Although we wish this was a subject we did not need to cover on our website, the incidence of medical gaslighting within our community leaves us with no alternative. The prevalence is quite shocking, disturbing, and distressing. It is essential for us to talk about what medical gaslighting is so that you can be aware and take the proper steps to ensure you feel safe, heard, and respected.

Medical Gaslighting

Gaslighting is when a person intentionally manipulates another person to the point where that person questions their own beliefs, reality, judgment, and memories. It is a form of emotional abuse. Gaslighting is not just when someone simply disagrees with you or holds different beliefs. Medical gaslighting is when a healthcare professional dismisses your concerns to the point where you question your own beliefs, reality, judgment, and memories. It is when people do not take your medical concerns seriously and/or blame your physical symptoms on something else, such as anxiety or needing to lose weight. You can also experience medical gaslighting from family members, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, bosses, and the general public.

Some Examples of Medical Gaslighting Include:

“You’re over-exaggerating. No one can have that many symptoms and still talk or smile.”

“You never remember things accurately.”

“That isn’t possible, your pain can’t be that bad.”

“All of your tests are coming back normal so you should be grateful for that.”

“You are too young to be experiencing that.”

“No you aren’t really struggling, it is your anxiety.”

“You don’t need more testing, you just need to stop thinking about it and it will go away.”

“The documentation you have from other providers supporting you is wrong, I know best and you don’t have that.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about. I never said that.”

“You just need to exercise more/lose weight and your problems will go away.”

“This is all in your head. You need to see a psychiatrist.”

“This procedure typically isn’t painful so you should not have had that response.”

“What did you do? Google your symptoms? I went to medical school and know more than the internet!”

“I never had a patient with that diagnosis so you don’t have that.”

“All your labs came back fine, so you are fine.”

“I’m sure your other doctor didn’t mean that. Maybe you misheard.”

“I don’t believe in that diagnosis.”

Contributions made by: Dr. Melissa Geraghty, Psy.D., Clinical Health Psychologist; CEO of Phoenix Rising with Dr. G

Click here to learn more about Dr. Geraghty!