5 key signs you're experiencing medical gaslighting - don’t ignore them

You know your body. You know when something isn’t right.

But what happens when your doctor doesn’t believe you and when you’re told “it’s all in your head” or that “it’s just stress”?

That uneasy feeling of being dismissed, unheard or doubted has a name: medical gaslighting.

Let’s define what this experience means and why it matters.

Medical gaslighting occurs when a healthcare professional downplays or dismisses a patient’s symptoms, often causing them to question their own experiences.

The American Psychological Association defines gaslighting as “manipulating another person into doubting their perceptions or understanding of events.” In medicine, this manipulation isn’t always deliberate, but its impact can be devastating.

According to a 2023 report by the non-profit ECRI, the dismissal of patient concerns ranked among the top safety risks in healthcare, alongside AI misuse and medical misinformation. “

Medical gaslighting often starts subtly. You describe your pain, fatigue, or persistent symptoms, and your doctor offers a vague reassurance instead of a real answer. Perhaps you’re told it’s anxiety, hormones, or “just getting older.” Over time, you start to question yourself.

This could be described as a “toxic power imbalance” between doctors and patients.

Medical gaslighting thrives in rushed consultations and hierarchical medical system spaces where patients feel small and doctors rarely have time to listen deeply.

While anyone can experience it, research shows that women and people of colour are more likely to have their symptoms dismissed.

A study in Health Affairs found that black patients were more than twice as likely as white patients to be described negatively in their medical notes, a bias that can shape future care decisions.

The real-world consequences

The emotional and physical toll of medical gaslighting is immense. Misdiagnoses, delayed treatments, and unnecessary suffering are just the start. Some patients spend years searching for answers that could have been found sooner if their concerns had been taken seriously.

A 2023 survey revealed that 94% of respondents had experienced feeling dismissed by a healthcare provider at least once. A growing distrust in medical professionals and an increased reliance on online communities is a double-edged sword that can sometimes fuel misinformation.

To help you identify it, watch for these possible signs.

1. Your symptoms are dismissed or downplayed

When you raise a concern and your provider says things like “it’s nothing,” or “you just need to rest”, without thorough testing or investigation, this is a red flag.

For example, a study of patients with vulvovaginal disorders found many reported clinician behaviour that was “dismissive, invalidating, and led them to question their own experience or consider stopping care altogether”.

What this looks like: You leave the appointment feeling unsure if your symptoms were taken seriously, or you hear you’re “fine” when you don’t feel fine.

2. Your symptoms are attributed to stress, hormones, mental health or “being too emotional” without physical investigation

When the focus is shifted from your lived experience to your emotional state, gender, or age, rather than on investigating underlying causes, this suggests your concerns may be being invalidated.

For example, commentary in the journal Current Psychology notes that patients frequently experience denial and dismissal of symptoms, especially when intersectional biases are in play.

3. You’re interrupted, talked over, or your words are glossed over by your provider

Feeling like you cannot fully explain your symptoms, or your provider doesn’t let you tell your story, is another common sign. One resource lists this as a warning: your doctor “talks over or ignores you.”

4. Lack of proper testing, referrals, or follow-up despite persistent symptoms

If you keep returning with the same unresolved issues and your provider is not ordering tests, making referrals, or explaining why they are not doing so, this may signal an issue. For example, researchers examining long Covid noted that patients reported being dismissed and left in diagnostic limbo.

What this looks like: You hear “your tests are normal”, but your symptoms continue; you request referrals and get vague answers or none at all.

5. You start doubting yourself and your perception of your symptoms

A hallmark of gaslighting is that you begin to question whether your symptoms are real or whether you’re “just imagining” them. In the context of medical gaslighting, studies note things like “self-doubt,” “avoidance behaviours”, and trust erosion when patients feel dismissed.

What this looks like: You think, “Maybe I’m overreacting,” or you avoid going back to the doctor because you feel you won’t be believed.

You feel unsafe, unheard, or reluctant to seek care anymore

When past experiences with healthcare leave you feeling mistrustful, anxious, or even traumatised, that’s a serious concern.

The International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology recently emphasised that medical gaslighting can lead to major psychological effects, such as trauma, and that certain groups (women, people of colour, LGBTQ+ individuals) are disproportionately affected.