Five signs you're being 'medically gaslit' by your doctor

Usually when you hear about someone being gaslit, it’s in a toxic relationship.

Maybe their partner’s a bit of a pr**k and gaslights them regularly – it’s essentially a form of emotional abuse that causes a person to question themselves.

But this doesn’t just happen in romantic relationships, it multiple situations - like at work. And annoyingly for many, doctors are often accused of ‘medically gaslighting’ their patients.

Physician, bioethicist and clinical director at Stanford School of Medicine, Alyssa Burgart told Huffpost it involves a person’s symptoms and lived experiences being ‘dismissed and explained away with incorrect diagnoses’.

It's possible you could be being gaslit. (Getty stock photo)

“This can mean questions, tests and diagnoses that fit a biased pattern, rather than addressing the patient’s actual symptoms,” she added.

Medical gaslighting can be so subtle you might not even notice it happening, and it tends to disproportionately affect women and people of colour.

Here are five signs you might be being ‘medically gaslit’ by your doctor:

You feel like your concerns are dismissed or ignored

Julie Cantor, a physician, explained to Huffpost: “Medical gaslighting is when people in an institution or people in a position of medical power are denying the patient’s reality.”

So, it might feel like you’re not get answers you want as your questions get dismissed or simply ignored.

Or, they may be downplaying your experience, leading you to doubt it.

You’re often blamed for your symptoms

It might be indicated that your symptoms are simply because of your own actions or negligence. And this may be said in a passive aggressive or condescending tone.

Doctors should be listening to you. (Getty stock photo)

No matter how your condition came about, it’s red flag if you’re getting blamed and help is being delayed.

Your doctor isn’t providing a referral or ordering important lab work for diagnosis purposes

Even if the provider isn’t a specialist for your condition, Cantor said they should at least point you in the right direction.

She added that failing to provide a referral or not ordering lab work or key imaging can be a form of gaslighting.

You aren’t being listened to or are often interrupted

If they aren’t listening to your concerns and constantly interrupt you while you’re describing symptoms, it’s probably a red flag.

Burgart says all care providers can do this to patients.

Advocate for yourself. (Getty stock photo)

You’re told you’re worrying too much or just have anxiety over your symptoms

In some cases, your symptoms might be blamed on mental illness – without a referral for a mental health condition.

Burgart said: “If you’re quickly diagnosed with anxiety, stress or another mental health condition, this may be gaslighting.”

If you feel like you’re being medically gaslit, try and advocate for yourself.

“If you suspect your concerns are being dismissed, ask your clinician to repeat back to you what they understand about your symptoms,” Burgart said.

But she added that if you’re still not taken seriously, get a second opinion and switch your care.

Topics: Health, Mental Health

Jess Battison

Jess is an Entertainment Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include keeping up with the Twitter girlies, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021 and has previously worked at MyLondon.

@jessbattison_