How to talk about mental health concerns without being dismissed?

How do you bring up that you think you have an illness/disorder without being shut down? There have been many mental issues I’ve had in the past that I was told I didn’t have. When I got diagnosed I felt better knowing how to identify with a problem and how to treat it. Previously I would bring these issues up and I’ve been told the way I feel is normal. Everything was normal. I don’t have these problems I think I do. After I was diagnosed, they told me that they knew I had these disorders the whole time. So here I am. I want to talk to my therapist and psychiatrist about the fact that I think I might have binge eating disorder. But I’m afraid. I’m afraid the severity of my actions aren’t as severe as I think they are. I’m afraid of being laughed at for having the thought that it might be a possibility. I’m afraid to be treated like I’m stupid and I don’t know that something is going on in my head/body. I’m afraid I’m making this up because I’m not losing weight. I’m afraid of being sent back to the hospital. I don’t know what to do.

Your answer

Lunarr

1y ago

Sounds like you've experienced some medical gaslighting, I'm sorry you had to go through that, it can be very disheartening. Not being taken seriously is unfortunately part of the healthcare system and you need to really advocate for yourself. If your doctors brush you off, tell them that you would like to be evaluated/treated anyways and if they refuse ask them to write that in your record, that they refused to treat you. Force them to confront their own biases. I would also like to mention that no illness or disorder is lesser just because you may experience it at a lower level than other people do. I don't have panic attacks anymore and even when I did they weren't very frequent but that doesn't mean I don't have anxiety. All these things are different for everyone and if you think you're experiencing disordered eating then you probably are. Recognizing this is an important first step and I think any good doctor will be happy that you are taking steps to get help. It can't hurt to bring it up to your therapist and explain some of the reasons why you believe you may have this disorder. The possibility of treatment is better than no treatment at all. I wish you luck in your treatment seeking journey! You can do this, don't let the bad doctors cause doubt, believe in yourself and your knowledge of your body - you know you best

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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