If you have had a hard time in health care, you are not alone. Your experiences matter.
Every survivor’s experience is unique. In focus groups, survivors described a variety of health care experiences, including times when they felt dismissed, unheard, or unsupported.
In their own words, survivors specifically shared that negative experiences in health care can look and feel like:
- Not taking my level of pain or experience seriously
- Dismissing certain symptoms
- Assuming that I have a higher pain tolerance than someone of a different race or other identifying factor
- Refusing to treat or test for certain issues
- Being blamed for the state of my health
- Being accused of being noncompliant with, not following, or not dedicated to treatment
- Being stereotyped based on any assumed identities
- Not using or accepting my pronouns
- Feeling singled-out, maybe even segregated or isolated from others
- Avoiding certain hospitals because of past poor treatment
- Being spoken to in a patronizing way or like I am stupid
- Being talked over and interrupted
- Being treated like I am “crazy” or being dramatic or too concerned
- Being judged about my experience of abuse
- A health care professional’s own history of abuse impacting how they treat me or see my experience
- Being ignored or judged for my need for an accommodation (Accommodations are special help or changes that make it easier for me to get the care I need. Accommodations include but are not limited to providing me with a qualified interpreter, adaptive equipment, a female practitioner or other practitioner who understands my background, use of tapping, deep breathing, and other tactics to calm myself, etc.)
Survivors shared experiences of differential treatment based on:
Please know that you deserve compassionate, respectful care where you feel heard and valued. Check out this page to read about practical ideas for supporting yourself before, during, and after health care appointments.
