Dismissal and stigma
- ME|FM Society of BC
- May 19, 2021
- 1 min read
Dismissal and stigma are far too common in the ME patient’s experience, particularly in health care settings (but also within families and workplaces too).
People living with ME often express choosing not to disclose their ME for fear of stigma. Sometimes ME patients weigh the consequences of seeking help and may often avoid exposure to the health care system to protect themselves of further dismissal.
Patients are challenged to constantly self-advocate to ensure their symptoms are taken seriously. Patients need their ME diagnosis to be routinely acknowledged by, responded to and supported by the health care system. ME patients need change and improvements in our medical systems.
How do we move forward? What can be done to break the stigma?
This is very informative but it only reaches patients with ME/CFS/FM. I am wondering if we are sending all information by mail or otherwise to all the GP's as they still don't know much about these diseases. I just went to see a new GP who has excellent reviews but right away she told me that I don't anything about these diseases so all I can do is to send you to specialists. This was May 12 which was the day to recognized ME/CFS.