What to do if you think you’re experiencing medical gaslighting

“My experience, like so many others people’s, reiterates how unequipped the healthcare systems are in dealing with women’s health.”

With the recent rise of ‘therapy speak’, psychological terms have become part of many people’s everyday vocabulary. Arguably overused, the word ‘gaslighting’ has been everywhere in the past 12 months, so much so that Merriam-Webster made it the Word of the Year in 2022. If you’ve managed to escape its pervasiveness, the word refers to a covert type of emotional abuse used by a manipulator to make the victim question their reality. 

Deriving from the original phrase, medical gaslighting occurs when a healthcare professional dismisses, downplays or misdiagnoses a patient’s symptoms. While more commonly experienced by women, it mostly affects women of colour, disabled women, LGBTQIA+ people, elderly women and women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. 

According to Nicole Vanderkroef, Registered Clinical Counsellor and Bupa Senior Health Content Specialist, signs you’re being medically gaslit can include feeling as though your doctor is dismissive, rushing your appointment or feeling as though you aren’t being offered any follow-up actions. “This could be for several reasons, such as an inadequate amount of time in an appointment or misunderstanding of how concerned a patient is,” she explains.

At the beginning of 2020, right after returning from a trip to Japan and just before the start of COVID-19 in Australia, I began to experience difficulty breathing. Stabbing pains in my chest became a regular occurrence and I was convinced I was dying. After taking myself to my local GP, explaining my symptoms and having a CT scan, I was quickly told I had pericarditis. Basically, I supposedly had a saclike tissue surrounding my heart causing swelling and inflammation.  

I was on and off a dose of medication for six to eight months and told to stay home as much as I could, but I wasn’t really seeing any improvements over time. Weirdly enough, I remember the radiologist who did my CT scans always asking whether I was feeling “anxious or stressed”. Because my GP was adamant I had pericarditis and viral infections usually cause it, I wasn’t sure why the radiologist’s questions were relevant – but they stuck nonetheless. 

Soon after, I found myself in the emergency department of the hospital, being pushed around in a wheelchair from a heart ultrasound to an X-ray. The nurse found me hours later to tell me they couldn’t find any issues with my heart or any signs of pericarditis. So, just like that, I was off with no answers. My next stop was the cardiologist. 

While she only asked how I was in relation to my heart, I ended up sobbing in her office with five wet tissues clutched in my hand. She told me that given the continuous unchanging results of my CT scans, I may just be suffering from anxiety. Since then, I haven’t returned to see a doctor about it, despite still experiencing similar pains from time to time. 

Although I don’t think the GP I dealt with had any manipulative intent, my experience, like so many other people’s, reiterates how unequipped the healthcare systems are in dealing with women’s health and mental health in general. Our lived experiences are barely acknowledged, let alone met with knowledgeable help, and we’ve naturally grown distrustful of the professionals who should know more. 

To help you advocate for yourself and the healthcare you deserve, here are some tips to help voice yourself in front of healthcare professionals and spot medical gaslighting. 

Educate yourself

Before heading to your appointment, do a little research on the symptoms you’re experiencing or what condition you’re seeking help with, along with treatment options. This way, if your doctor isn’t certain of what’s going on or doesn’t offer reliable support, you can suggest it yourself. This also ties into advocating for yourself, because the more you know, the better you’re able to speak up and address any issues you feel aren’t being treated properly. 

Find a suitable and trusted healthcare professional 

Depending on your healthcare needs, it’s beneficial to seek out professional help from someone who has expertise in treating you. Whether you’re a person of colour, someone who is LGBTQIA+ or you’re experiencing a particular health condition, finding services tailored to your direct needs is key when it comes to receiving quality care. While you can seek recommendations from your local GP, online resources and directories can also help you find inclusive healthcare providers. 

Basically, look for healthcare professionals who demonstrate cultural competence. They should be knowledgeable about the unique healthcare needs you require, as well as the challenges you face. Of course, this can be difficult if you live outside a metropolitan area where healthcare professionals and services are more limited.

Get a second opinion

If you’re unsure about the treatment you’re receiving or you’re curious about sussing alternative options, getting a second opinion can be reassuring. Different perspectives can also provide valuable insights and help us make crucial decisions about our health that we otherwise wouldn’t have. Acknowledging this could be expensive, simply trying out another GP could be helpful, too. 

Take someone with you

Hitting adulthood doesn’t mean you have to go to the doctor alone, and bringing someone along to witness the appointment could help you avoid being mistreated or gaslit. Whether it’s a friend, partner or family member, ask someone to join and offer emotional support, take notes and ensure your concerns are heard and addressed. 

Request documentation

If a healthcare professional dismisses your concerns or minimises your symptoms, ask them to document their reasoning in your medical records. This can help establish proof of your experience with that healthcare professional, as well as encourage more thorough assessments in the future.  

For more on medical gaslighting, head here.