For many people, going to the doctor is assumed to be a reassuring act; an opportunity to be heard, understood, and helped. Yet for a significant proportion of individuals living with chronic health problems, medical appointments are not a source of comfort but of dread. Anticipatory anxiety, fear of dismissal, and the expectation of being misunderstood are not uncommon experiences. That this has become a normalized part of healthcare for so many is not only concerning, but a
