How to spot "medical gaslighting" and speak up for yourself more effectively at your next meeting with a doctor

 

Even though the term "medical gaslighting" is relatively recent, the practice has been detrimental to people's health for years.

According to Stacey E. Rosen, executive vice president for Northwell Health's Katz Institute for Women's Health and co-author of "Heart Smarter for Women — 6 Weeks to a Healthier Heart," medical gaslighting occurs when concerns about your healthcare are reduced, ignored, or rejected.

You might not even be aware that it's happening to you because it can be so subtle.

In psychology, the term "gaslighting" describes a specific type of manipulation in which you are duped into doubting your own reality.

Rosen also notes the prevalence of medical gaslighting in the healthcare industry. Medical gaslighting occurs more frequently in particular marginalized groups, such as women and minorities, including Black and Latino people.

According to Tina Sacks, an associate professor in the UC Berkeley school of social welfare, it can be much worse for those who identify with more than one of those groups, such as Black women.

Misogyny is ubiquitous, according to Sacks, which invalidates women in the healthcare industry as a whole. These groups of people are more likely to be disregarded when you combine it with the pervasive anti-blackness that permeates all of society, the author continues.

Sacks warns that downplaying your health issues could have grave life-or-death repercussions.

Black women have historically experienced the greatest rates of maternal death, which many believe is a result of institutional racism and a disregard for their worries.

Here are some warning indicators to watch out for and suggestions for advocating for yourself if you believe you have been the victim of medical gaslighting or if you just want to be proactive and prevent it from occurring to you.

Identifying "medical gaslighting"

According to Sacks, it might be challenging to recognize gaslighting when it occurs to you, especially if you believe your doctor has your best interests in mind.

She asserts that even if medical professionals ignore your symptoms, you are highly inclined to believe them since they possess knowledge that you may not.

You do know your body, and you do know more than anybody else what is happening to yourself, Sacks advises. "One thing to remember when we go to the doctor is that the provider has specialized knowledge of healthcare and health themes in general, but you know your body," she says.

Sacks spoke with a Black woman who had knee discomfort for 15 years and had repeatedly been informed by doctors that it was related to her weight. She then found out that her knee had two tumors.

It's conceivable that your problems are being downplayed, according to Rosen, if chronic symptoms are rapidly attributed to being overweight, stressed, anxious, depressed, or overworked.

The following words and phrases may also be signs of medical gaslighting:

All of it is in your head.

That's typical at your age, I said.

I'm positive that's not... "It's just a tiny amount of swelling," (before testing)

How to speak up for oneself in a medical setting.

Rosen suggests making notes before your appointment and noting any changes you've noticed in your health to make sure your concerns are being taken carefully. Bring a list of the questions and issues you want to bring up during your visit.

You can follow up on topics you don't understand by taking notes during your appointment, she says.

Rosen advises that you "empower yourself to be a greater advocate for your health care." How do you make the most of your 15 minutes during a medical appointment—we know they last 15 minutes?

If permitted, think about bringing a companion to the appointment. According to Rosen, this will provide you a second ear and emotional support. Someone who is familiar with you well can support your worries and reaffirm them if they are being disregarded.

"When there is a second person in the room, there is sometimes a second voice that can say things like, "No, she never complained about this before," and "No, this isn't related to stress." She explains, "I'm her mother, her sister, and her girlfriend.

Finding and sticking with a primary care doctor you can trust might be beneficial. According to Rosen, a doctor who is familiar with your medical history might be more sympathetic to your concerns.

But occasionally, switching doctors or getting a second opinion may be the best course of action, according to Rosen.

According to Sacks, employing mindfulness techniques before a visit or while you're listening to the doctor might help you think more clearly and, if necessary, speak up for yourself.

Some mindfulness exercises she suggests are:

• Exercising your fingers
• Meditating in your head
• Inhaling and exhaling

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