Medical gaslighting

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SE9St8

Hi I had a really bad case of medical gaslighting recently from a stupid physio who told me my health condition doesn't exist and couldn't exist especially in a person like me (young). He also called me a kid (I was 21) and made other rude remarks. Anyways short story is I cried lots, had a veryyy bad panic attack, refused to be treated by him etc. 

The funny thing is the physio wasn't even for this... but as soon as he saw my walking stick he took the chance to make the stupid comment. 

Ever since then every new doctor I see or physio or anybody who deals with health or even benefits (I've had no problems with them so far though), I get sooo scared. I feel sick, my stomach goes and I get so stressed  I have to take more beta blockers for my heart rate.

I'm austitic and have many learning disabilities so am very sensitive, so things like this make me very down and sad.

I just want to say quickly before I forget that we did report him and it has gone as high up as it can, so just waiting for the outcome.

Anyways today a doctor had a funny tone with me today and it's really upset me. Anytime a health person has a funny tone or is rude to me I'm so baffled and go silent and just wanna leave.

I'm so sick of being ignored, upset and freaking gaslighted by idiots. Meanwhile I'm here with chronic fatigue, chronic pain, Cant go to work or uni atm and they keep running my life.

How do I deal with idiots I try to take my mum into appointments but today couldnt

Alex_Alumni

Hello @SE9St8 thanks for sharing your experience here on the community, I appreciate it might have been hard to write. 

I'm so sorry to hear how the physio spoke to you and the negative effect this has had on your interacting with medical professionals since. I am glad to hear that you reported the incident. Even people in the medical world can be incredibly ignorant about disabled young people, particularly around their awareness invisible disabilities. It's really not on!

It can be hard when we feel 'othered' by people right from the off, or judged, especially in a medical setting. I can understand the anxiety around this, and usually would encourage you to speak to a trusted GP about additional mental health support, but I also don't want this to be a trigger for you either.

Perhaps rather than focusing on them, you could look at ways of boosting your own self-confidence and self-care. Mind has a lot of resources on self care generally, as well as for many different long-term health conditions, so please take a look if you can. 

If we can do anything else to help, please ask