Medical gaslighting is a term that’s increasingly coming into the spotlight, and for good reason. It describes a phenomenon where healthcare professionals dismiss or downplay a patient’s symptoms, leaving them feeling unheard, invalidated, and frustrated. For women, this experience is all too common, particularly when it comes to issues related to chronic pain or reproductive health. Let's explore what medical gaslighting is, why it happens, and how you can advocate for yourself or a loved one in these challenging situations.
Understanding Medical Gaslighting
Medical gaslighting refers to a situation where a healthcare provider dismisses a patient’s symptoms as exaggerated, psychological, or even nonexistent, often suggesting that they are “all in their head.” It can happen to anyone, but women, people of color, and individuals with chronic health conditions are disproportionately affected.
One study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that women who reported abdominal pain waited, on average, 65 minutes before receiving treatment in an emergency room, compared to 49 minutes for men with the same complaints (Hoffmann & Tarzian, 2001). These delays are often the result of a deep-seated bias in healthcare that suggests women are more emotional or that their symptoms are less serious.
For those who have experienced medical gaslighting, it can be an incredibly disheartening experience. You might start to doubt yourself or wonder if maybe the pain really is “all in your head.” The truth, however, is that your pain is real, and it deserves to be treated as such.
Why Does Medical Gaslighting Happen?
Medical gaslighting is often rooted in systemic issues within the healthcare field. Historically, medical research has disproportionately focused on men, which means that many of the conditions predominantly affecting women are less understood. For example, conditions like endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, and autoimmune disorders have long been underfunded and understudied.
A study published in The Journal of Women’s Health found that women’s health concerns were less likely to be taken seriously compared to those of men, and they were more likely to be prescribed sedatives rather than pain medication (Samulowitz et al., 2018). This discrepancy can create a vicious cycle where women's pain is not properly diagnosed or treated, leading to prolonged suffering and mental health impacts.
Additionally, gender bias isn’t the only factor. Racial disparities also play a major role in medical gaslighting. A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that some healthcare providers falsely believed Black patients had a higher pain tolerance than white patients, leading to inadequate pain management (Hoffman et al., 2016). Such biases, whether implicit or explicit, result in less effective care for people who are already marginalized.
The Impact of Medical Gaslighting
The impact of medical gaslighting goes beyond the physical pain of untreated symptoms—it can also be deeply emotional. Being told that “nothing is wrong” when you know something is off can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression. It can also make patients reluctant to seek further medical attention, fearing that they won’t be taken seriously.
Chronic conditions like pelvic pain or autoimmune diseases often require timely intervention, and when medical professionals fail to listen, the consequences can be severe. Patients may go undiagnosed for years, as is often the case with endometriosis, where the average time to diagnosis is between 7-10 years. The longer it takes to receive a diagnosis, the longer patients suffer, not only physically but also mentally.
How to Advocate for Yourself
Medical gaslighting is a complex problem that requires systemic change. However, there are actions you can take to advocate for yourself if you feel that your concerns aren’t being taken seriously.
1. Trust Your Instincts
First and foremost, trust yourself. You know your body better than anyone else, and if you feel that something is wrong, it’s worth pursuing further investigation. Don’t let dismissive comments make you doubt your experiences. Pain is subjective, but it is also very real, and you deserve to be heard.
2. Bring a Support Person
Having a trusted friend or family member accompany you to medical appointments can make a huge difference. They can help validate your concerns, take notes, and provide moral support. Sometimes, having another person in the room can also prevent healthcare professionals from being dismissive, as they realize there is a witness to the interaction.
3. Keep a Symptom Journal
Documenting your symptoms is one of the best ways to advocate for yourself. Write down when the pain started, how severe it is, any patterns you notice, and how it impacts your daily life. Bringing detailed notes to your appointments can help you present your case more effectively, and it can also help your healthcare provider identify potential patterns or triggers.
4. Ask Direct Questions
Don’t be afraid to ask direct questions if you feel that you are being dismissed. For example, you could say, “What other conditions could be causing these symptoms?” or “I understand that you don’t think it’s serious, but what tests could rule out other possibilities?” Asking questions forces the healthcare provider to think critically and demonstrates that you are an informed patient who deserves a thorough evaluation.
5. Seek a Second Opinion
If you’re not getting the answers or treatment you need, it’s okay to seek another opinion. Every healthcare professional has different experiences and expertise, and a fresh perspective may make all the difference. You deserve to find a provider who listens to you and takes your symptoms seriously.
6. Use Your Voice
If you have experienced medical gaslighting, sharing your story (in safe spaces) can be powerful. Whether it’s with friends, in support groups, or on social media, speaking out can help you feel less alone and may also help others recognize when they are being dismissed. Collective voices can bring about the larger changes we need in healthcare to address these biases.
Moving Toward Change
Addressing medical gaslighting is not just about empowering patients—it’s also about changing the healthcare system. Medical schools need to include training on implicit bias, healthcare professionals need to be educated about chronic conditions like endometriosis, and more research needs to be funded that focuses on women’s health and pain management.
Organizations like the Endometriosis Foundation of America and The National Pain Advocacy Center are doing important work to advocate for better treatment and awareness of chronic pain and women's health issues. Supporting these organizations and initiatives can help drive the systemic change that is so desperately needed.
Conclusion
Medical gaslighting is a real and harmful issue that disproportionately affects women and marginalized groups. However, by raising awareness, advocating for ourselves, and pushing for systemic change, we can begin to address the biases that have persisted for far too long. Remember: your pain is real, your experience matters, and you deserve to be heard.
If you’ve experienced medical gaslighting, know that you are not alone, and there are steps you can take to make sure your voice is heard. And for those of us lucky enough to not have faced this issue, it’s time to listen, learn, and advocate for a healthcare system that respects every patient.
Sources:
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Hoffmann, D. E., & Tarzian, A. J. (2001). The girl who cried pain: A bias against women in the treatment of pain. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. Link
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Samulowitz, A., Gremyr, I., Eriksson, E., & Hensing, G. (2018). “Bringing the gender gap to the fore: A qualitative study on how gender influences patients’ experiences of healthcare.” Journal of Women's Health. Link
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Hoffman, K. M., Trawalter, S., Axt, J. R., & Oliver, M. N. (2016). Racial bias in pain assessment and treatment recommendations, and false beliefs about biological differences between blacks and whites. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Link