Imagine living with relentless dizziness—a sensation of motion when you’re standing still—and overwhelming fatigue. You go from doctor to doctor, hoping for answers. You explain that you feel like you’re swaying, that your vision seems off, that you can’t concentrate—but you’re met with a raised eyebrow, a dismissive shrug, or worse, the suggestion that it’s all in your head.
Welcome to the world of medical gaslighting in vestibular disorders.
For many people suffering from conditions like Vestibular Migraine, Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD), Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS), Ménière’s Disease, vestibular neuritis/labyrinthitis, or chronic dizziness after BPPV, this experience is not uncommon. In fact, it’s one of the most painful parts of their journey—not the symptoms themselves, but the invalidation of those symptoms by the very professionals they hoped would help.
This blog explores what medical gaslighting looks like in vestibular care, why it happens, and what we can do about it. We’ll also share stories—composite but representative—based on the lived experiences of countless people who have walked this road.
What Is Medical Gaslighting?
Medical gaslighting refers to the dismissal, minimisation, or disbelief of a patient’s symptoms by healthcare professionals—implying, directly or indirectly, that the symptoms are imagined, exaggerated, or due to psychological causes. While the term originates from manipulative personal relationships, its use in medical settings highlights a dangerous dynamic where patients’ experiences are invalidated, delaying diagnosis and eroding trust.
Vestibular disorders are particularly vulnerable to this, because:
- Their symptoms are invisible and subjective
- Diagnostic tests are often normal or inconclusive
- Symptoms fluctuate in severity, creating confusion
- Comorbid anxiety is common, making it easier to assume a psychological origin
The Common Dismissals: “The Stories We’ve All Heard”
Anyone who has lived with a vestibular condition long enough will likely recognise these phrases:
1. “Your tests are normal—you must be fine.”
Patients often undergo MRIs, hearing tests, and vestibular function tests, only to be told everything is within normal limits. But test results don’t always reflect function—especially not intermittent or fluctuating dysfunction. Still, normal tests are frequently used to end the conversation.
2. “It’s probably anxiety.”
While anxiety is a legitimate and common comorbidity, it is too often blamed as the primary cause of vestibular symptoms. People are prescribed antidepressants without investigation into their physical symptoms, and true vestibular disorders are missed.
3. “You’re just stressed.”
Yes, stress exacerbates symptoms—but when it’s offered as the sole explanation, it becomes a form of blame. Stress does not account for spontaneous vertigo attacks, chronic motion sensitivity, or visual-vestibular mismatch.
4. “There’s nothing more we can do.”
This phrase often signals the end of the clinician’s curiosity rather than the end of viable options. It leaves patients stranded, discouraged, and often still symptomatic.
5. “You look fine.”
One of the most invalidating phrases. Vestibular disorders are mostly invisible. Patients may look calm and composed but feel like the floor is tilting or their brain is swimming. Looking “fine” does not mean being fine.
6. “It’s all part of getting older.”
This dismissal is especially common among patients over 40 and can obscure treatable vestibular conditions. Dizziness is not a normal part of aging. Assuming it is can rob patients of accurate diagnoses and effective treatment.
Why Does Medical Gaslighting Happen in Vestibular Disorders?
1. Minimal Training in Vestibular Conditions
Medical school curriculums often gloss over vestibular disorders. General practitioners and even some neurologists or ENTs lack up-to-date knowledge of conditions like PPPD or vestibular migraine, leading them to default to more familiar, less common (and often incorrect) explanations, like Meniere’s Disease or Vestibular Neuritis for example.
2. Overreliance on Objective Testing
Vestibular conditions can present with normal MRIs and hearing tests. Many clinicians, trained to trust only what they can measure, may dismiss symptoms that don’t show up on scans—even though this is the norm in conditions like Vestibular Migraine, PPPD and MdDS.
3. Psychological Bias
There’s a persistent bias—especially against women—that physical symptoms are due to emotional or psychological causes. Many patients are referred to mental health services before a thorough diagnostic process is completed.
4. Time Constraints in Appointments
Vestibular symptoms are complex and often take time to describe. In a 10-15 minute appointment, patients often feel rushed, misunderstood, or brushed aside.
5. Misunderstanding Invisible Disabilities
Because vestibular symptoms are not outwardly visible, and because patients can sometimes “push through” in public settings, there’s an underestimation of their impact. People assume you must be okay if you’re standing up and not vomiting—when you’re actually clinging to composure.
