I have unfortunately been a victim of medical gaslighting.
I have worked in the medical field for well over 30 years, and spent 3 to 4 of those years working primarily in mental health and substance abuse.
So I have witnessed the results of being gaslit, while working with mental health, clients, and me personally (and most recently ) having to advocate for myself.

I continuously asked for a pelvic exam and a sleep study. I was patted on the shoulder and told there is a difference between snoring and apnea, you just have anxiety and need to relax. The drugs they gave me made everything worse, then they thought I should see a psychologist and psychiatrist. I finally got smart and saw a different doctor who agreed to the sleep study test, I found out I have severe sleep apnea. Today I went around my doctor and saw a female doctor who diagnosed a stage 3 cystocele and a lump on my urethra which would create all the pain I have experiencing. Let me state I was put on Ativan, there different hard core sleeping pills, three antidepressants and sent to the psych. I still have trauma from the experiences of those medications. I slept only 10 nights in two months. I chose to take myself off of everything and I can finally sleep and navigate without feel anxious, dizzy and disoriented. I felt suicidal on those drugs. But NO my doc said it’s just anxiety. I had never had anxiety in my 62 years or been on any med. Shame on him, he did harm. Be your own advocate. I am so sick and tired of how older women are treated, and the lack of knowledge on female health.

I haven’t had a decent psychiatrist since 2019 when the third one I had was finally breaking through and getting to my deepest feelings like my sexual abuse, he had a stroke and I just found out the poor man died of Kidney Cancer in 2021.
God got an angel. Before Him, I had one who was more mentally ill than me and told me to dump my own GP and that he would cure me (this, after jumping around his office on chairs like a money (seriously), all he did was dump on me about his family problems! Finally He trapped me in his office doorway on what I made my very last visit 11 months of this, and started yelling at me to GET RID OF ALL MY FAMILY and THAT HE WOULDN’T LET ME GO TILL I DID WHAT HE WAS TELLING ME. (I HAVE A KIND HEART AND HERE FOR A YEAR I WAS PUTTING UP WITH A SICK DOCTOR As for THE INCIDENT, I had a Psychologist, a handicapped transport Driver, and another doctor’s fragile patient shaking his legs because my doctor was so loud and abusive (in the WAITING ROOM) witnessing his behaviour of trapping me till I said anything HE WANTED TO HEAR, he even was telling me told me he was already in trouble with the Doctor’s College before he blocked my exit and verbally attacked me. I went back to my family doctor and I told her no more, She said why didn’t you tell me sooner (I told her because, she had carried me for a long time till a psychiatrist was available).

Since then, I have been Gaslighted by Medical Doctors in the ERs thanks to the label I got from a newly licensed Psychiatrist In Ontario Canada 1993/94, Now in B.C. He labeled me with Borderline Personality Disorder. Of course, before him I had a major nervous breakdown preceding this man who followed me for 9 years. (Why did I stick with him for 9 years It was impossible in Ontario to get a Psychiatrist in my City , no shopping around here it’s bad. when having this disorder Many Psychiatrists don’t want to commit to long term therapy Cha Ching it’s about $$$$ now) Early on in his diagnosis, I accidentally found out from a Worker I had BPD and then I researched it. I was like a check list based on the textbook description. Now every time I get a flareup of my physical illnesses for example Atrial Fibrillation, Angina, and Severe Gastric issues from taking NSAIDS for 30 + years for endometriosis. If I cry too loudly in the ER, from the pain or get very anxious. they blame that on that diagnosis. I have found out since 1993 that I have had Dyslexia all my life and A.D.D.

Doctors in ER nowadays push patients in and out or admit them. usually, it’s out. One Er Doctor powerfully suggested I am a Narcotic seeker which infuriated me and got me crying after an 12 hour’s wait (that was because I helped a paraplegic get out of bed when her worker didnt show up the morning before (still in soiled nightime garments) and despite my severe spine, (since I was the one who asked to be reduced down on the opioids) then the QCH pain doctor went crazy.,

Now my OLD GP RETIRED HAVE A NEW ONE, and I’ve been told to stay off the Internet! Many times because they are convinced I am making up or unconsciously taking on symptoms (sigh).

that’s until my back broke from a serious fall T12 Compression Wedge Fracture 2016 and then just from pressure of leaning into a neighbour’s deep freezer and lifting a heavy roast the 2nd time L1 Compression Fracture in 2021.

