# 85. Feeling Dismissed by Doctors? How to Advocate for Yourself With Confidence Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/renegade-remission-holistic-healing-and-nutrition-for-chronic-and-terminal-illness-cancer-als-ms-dementia-heart-disease-5196594/85-feeling-dismissed-by-doctors-how-to-advocate-for-yourself-with-confidence-hope-for-cancer-dementia-alzheimer-s-ms-als-heart-disease Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/renegade-remission-holistic-healing-and-nutrition-for-chronic-and-terminal-illness-cancer-als-ms-dementia-heart-disease-5196594/85-feeling-dismissed-by-doctors-how-to-advocate-for-yourself-with-confidence-hope-for-cancer-dementia-alzheimer-s-ms-als-heart-disease.md Podcast: [Renegade Remission: Holistic Healing and Nutrition for Chronic and Terminal Illness, Cancer, ALS, MS, Dementia, Heart Disease](https://stenobird.com/podcast/renegade-remission-holistic-healing-and-nutrition-for-chronic-and-terminal-illness-cancer-als-ms-dementia-heart-disease-5196594) Published: 2026-06-15T09:00:00+00:00 Episode link: https://www.therenegadenutritionist.com Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/97416ca5-4383-40f8-950e-37fde937e93d.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/renegade-remission-holistic-healing-and-nutrition-for-chronic-and-terminal-illness-cancer-als-ms-dementia-heart-disease-5196594/episodes/85-feeling-dismissed-by-doctors-how-to-advocate-for-yourself-with-confidence-hope-for-cancer-dementia-alzheimer-s-ms-als-heart-disease Duration seconds: 604 ## Resource If you've ever left a medical appointment feeling unheard, overwhelmed, dismissed, or unsure how to explain what you're experiencing, this episode will help you communicate more clearly, ask better questions, and become a more confident participant in your own care. In this episode of Renegade Remission , we explore why self-advocacy can feel so difficult during illness and what makes medical conversations more productive and collaborative. You'll hear the story of science writer Julie Rehmeyer, who learned to navigate years of confusing symptoms and difficult medical encounters by documenting her experiences, asking clearer questions, and becoming a more active participant in her care. From there, we break down the psychology of medical appointments, including why stress, authority dynamics, previous experiences of dismissal, and fear of speaking up can make it harder to communicate effectively when it matters most. In this episode, you'll understand: Why medical appointments often feel intimidating or overwhelming How stress affects memory, communication, and decision-making Why many patients struggle to speak up, ask questions, or challenge assumptions Practical ways to prepare for appointments and communicate more clearly How to advocate for yourself while maintaining a collaborative relationship with your healthcare team Listen now to learn simple, practical strategies that can help you feel more informed, confident, and empowered during medical appointments. DISCLAIMER This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not offer medical advice. Consult your licensed healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment or health regimen. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk. This podcast explores stories and science around… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/renegade-remission-holistic-healing-and-nutrition-for-chronic-and-terminal-illness-cancer-als-ms-dementia-heart-disease-5196594/episodes/85-feeling-dismissed-by-doctors-how-to-advocate-for-yourself-with-confidence-hope-for-cancer-dementia-alzheimer-s-ms-als-heart-disease/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/renegade-remission-holistic-healing-and-nutrition-for-chronic-and-terminal-illness-cancer-als-ms-dementia-heart-disease-5196594/85-feeling-dismissed-by-doctors-how-to-advocate-for-yourself-with-confidence-hope-for-cancer-dementia-alzheimer-s-ms-als-heart-disease.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.