The Impact of Gaslighting: More Than Just Frustration
Medical gaslighting causes real harm. Some of its impacts include:
Delayed or Missed Diagnosis
Many vestibular patients go undiagnosed for months—or years. Some are told they have “vertigo” or “panic disorder” when they have vestibular migraine or PPPD. Vertigo is a SYMPTOM, it’s NOT a diagnosis!
Mental Health Deterioration
Gaslighting leads patients to question their own perceptions. Self-doubt, depression, and anxiety are common side effects—not of the disorder itself, but of not being believed.
Avoidance of Healthcare
Repeated dismissal makes patients avoid further medical consultations, missing opportunities for treatment or support. This can prolong suffering and cause a sense of abandonment.
Loss of Trust
Once patients lose faith in the healthcare system, it can take years—and multiple supportive clinicians—to rebuild that trust.
Patient Stories: “This Happened to Me”
Sarah’s Story – “They Told Me It Was Just Anxiety”
“I started getting dizzy every time I got out of bed. At times I felt like I was floating.. My GP told me it was anxiety and prescribed medication. After three months of feeling worse, I finally saw a vestibular physiotherapist. She diagnosed BPPV and treated it in one appointment. I was furious. Not just at the delay—but that I was made to feel like I was imagining it.”
Daniel’s Story – “No One Had Heard of MdDS”
“After a cruise, I felt like I was still moving. Weeks went by and it didn’t stop. I saw four doctors. One said it was inner ear debris, one said it was stress, another said I should try yoga. Eventually, I found a support group online and learned about Mal de Debarquement Syndrome. I printed out an article and took it to my GP, who admitted he’d never heard of it.”
Lila’s Story – “My Tests Were Normal, So They Stopped Looking”
“I’ve had vestibular migraines since I was a teenager, but no one believed me because I didn’t get headaches. I was told it was hormones, stress, or burnout. I lost a year of my life. Eventually, a Neuro-Otologist recognised the signs of Vestibular Migraine. He said, ‘This is real.’ I cried in his office from relief.”
Marcus’s Story – “They Said It Was My Age”
“I’m 52. I started getting dizzy spells and trouble walking in the dark. My GP said, ‘Well, that’s getting older.’ I pushed back and got a referral. Turns out I had bilateral vestibulopathy from a prior gentamicin exposure. I’m now in vestibular rehabilitation and improving—but what if I had just accepted it as aging?”
Amira’s Story – “I Left Every Appointment Feeling Worse”
“I was dizzy every day, but my hearing was fine, and the MRI was clear. Doctors started suggesting counselling. I began to believe I was just weak or anxious. But deep down, I knew something was wrong. I finally saw a Neuro-otologist who diagnosed PPPD. It was the first time someone explained what was happening. I felt seen.”
How to Advocate for Yourself
While the burden shouldn’t be on patients to fight for care, these steps can help:
1. Track Symptoms
Keep a symptom journal with dates, duration, triggers, and impact on daily life. Bring it to appointments to provide tangible context.
2. Bring Support
Have a friend or family member join appointments, especially when advocating for referrals or second opinions.
3. Request Referrals
Ask for specific referrals—to Vestibular Physiotherapists, Neuro-otologists or Vestibular Audiologists. The right specialist can change everything.
4. Be Firm but Respectful
It’s okay to say: “I don’t feel like my concerns are being fully addressed. I’d like to explore this further.” This can reset the tone of the conversation.
5. Stay Informed
Use reliable resources to understand your symptoms and potential diagnoses. This empowers you to ask informed questions.
What Clinicians Can Do Better
If you’re a healthcare professional reading this: thank you. Your willingness to learn can transform someone’s life. Here’s how to support vestibular patients better:
- Validate symptoms—even when the cause is unclear
- Avoid premature psychological explanations
- Refer when symptoms don’t resolve
- Update knowledge on vestibular and functional conditions
- Acknowledge the emotional toll without pathologising it
You don’t need to have all the answers. Patients don’t expect perfection—they expect compassion and curiosity.
Final Thoughts: You Are Not Alone, and You Are Not Imagining It
Medical gaslighting in vestibular conditions is real, harmful, and far too common. But by naming it, we begin to change it. Whether you’ve been told it’s just stress, had your symptoms minimised, or been left to figure it out on your own—please know this: your experience is valid. Your symptoms are real. And your story matters.
The stories we’ve all heard? They aren’t rare exceptions. They’re a pattern. But they’re also a rallying cry—for better education, better listening, and better care.
You deserve to be seen. You deserve to be believed. And you are not alone.
If these stories resonate with you – The Vertigo Co is here to listen. Book an appointment now and we will try and assist in resolving your Vertigo, Dizziness and Balance issues.
