In this episode…

If you’ve ever sat on an exam table and felt that quiet flicker of doubt like “maybe it’s just me.”  You’re not alone. In fact, what you experienced might have a name: medical gaslighting.

In this episode of Nourish with Michelle Fox, my guest expert Kimberly Cunningham, NP, helps us pull back the curtain on what happens when women’s voices are dismissed in medical settings. Together, we explore how systemic bias, outdated research, and lack of personalized care are quietly eroding women’s health AND how we can begin to take that power back.

What Medical Gaslighting Looks Like

It’s the doctor who tells you your labs are “normal” when you know something’s off. It’s being handed an antidepressant instead of answers. It’s being told your pain tolerance is higher because of your skin color. It’s the gentle pat on the knee followed by, “You’re fine.”

As Kimberly explains, this dismissal doesn’t just hurt feelings, it delays diagnoses, exacerbates disease, and undermines confidence in our own intuition.

A Case Study in Self-Trust

One of Kimberly’s patients, “Mary,” spent years believing she was depressed. Her hair was falling out, her energy was gone, and her weight was rising despite diet and exercise. It turned out her thyroid medication had stopped working with her aging body, but no one had checked beyond one lab value. Once Kimberly expanded the panel and adjusted her treatment, Mary’s energy, sleep, and hair all returned!

Her story is a perfect example of why women must advocate for thorough testing and treatment plans that reflect our whole picture and not just a number on a chart.

Why Hormone Health Matters

We also talked about how hormone decline, especially the drop in testosterone and estrogen after 35, can trigger symptoms that mimic anxiety, depression, or cognitive decline. The medical community is slowly catching up, but many still reference outdated studies that wrongly linked hormone therapy to cancer risk.

Kimberly breaks down how modern research actually shows the opposite: balanced hormone therapy can protect the heart, brain, and bones, and even reduce breast cancer risk when done correctly.

Restoring Trust in Your Body

The bigger message here is this: you are the expert on your own experience.

You know what “normal” feels like. If you leave a visit feeling dismissed, you have permission to seek another opinion. As Kimberly reminds us, the right provider won’t make you feel crazy.  They’ll make you feel heard.

You Are Not Alone

Medical gaslighting thrives in silence and self-doubt. When we share our stories and lift each other up, we reclaim power. My hope is that this episode reminds you to believe your body and trust your intuition. You are not imagining it and you deserve care that honors your wisdom.