The voices of many can be heard in this blog. Not only have my own experiences and those close to me been a testament to this, but countless women have either fought to have their concerns heard or felt unheard, leaving the doctor’s office. Often, this is due to a lack of time, and often not being asked the pertinent questions to aid in treatment planning that addresses the presenting symptoms. One voice shared going to the doctor for an array of symptoms, only for them to be treated individually and not collectively. Still, in retrospect, collectively, they were about this woman going through perimenopause. Or imagine going through surgery, feeling pain afterward, and not knowing if it’s normal or something serious. In both situations, these women felt lost in what to do and continued to feel their symptoms increase. Should they follow up with the doctor, ask questions, or look things up to self-treat? Instead of receiving clear answers or support, we are sometimes dismissed.
Now imagine this happening more than once for these two women. With more than one doctor. Repeatedly.
This is the reality for many Black women in the healthcare field. It’s not always loud or obvious, but it shows up in subtle ways — like being told “you’re fine” or “you’re too young to have those problems” or “just take this prescription and come back in a few months” when you know you’re not fine you not sure of “the why” of these symptoms. These experiences can lead to something more than just frustration, and they can create anxiety about one’s health. This kind of anxiety isn’t just in someone’s head. It’s often the result of being dismissed too many times by the very people who are supposed to help.
Why This Happens More Often to Black Women
There’s a long history of Black women not being treated fairly in medical settings. Research shows they are less likely to get pain medication, more likely to have their symptoms doubted with statements like “it can’t hurt that badly” and often don’t receive the same level of care as non-Black patients, even when everything else is the same.
There are many considerations when treating women, not just that we are women, but also age, ethnicity, genetics, lifestyle, diet, occupation, and even education level. It is also important to include our mental health. The mind and the body are connected. Knowing all of this can help the doctors tailor the treatment individually for each patient they see. However, often there is implicit bias, and as a result, many patients must fight to be heard.
Mental Health Is Health
Our mental and physical health are still treated like they’re separate, but they go hand in hand. If you’re anxious and stressed, it affects your body. And if your body is hurting, it affects your mind.
Even though I am a therapist and treat anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief, it is important to address how their body is being affected, like headaches, difficulty sleeping, over- or under-eating, as this can lead to other medical problems. If the medical doctors can ask how we are doing emotionally, it could help connect our mind and body for better results.
We Need a Better Way to Care for People
This experience shows how broken the system can feel — especially for Black women. It shouldn’t take four doctor visits, personal research, and constant self-advocacy to get equitable care. It shouldn’t feel like a battle.
We need healthcare systems where:
- Doctors listen and believe their patients.
- Mental health is part of every physical health visit.
- People of all backgrounds receive the same high-quality care — without assumptions or bias.
And we need to stop expecting patients to figure it all out on their own.
Final Thoughts
Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and cared for when they walk into a doctor’s office, and not just those who “fit the mold.” In the meantime, self-advocating is one way to help the doctor learn that the person on the examination table is a real person with many facets of life who deserves to be heard. Maybe they can remember the encounter and treat the next person with the same regard.
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