What Medical Gaslighting Is — And How It Impacts People Living With Chronic Illness

Have you ever been told your pain is “all in your head”? Or been dismissed when describing symptoms that interfere with your daily life? If so, you may have experienced medical gaslighting — a subtle, yet deeply damaging form of dismissal in healthcare.

What is Medical Gaslighting?

Medical gaslighting occurs when healthcare providers downplay, ignore, or dismiss your symptoms, making you doubt your own experience and intuition. It’s not about a single careless comment; it’s about a consistent pattern of undermining patients’ perceptions of their health.

Common phrases you might hear include:

• “You’re exaggerating.”

• “It’s just a bad period.”

• “There’s nothing wrong with you.”
  

These phrases might seem small, but over time, they can chip away at your trust in yourself and your body.

Who Experiences Medical Gaslighting?

While anyone can experience medical gaslighting, it’s especially common among:

• People living with chronic illnesses

• Individuals with invisible conditions

• Women and non-binary people

• Patients with autoimmune or complex health issues
  

The consequences can be devastating. Not only can medical conditions go undiagnosed or untreated, but the emotional impact can create anxiety, frustration, self-doubt, and even depression.

Emotional Impact of Medical Gaslighting

Being dismissed repeatedly can leave you feeling:

• Anxious or frustrated about your health

• Guilty or ashamed for seeking help

• Isolated, because others may not see or understand your struggle

• Questioning yourself, even when your symptoms are real
  

This is why recognition and validation are critical.

How to Recognize It

Medical gaslighting often appears as:

• Being repeatedly told “nothing is wrong” despite symptoms

• Having symptoms dismissed as stress, anxiety, or exaggeration

• Being passed from doctor to doctor without clear answers

• Feeling ignored, minimized, or blamed for your own condition
  

If this feels familiar, know that you are not imagining it, and your experiences are valid.

Tips for Coping With Medical Gaslighting

1. Keep a detailed medical journal-Track symptoms, treatments, and appointments

2. Bring a written list-Questions & key points for your appointments

3. Take Notes-It’s impossible to remember everything being said. So take notes to go back to later.

4. Bring someone-It’s impossible to remember everything, all the questions, new questions. Bring someone you trust to help you remember and ask questions.

5. Educating loved ones-If your loved ones are having a hard time understanding what you’re going through, bring them and ask the doctor to explain what it means to live with your condition.

6. Ask for clear next steps in writing-Referrals, treatments, follow-ups

7. Seek a second opinion or new GP-Don’t stay stuck if repeatedly blocked

8. Self-validation reminder-Your pain is real. You deserve help. Never doubt yourself or what your body is telling you.
   
   

The Takeaway

Medical gaslighting can feel isolating, invalidating, and exhausting. But recognizing it, understanding its impact, and taking steps to advocate for yourself can help reclaim your voice in your healthcare journey.

Your experience is real. Your pain is valid. And you deserve care, attention, and respect.