Chronic illness and the medical system

I work a lot with folks who have chronic pain and/or physical disabilities and I just want to validate how toxic and harmful our Western medical system can be.

Not surprisingly, those on Medi-Cal or uninsured tend to experience this toxicity more than those with private insurance and/or a lot of money.

Add other marginalized identities such as being a person of color, a woman, a trans or non-binary individual there are additional layers of harm often perpetrated.

In my experience, even when the medical care is good, there can be a reinforcement of the message that the patient is at fault for their issues.

If you are chronically under care, you also tend to chronically be asked about your habits and what you may be doing to worsen or improve your condition or symptoms. This is normal problem solving, but going through it chronically tends to reinforce the message that you are at fault.

There is often not an acknowledgement of the impact of systems of oppression, of trauma and abuse, of lack of resources.

There is RARELY an acknowledgment of limitations of the medical field, the provider, or covered care. Mistakes are often denied.

Providers are human and may not see their own short comings or not be open to feedback. Our current medical system also tends to put providers in small boxes of narrowed experience, training and expertise which may make them unaware of or unwilling to look across disciples or take a more wholistic approach.

I say all this because when my traumatized client already come with a history of gaslighting by their caretakers and loved ones, this treatment by the medical system reinforces those dynamics.

So, if this applies to you, I want to say, I see you. I hear you. I believe you.