PMDD, Endometriosis & Medical Gaslighting
Are women still being mistreated by doctors?
The history of women’s medical care is fraught with distressing stories. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, ‘hysteria’ became a common diagnosis for women exhibiting symptoms ranging from abdominal pain to depression. This term has a deeply gendered history. Derived from the Greek word ‘hystera,’ meaning uterus, ‘hysteria’ was used to describe a psychological disorder presumed to be specific to women. Ancient texts and medical theories suggested that a woman’s uterus “could wander around her body, causing various physical and mental illnesses.” This archaic belief laid the foundation for centuries of medical practice that dismissed women’s health complaints as mere “figments of their imagination.”
The treatment methods of a woman labeled with ‘hysteria’ were often barbaric. Women were subjected to ‘hysteria machines’ as a cure for all symptoms. Others were confined to bed or sent to asylums, forced to undergo invasive procedures such as hysterectomies and clitoridectomies. Others were subjected to lobotomies, a practice that involved severing connections in the brain’s prefrontal cortex, leading to severe cognitive and emotional impairments.
Despite advancements in medical science and women’s rights, the echoes of this past can still be felt today, particularly in the treatments of PMDD and Endometriosis. Both conditions can be debilitating, yet our symptoms are often met with skepticism and downplaying, forcing us to continue to fight for recognition and proper treatment.
It is not “all in your head.”
Medical gaslighting of these conditions manifests in various forms. We are frequently told “you’re overreacting,” or that our pain is “a normal part of being a woman,” that “it’s just stress,” and “try to relax, it will go away.” Such dismissals not only delay proper diagnosis and treatment but also contribute to the psychological trauma of living with unacknowledged pain. The narrative of “it’s all in your head” continues to prevail, echoing the historical treatment of ‘hysteria.’
Northwell Health writes that:
“There’s a dirty little secret in health care that doesn’t get the attention it deserves: Female patients are continuously gaslighted about their physical and mental health. Whether it’s heart disease labeled as anxiety, an autoimmune disorder attributed to depression, or ovarian cysts chalked up to “normal period pain,” many women’s health issues are likely to be misdiagnosed or dismissed by doctors as something less critical. One study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that women who went to the emergency room (ER) with severe stomach pain had to wait for almost 33% longer than men with the same symptoms.”
The National Library of Medicine states that:
“Many patients presented their symptoms to providers, but providers failed to recognize PMDD symptoms and would tell patients that it was “in their head.”
And so, misdiagnosis & dismissal reigns on.
Then, even if you do succeed in getting the correct diagnosis, the treatments offered by Western Medicine are often ineffective or harmful. We are prescribed one pill after the next that offers symptomatic relief, without addressing the underlying causes of our symptoms. These shortcomings, paired with a disgusting lack of concern for the adverse side effects these pills will give us, is why a Holistic approach to healthcare is so important.
How is Holistic Healing different?
Instead of treating our endometriosis and PMDD with anti-depressants & hormonal contraceptives that cause significant side effects such as weight gain, mood swings (so counterproductive), & decreased libido, Holistic healthcare helps us heal by balancing our hormones naturally. It approaches the body as an interconnected system and focuses on healing us entirely - through dietary and lifestyle changes.
And for the treatment of endometriosis pain? Western Medicine has had us convinced that over the counter pain killers are the only way. But, constant use of these can lead to dependency and pose health risks, such as increased chances of blood clots or bone density loss. Luckily, there are healing herbs that can both treat symptoms as they occur, and also help your body lessen the pain that it experiences each month as your hormones become regulated.
Are you ready to restore your body’s balance and vitality from within?
After years of suffering from PMDD and endometriosis on my own, I know all too well how much anguish suffering in silence can bring, which is why I created my holistic healing course Balance. In this course I will share everything I have learned that has enabled me to treat my PMDD and excruciating endometriosis cramps.
You deserve to have your health back, and I would love to be the one to help you reclaim it. 💛
The Balance Course will:
🌚 Give you a deeper understanding of the four menstrual cycle phases and how different hormones work.
🌙 Help you discover what foods and products are disrupting your hormones.
🌱Teach you about healing herbs & mushrooms that can naturally treat the mental and physical symptoms of PMDD and endometriosis. These herbs helped me both reduce the pain as it happens, and also encouraged my body to experience less symptoms each month as my hormones became balanced again.
🍊 Help you learn what vitamin and mineral deficiencies you may have.
✨ Guide you in choosing the right tests to have run, supplements, and more!
Click here to see an overview of the lesson content. 🌝