symptoms seriously doesn’t mean you’re imagining them. Trust in your lived experience and continue seeking answers until you find a healthcare professional who listens.

How to Prevent Medical Gaslighting

While it’s difficult to prevent bias entirely, here are a few proactive steps you can take to minimize the likelihood of medical gaslighting:

    • Research Your Condition. Being well-informed about your symptoms or potential diagnosis gives you the confidence to ask the right questions and challenge dismissive responses.

    • Prepare for Appointments. Before your visit, write down key points you want to discuss, including any patterns in your symptoms or treatment preferences. This will help you stay focused and ensure you cover everything during your time with the doctor.

    • Maintain Boundaries. If a doctor begins to invalidate your experience, it’s okay to respectfully but firmly set boundaries. Let them know that you expect to be treated as a partner in your healthcare, not dismissed.

In summary

Medical gaslighting can be a deeply frustrating and disheartening experience, but you’re not alone and you don’t have to tolerate it. By documenting your symptoms, asking pointed questions, and seeking second opinions, you can reclaim control over your healthcare. Remember, you deserve to be listened to and taken seriously. The more you advocate for yourself, the better your chances of receiving the care you need.

Bearable can help you prepare for your next appointment

“Bearable is helpful for me, especially before I go into a doctor’s appointment or a specialist doctor’s appointment. Using the app it’s easier for me to get an overview of, like, how many days per month my symptoms have occurred. Breaking that down by symptom, and also across my overall symptoms, has been helpful for me. It’s been helpful for me with my mental health and working with my therapist to keep track of my mood each month, like seeing if I have a higher amount of sad days.

Gina, Bearable member

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