In this episode of Real Medicine, we dive into the invisible wounds left by the healthcare system — the kind that don’t show up on scans but live deep in the body, mind, and memory.

We talk about medical trauma — what it is, how it shows up, and why it’s so often missed. From medical gaslighting and systemic dismissal to the ripple effects on caregivers, providers, and siblings of complex patients, this episode names what many have felt but never had words for.

You’ll hear insights from:

• My personal story and what I have seen in myself and patients
• Dr. Gabor Maté on how trauma becomes embodied
• Dr. Bessel van der Kolk on how “the body keeps the score”
• Recent 2024 research from Current Psychology validating the trauma caused by medical dismissal and bias

We explore:

• How to regain power in healthcare after being harmed
• Somatic tools for healing trauma stored in the body
• The overlooked experiences of caregivers and siblings
• The silent trauma carried by clinicians asked to stay strong while witnessing harm
• Why we must recognize medical gaslighting as a legitimate pathway to PTSD
• This episode is a call to witness, validate, and begin to heal — for everyone who has been hurt by the very system meant to care for them.
  Because real medicine starts not with fixing — but with listening.

Podcast Music Copy write 2025 Jason Houghton

Support the show