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Reanna

Updated 11mo ago

Lying to myself about my symptoms

do you ever feel like you’re lying to yourself about your own symptoms? is that a “normal” feeling when dealing with so much?

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spookyspoonie

2y

Hi, you may be dealing with a very common problem amongst chronically ill people- imposter syndrome. IS can often show up as feeling like a fraud in your body, doubting the reality/severity of your symptoms, being afraid to ask for help, comparing oneself to others in a negative way, internalized ableism and more. These thought processes can be especially fueled by medical gaslighting
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Reanna

2y

i’m glad i’m not alone in the feeling. thank you for this information. ❤️
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PeanutBear

2y

I second @spookyspoonie — imposter syndrome is very real!
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spookyspoonie

2y

I've been severely ill and mostly homebound for over half my life (10+ years) and I STILL find myself questioning if this is all in my head- like maybe things really aren't as bad as it seems. Don't think of this as anything other than another symptom of your condition, even though it can be difficult to. These thoughts never discredit your lived experiences and daily battles within your body.
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feellicks

2y

yep . every damn day
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strawberrysoop

2y

i constantly feel like im faking or exaggerating how "severe" my symptoms are! you are not alone in that <33
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xenith

2y

i always feel like i am being dramatic about my symptoms and that i am just making them up
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Fuzzy

2y

Ever since I was a kid and diagnosed with bipolar . If regular doctors know the meds you are on they instant believe that all your symptoms are in your head . I never tell , even ER doctors .
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Eripsa

2y

Yes. I stuggle with gaslighting and imposter syndrome a lot. It's only when I flare up that I remember that what I have is real, and I am not lying to myself. I forget that able bodied people don't live with daily fatigue and pain, and even when my symptoms are lower on the pain scale, I remind myself I shouldn't be on the pain scale 24/7, daily gauging how many spoons I have, and feeling envious of my able bodied peers.
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saggee

2y

Yes, I do it all the time. I also deal with “not being disabled enough” and it sucks :(
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laurenW

2y

What is medical gaslighting?
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spookyspoonie

2y

Gaslighting is a form of abuse in which the abuser makes the victim question their reality. An example of medical gaslighting is when doctors insist that your symptoms "arent that bad", or say "its all in your head"

The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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