Even Ashley Tisdale Has to Deal With Medical Gaslighting

It’s 2024; medical gaslighting shouldn’t be such a prevalent problem for women. But the sad reality of our health care system is that no woman is immune. Just look at celebs like Ashley Tisdale: The singer and actress has had to deal with at least one doctor calling her “difficult” and finding new medical professionals to work with, just to get her health needs met.

We talked to Tisdale — who’s also the founder of the wellness company Being Frenshe — about how she navigated these experiences. Plus, she shared her health advice for young women, self-care routine for dealing with anxiety, and more. 

Do you have a wellness or self-care routine?

“I have anxiety that ebbs and flows, and my self-care rituals are instrumental in helping me manage that anxiety. The big priority, especially while I've been pregnant, is downtime and sleep. I used to burn the candles at both ends, and I've found that I feel better and feel less stressed if I make time to unwind and rest.

“I [also] have a whole evening ritual that helps me shake off any stress from the day. It involves tucking my daughter in, spending some quality time with my husband, and then having a few moments for myself.”

Tell us more about Being Frenshe. What separates it from other wellness companies?

“I created Being Frenshe because I personally experienced the power of small daily rituals (like taking a bath or lighting a candle before meditating). When I learned more about how powerfully scent affects mood, I was inspired to combine those two concepts into a collection of everyday wellness essentials — things that you could easily incorporate into the things you were doing already.

“I think Being Frenshe is different because of that, and because the products are accessible. It was really important to me that we keep the products accessibly priced, because I strongly believe that wellness is for everyone.”

Have you ever had a negative experience or been gaslit by a doctor or other medical professional? How did you handle it?

“Yes, and I learned that even if I was seen as ‘difficult,’ I had to speak up and/or switch doctors. I've learned to trust my intuition and advocate for my health — even asking for certain lab tests to be run. These days I have solid, positive relationships with my health care providers — thank goodness — but that wasn't always the case.

“I think many women have gone to the doctor with an issue or complaint, only to have their concerns minimized or dismissed. It happens even more often to women of color, which we see in the maternal mortality crisis among Black American women. I'm glad you asked this question because we should be talking about this more often.”

If you could give young women one message about their health and wellness, what would it be?

“Make time to check in with yourself each day. Even if it's only for five minutes, it'll give you better clarity on what you need for well-being.”