MEDICAL GASLIGHTING: What It Is and What to Do About It
There’s a unique kind of frustration that comes when you know something is wrong with your body, but no one seems to believe you. For many people living with chronic illness, this experience is far too familiar. You walk into a doctor’s office seeking help, but instead of answers, you’re met with doubt, dismissal, or even subtle blame. This is what’s known as medical gaslighting and it’s a reality that’s leaving many patients unseen, unheard, and untreated.
Medical gaslighting occurs when a healthcare provider downplays your symptoms, suggests they’re imagined, or implies that what you’re experiencing is simply in your head. It can be subtle, a raised eyebrow, a rushed conclusion, or a shift in tone that makes you question whether you’re exaggerating. Sometimes it’s overt, with phrases like, “You’re just stressed,” or “Your tests are normal, so you’re fine,” shutting down further exploration. For people dealing with complex, long-term illnesses like fibromyalgia, lupus, endometriosis, or long COVID, this kind of dismissal can delay diagnoses for months, or even years.
What makes medical gaslighting so insidious is that it doesn’t just affect your medical journey, it affects your mental health, too. After repeated invalidation, you might start wondering if you really are overreacting. You begin to second-guess your instincts, and the internalized doubt can chip away at your confidence to advocate for yourself. For some, the experience is so discouraging they avoid seeking care altogether, choosing instead to quietly live with symptoms that deserve attention and treatment.
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Often, medical gaslighting is more common among women, people of color, those in larger bodies, and individuals with invisible disabilities. Studies and patient stories increasingly reveal a pattern: when someone doesn’t “look sick,” their pain is more likely to be questioned. It’s a systemic issue rooted not just in individual doctors’ behavior, but in a healthcare system that still underestimates the power of listening.
But if you’ve experienced medical gaslighting, you’re not powerless. One of the first and most important things you can do is trust yourself. Your experience matters, and your symptoms are real, even if a test hasn’t confirmed them yet. Keeping a detailed log of your symptoms, bringing someone with you to appointments, and asking direct but respectful questions can help keep you grounded in what you know to be true. Sometimes, it’s necessary to seek a second or third opinion, not because you’re being difficult, but because your health is worth fighting for.
Ultimately, every patient deserves to feel seen, heard, and taken seriously. Medical gaslighting is not just a personal experience, it’s a public health issue that needs more attention, more awareness, and more accountability. You are not being dramatic. You are not too sensitive. You are not alone.
If you’ve been dismissed by a healthcare provider, know this: your voice matters. Keep using it.
