Sadly, this essay — all 9 minutes of it — is just one isolated example from across the course of my life. I've also been in situations where I had an acute problem that could've killed me (or at the very least blinded me), and I had doctors telling me I was somatizing and asking if I wanted a prescription for Xanax — and even one encouraging me to take up a wine-drinking habit.

It's disgusting how common this kind of nonsense is.

I'm glad you survived your doctor(s)!