I was sent home the 1st time without even a simple xray (?my diagnosis) I now think yes) I cried constantly from the severe pain, after almost 4 days I went to a walk-in clinic they gave me an x-ray and get this called me 3 months later..with the results… So after 2 days on the 4th day…back to the same ER this time, they were going to Gaslight me again. I called a good friend in tears and she came armed with another mutual friend. Wow did the actions change then! I live alone, I talk a lot and fast and interrupt, why found out at age 59 I have A.D.D. and Dyslexia.. a lifetime puzzle finally completed. (but that last psychiatrist retired due to stroke, I haven’t had one since can’t even afford a social worker.) I was hospitalized both fractures 2016 and 2021 for a month each time. I have been diagnosed with cellulitis…list of long problems…doesn’t show on the outside. I even developed an anaphylactic reaction as I was leaving the Civic ER for that, and I was like the colour of a tomato WHOLE BODY…no one would listen (security rudely said GO AND SIT DOWN AND WAIT YOUR TURN!)… so I just dragged myself to the TRiage Room and vomitted right there.

I know I am long-winded. But, do you get the picture? Even my new GP quietly is gaslighting me. I can’t get a true answer out of them as to why they won’t surgically reduce my breasts which are hurting my neck and upper spine so bad. After research I figured it out. It was because of my heart condition(s). But, see they don’t tell you, the 3 consults I had, one of which blew up at me and yelled you will not survive the operation…but wouldn’t give me the reasons why. Mentally ill people have the right to know, so why do they get such an answer? and in your face aggressive attitudes? The make me have to guess it.

So, Now the above is just a drop in the bucket of my experiences. I feel for anyone who lives in the USA, AUSTRALIA, UK. and Now they are cutting social medicine here in CANADA SO DRASTICALLY SINCE 1986..2023 it is not subtle cuts anymore it’s being cut, and rammed down our throats, so disabled and seniors are suffering even more and why for the Rich and the Almighty profits. I hope this helps the postee in that she is not alone. One thing Gaslighting has done to me, is made me feel worthless. Like my other physical illnesses which DOCTOR’S legitimately diagnosed are all of a sudden voided. Now with doctor shortages in Canada, in my Province of Ontario, We have a few Doctors who care and have Started the ONTARIO HEALTH COALITION… which I’ve joined for free. I’ll be damned if the RICH ARE GOING TO RETAKE THE SOCIAL HEALTH SYSTEM TOMMY DOUGLAS GOT STARTED IN THE LATE 1960s but they’ve already got the plans up for a private hospital, and Premiere Ford is a ramming through BILL 60… so, there you have it. patient, doctor, nurses, support staff, and government all clamering to get what is a basic human right both mentally and physically.

Okay RANT IS DONE. (the joys of A.D.D.)

Thank you for your patience.

Barbara M
Nepean Ontario
Canada

That’s all true. But medical gaslighting is about the power doctors have over their patients. And, it is made worse by societal gaslighting between men and women, also a power play.

But the cause of medical gaslighting is that today’s doctors cannot diagnose; they evaluate for which tests to order, and then let experts, mostly blood test machines, provide the diagnostic findings. As a result, doctors have lost Clinical Engagement and all sense of their patients’ bodies and conditions from a clinical sense.

I have two diseases that many or most doctors don’t believe exists. The first is advanced Chronic Lyme Disease, which was revealed by a blood test, and the second is severe Fibromyalgia that has no blood test for confirmation. Both diseases together have caused every M.D. born after WWII to Gaslight, harm, and not give me the diagnostic help and pain management I needed over the past 7 ½ years as my body has severely physically and cognitively declined from long-term, untreated chronic pain and the effects of these diseases.

Today’s PCPs, Rheumatologists, and Neurologists will not take responsibility for learning how to diagnose systemic diseases like fibromyalgia, Chronic Lyme, Lupus possibly, etc. because it requires Clinical Engagement and diagnosing, which they cannot do anymore.

Yes… I recently went to a Dr. At a urgenr Care. Cleveland Clinuc Express, in Madison Ohio. It was a female, Nurse Practionar, she was very nice,but my Skin infection, was extremeley bad. She sent me home,withtopical ointment! And was more concerned , with sendig me to a mental health center! And having me Docu Sign, my mental health records over to a facility! I was not familiar with at all! ??? I went home in a state of limbo still!I did Not! DOCUSIGN A thing. And Will never go back there.

I’m not qualified to give you advice on that either way. Check with your local lawyer’s office. An intake appointment will not cost that much if at all. Many places have lawyers who offer their services for free. I hope you get your questions answered. Shirley