82. The Impact of Clinician-Associated Trauma on EDS and HSD with Colin Halverson, PhD

In this podcast episode, Dr. Colin Halverson, an expert in medical anthropology, discusses the challenges patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) face when interacting with healthcare providers. He highlights the concept of 'clinician-associated trauma,' where patients often encounter dismissive or antagonistic healthcare experiences, leading to mistrust and negative health outcomes. Dr. Halverson describes the diagnostic journey of EDS patients as a 'hero's journey,' filled with numerous trials like misdiagnoses and the multifaceted symptoms that complicate their care. He suggests that building a supportive healthcare team and community can mitigate these challenges, even though the invisibility and complexity of EDS symptoms often lead providers to misunderstand or overlook them. Seeking therapy, particularly trauma-focused therapy, and engaging with supportive online communities can be beneficial for patients dealing with clinician-associated trauma and self-doubt.