“You’re just stressed.” If you’re a woman, chances are you’ve heard those words before.
As a woman, a mom, and someone who’s worked inside the healthcare system, I know how painful it is to be dismissed when you know something isn’t right. You start to question yourself: Maybe I am just tired? Maybe I’m overreacting?
It happens so often that it’s no longer exceptional — and it leads to missed diagnoses, delayed treatment, and suboptimal care for women every single day.
My Story: When “It’s Just Stress” Wasn’t the Answer
About a year and a half after my daughter was born, I was completely depleted. I’d been through a labor injury, multiple surgeries, breastfeeding struggles, a home invasion, and a major move. So yes — I was stressed.
But that wasn’t all.
I remember standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking up toward my daughter’s bedroom, and feeling like I couldn’t possibly climb them. My longtime family physician told me I was depressed and needed therapy.
I felt dismissed and frustrated, but I also knew something was physically wrong. I started therapy, hoping to find the energy and clarity I needed to get through each day.
It took two more years and several doctors before I finally found answers through a functional medicine practice. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, a condition that had been slowly draining my energy. When the doctor saw my labs, she said, “I don’t know how you’re even putting one foot in front of the other.”
I cried. Finally, someone listened. Someone believed me.
This experience isn’t rare — it’s routine for women.
The Data: How Women Get Dismissed in Medicine
The dismissal of women’s symptoms — sometimes called medical gaslighting — is a leading reason for diagnostic delays. Here’s what the data shows:
- Autoimmune diseases: 80% of autoimmune patients are women, yet it takes an average of five doctors and almost four years to get a correct diagnosis. During that time, symptoms are often blamed on stress or anxiety.
- Heart disease: Middle-aged women with chest pain are twice as likely as men to be told it’s psychological. Women also wait 29% longer for evaluation in the ER for a potential heart attack.
- Thyroid disorders: Hypothyroidism and other thyroid conditions are seven times more common in women. Yet they’re frequently mistaken for menopause or depression, delaying treatment for years.
- Gender bias in medicine: Studies show physicians focus more on women’s emotions than their physical symptoms, leading to misdiagnosis or dismissal.
- Medical gaslighting statistics: A 2025 survey found that 93% of women aged 25–34 felt dismissed by a healthcare provider — and many said it made them question their own sanity.
The Cultural Problem
Sometimes symptoms are vague or hard to describe, and yes — medicine doesn’t have every diagnostic tool it needs. But too often, women are labeled as “anxious,” “dramatic,” or even “crazy.”
(Hint: I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve heard a male patient described that way.)
When I worked in healthcare, I advocated for patients with rare diseases — and even then, it was a constant struggle to get certain physicians to take their symptoms seriously.
This isn’t about villainizing doctors or nurses. They’re doing their best in a strained system. But it is about recognizing how cultural and systemic biases affect women’s healthcare — and learning how to advocate for yourself effectively.
How to Advocate for Yourself in Healthcare
If you feel unheard or dismissed by your doctor, here are five ways to protect your health and your peace of mind:
- Document everything. Keep a symptom journal and bring your records to appointments.
- Bring support. A trusted friend or family member can help ensure your concerns are taken seriously.
- Ask direct questions. Try: “What else could this be?” or “How do we create a plan to address this?”
- Seek another opinion. If your provider is unwilling to look deeper, it’s okay to find one who will.
- Remember: You deserve to be heard and believed. Always.
The Bigger Mission
This issue is at the heart of why I founded Sprimont Health — to make sure women are heard, supported, and treated properly so they can heal faster and live fully.
Advocacy matters. Sometimes, having a women’s health consultant or advocate by your side makes all the difference in getting the care you deserve.
If you’ve been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or are just feeling lost in the healthcare maze, let’s talk.
👉 Schedule a free Clarity Call to find validation, strategy, and next steps toward better health.