

If a healthcare provider isn’t listening to you or taking your symptoms seriously, they may miss a diagnosis. And they may send you home without a proper diagnosis or treatment plan. They don’t seem to take you seriously or blame your symptoms on a vague cause (such as stress).
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Medical gaslighting is when a healthcare provider dismisses your complaints or concerns. It describes when one person dismisses what someone else says, making them doubt themselves. The term “gaslighting” originated from the movie “ Gaslight ”.

#GASLIGHT FAMILY MEDICINE HOW TO#
Here, we will dive deeper into medical gaslighting - what it is and how to know if it's happening to you. It can happen to anyone, but it’s been shown to happen more frequently to women and people of color. Medical gaslighting can lead to missed diagnoses, improper treatment, and even medical trauma. For instance, have you ever had a legitimate medical concern dismissed by a healthcare provider? Did it result in a serious medical condition going undiagnosed for longer than it should? You may be surprised to learn that this can be a type of gaslighting, too.Īs more people share their personal experiences, the term “ medical gaslighting” is being used to describe these situations. This kind of dynamic can exist outside of personal relationships, too. And it can cause you to feel belittled or ignored. It’s when someone influences you into questioning your own thoughts and feelings. You’ve probably heard the term used when talking about toxic relationships.
