Believe Yourself: Endometriosis & Medical Gaslighting Part 2

Trigger warnings: chronic illness, medical gaslighting, reproductive health, and discussion of systemic barriers to care.Episode 13 of Traumatically Speaking continues the conversation as Sloan and Lex dive into part two of their endometriosis series, picking up where things left off and getting even more real about what happens after you start searching for answers. Sloan finishes sharing her story, bringing listeners deeper into the lived reality of navigating pain that never fully lets up, and what it means to exist in a body that is constantly asking to be taken seriously.This episode shifts focus into the systems that are supposed to help but often make things worse. From insurance companies labeling necessary procedures as “exploratory” to delays that stretch suffering out for years, Sloan and Lex unpack how access to care is often determined by red tape instead of need. They talk about the emotional and financial toll of fighting to be approved for treatment, and how exhausting it is to have to prove your pain over and over again just to receive basic care.Beyond the physical, they get into the psychological weight of chronic pain, especially when it becomes so constant that it starts to shape your identity. When pain becomes your baseline, it changes the way you move through the world, the way you advocate for yourself, and the way you see your own body. They explore what it means to unlearn the normalization of suffering and how difficult it can be to trust yourself after years of being dismissed.Between personal experiences, statistics, and the kind of dark humor that makes heavy things feel a little lighter, they break down just how many people are affected by endometriosis and why awareness still is not enough. This episode is a reminder that your pain is real, your experience is valid, and you deserve care that does not require you to fight this hard to receive it.Want a chance to have your story shared on the pod?Email us: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠Remember: write it like a story — bullet points don’t flow — and send it as a .pdf if ya nasty.We support and encourage therapy. If you are looking for a licensed therapist visit:https://https//www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapistsWe are not here to heal you, just to keep you company between sessions.okay love you bye,Sloan & Lex