You finally get in to see your GP, but the help you hoped you’d get doesn’t seem to be coming.
No matter how clearly you explain the issue or express how much it’s bothering you, you can tell by the things the doctor says that they’re not taking you seriously at all. Here are some of the phrases your GP will use when they either think you’re a hypochondriac or they just don’t care enough to actually help you. While this is thankfully rare, it does happen — and if it does, it’s even more important to advocate for yourself and your health and not give up!
1. “Are you sure it’s not just in your head?”
This one is the ultimate brush-off, suggesting that your symptoms are imagined rather than real. It’s invalidating and makes you feel like you’re overreacting or even questioning your own experience. This can leave you doubting yourself and feeling dismissed rather than supported.
2. “Everyone feels like that sometimes.”
When your symptoms are minimised as “normal,” it feels like they’re saying your experience isn’t serious enough to look into. It leaves you wondering if they’re even listening or if they’re just brushing you off. This can make you feel like your experience is being trivialised and that your discomfort isn’t worth their time.
3. “It’s probably just a virus. Give it a few days.”
This is fine if you’re actually sick, but when it’s an ongoing issue, it can be incredibly frustrating to hear. It often means no real examination or follow-up will happen, leaving you without any answers. You’re left feeling like they’re avoiding any real investigation into what’s causing your symptoms.
4. “Maybe you just need to lose a little weight.”
Weight is often suggested as a solution, even when it’s not relevant to your symptoms. Hearing this feels dismissive and often puts the blame on you instead of addressing what could be an underlying issue that needs attention. It can feel like they’re more focused on appearance than the real medical concerns you came in for.
5. “You’re just getting older; it happens.”
Age isn’t an excuse for every health concern. When they blame everything on ageing, it feels like they’re overlooking the possibility of treatable issues that could improve your quality of life and well-being. This can make you feel like they’re giving up on finding solutions simply because of your age.
6. “If it were serious, it’d be a lot worse by now.”
This response downplays your symptoms, suggesting they’re too mild to be worth investigating. It can make you feel like you have to be in crisis to be taken seriously, which is both dismissive and disheartening. You’re left feeling unheard and like your pain or discomfort doesn’t matter until it’s extreme.
7. “You’ll be fine. Let’s give it some time.”
When you’re worried about something specific, being told to “wait and see” can feel dismissive. It’s like they’re pushing off the problem without any real plan or follow-up in mind, leaving you in a state of limbo. This lack of direction can make you feel uncertain and unsupported in addressing your health concerns.
8. “It’s just a part of being a woman/man.”
This response often dismisses symptoms as normal gender-based issues, ignoring that not everything is just “part of the package.” It feels like a quick way to avoid digging deeper into what’s really happening. This response can feel particularly dismissive, as if they’re not taking your specific symptoms seriously.
9. “You’re too young/too old for menopause.”
Hormonal changes can happen at various stages of life, and menopause symptoms can appear earlier or later than expected. Being told you’re the “wrong age” can make it feel like they’re ignoring legitimate symptoms just because they don’t fit the typical timeline. This can leave you feeling invalidated and without answers for real issues you’re facing.
10. “You’re young; you’re probably fine.”
Being young doesn’t make you immune to health problems. This assumption can lead to your concerns being overlooked, even when you know something feels off and needs attention beyond a quick reassurance. It can make you feel like they’re not really investigating your concerns, assuming youth makes you invincible.
11. “I’m sure it’ll go away on its own.”
When you’re genuinely worried, hearing this feels like a brush-off. It’s as if they’re waiting for you to stop bringing it up instead of exploring solutions that could actually help or provide clarity. This can make you feel like your symptoms don’t deserve real attention or care until they worsen.
12. “Have you tried sleeping more?”
Good sleep is essential, but when it’s the only advice given, it feels dismissive. It suggests that they think your issue is a simple fix rather than something worth investigating more closely. This makes you feel like your problem is being reduced to a lifestyle tip, ignoring deeper concerns.
13. “That doesn’t sound too bad.”
Brushing off your symptoms like this implies they don’t see the urgency. It’s as if they’re comparing your experience to an invisible scale of “real problems” instead of focusing on what’s bothering you. You’re left feeling like your pain or discomfort isn’t worth investigating, even though it’s affecting your life.
14. “It’s just stress. Try to relax.”
Instead of addressing your symptoms, they jump to stress as the catch-all answer. This response can feel like they’re dismissing your concerns as all in your head, without taking a deeper look or considering other factors. It leaves you feeling like they’re brushing off real issues that deserve more than just a casual suggestion to “relax.”
15. “Let’s just monitor it for now.”
This often feels like code for “let’s do nothing.” When you’re looking for solutions, being told to “monitor” can feel like you’re being put on hold indefinitely without a real plan or follow-up in place. It makes you feel like you’re stuck waiting instead of actively working toward a diagnosis or treatment.
