Breaking the Silence: Combating medical gaslighting

In a world where we trust medical professionals with our well-being, it can be extremely upsetting when our concerns are brushed aside or ignored. Does this have a name, or are you just trippin’? No, you’re not; this is known as medical gaslighting and not only causes delays in diagnosis and treatment but also disproportionately affects women and people of color. A shocking 70% of Black women in a recent survey reported their doctors did not listen to their concerns, and 58% of the respondents experienced dismissive attitudes towards their symptoms. Unfortunately, I know that sounds familiar to all of us. If not us directly, we all have at least one relative or friend this has happened to. 

In order to defend ourselves against medical gaslighting’s deadly impact, we must be able to recognize the warning signs. These signs include providers who downplay your symptoms, interrupt you, and dismiss your concerns. Another red flag is attributing your symptoms to mental illness without conducting appropriate investigations or providing mental health follow-up care. 

If you find your doctor isn’t truly listening to you, you have the power to advocate for yourself. Here are five empowering strategies to take control of your health care:

1. Ask questions
2. Track your symptoms 
3. Attend annual checkups
4. Prepare for health appointments 
5. Trust your instincts and speak up

Medical gaslighting can be a deeply distressing experience that erodes trust in medical professionals and makes the trust we already struggle to give even harder to do so. Fighting back starts with you.