Real Stories, Real People | Overcoming Health Dismissal, Finding Answers, and Thriving

02/13/25 • 52 min

Have you ever been told your health symptoms are just "a part of getting older"?

In this eye-opening episode of the TRUE Wellness Podcast, Dr. Dee sits down with Karen Larkin, a licensed clinical social worker and psychology professor, who shares her powerful journey of overcoming medical gaslighting, misdiagnoses, and years of frustration with conventional healthcare.

Karen opens up about the moment she realized she needed a new approach to her health, how she took control of her wellness, and why questioning everything—especially in the medical system—is key to finding real answers. Her story is a testament to the power of advocating for yourself, trusting your instincts, and embracing a truly holistic approach to healing.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

How to Recognize Medical Gaslighting & Advocate for Yourself

Karen shares her personal experiences of being dismissed by doctors, told her symptoms were “just aging,” and left without solutions. Learn how to push back, ask the right questions, and demand better care.

Why Your Symptoms Are NOT “Just Part of Getting Older”

From weight gain to insomnia, digestive issues to hormonal imbalances—Karen debunks the myth that these struggles are inevitable with age and explains how she took back control of her body.

The Connection Between Stress, Lifestyle, and Health

Discover how Karen’s high-stress career in a psychiatric emergency room, poor nutrition, and lack of self-care contributed to her health struggles—and the changes that made a difference.

The Importance of Functional Medicine & Personalized Wellness

Karen reveals how finding a holistic practitioner changed everything—offering real answers, customized solutions, and a wellness plan that actually worked.

Three Powerful Steps to Start Your Own Health Journey

1️⃣ Prioritize Real Self-Care: Move beyond surface-level self-care (like manicures or happy hours) and focus on what truly restores your health.
2️⃣ Question Everything: Don’t blindly accept medical advice—ask why, demand explanations, and find a doctor aligned with your beliefs.
3️⃣ Incorporate Meditation & Mindfulness: Karen shares how daily meditation transformed her stress levels, mindset, and overall well-being.

🎧 Tune in now and discover how to break free from medical gaslighting and reclaim your health!

Download your FREE TRUE Wellness Checklist here: https://go.drdee.com/checklist

Thanks for listening to TRUE Wellness with Dr. Dee, where we’re redefining health and empowering change. Hosted by Dr. Dee, creator of the T.R.U.E. Wellness Framework, this podcast brings you expert insights, inspiring stories, and actionable strategies to help you thrive.

Subscribe, share, and join the conversation! Visit www.drdee.com to learn more, and follow us on social media for more wellness inspiration.
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Want to watch the full interview? Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.deephd

🎙️ Your journey to true wellness starts now!

Have you ever been told your health symptoms are just "a part of getting older"?

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

How to Recognize Medical Gaslighting & Advocate for Yourself

Karen shares her personal experiences of being dismissed by doctors, told her symptoms were “just aging,” and left without solutions. Learn how to push back, ask the right questions, and demand better care.

Why Your Symptoms Are NOT “Just Part of Getting Older”

From weight gain to insomnia, digestive issues to hormonal imbalances—Karen debunks the myth that these struggles are inevitable with age and explains how she took back control of her body.

The Connection Between Stress, Lifestyle, and Health

Discover how Karen’s high-stress career in a psychiatric emergency room, poor nutrition, and lack of self-care contributed to her health struggles—and the changes that made a difference.

The Importance of Functional Medicine & Personalized Wellness

Karen reveals how finding a holistic practitioner changed everything—offering real answers, customized solutions, and a wellness plan that actually worked.

Three Powerful Steps to Start Your Own Health Journey

1️⃣ Prioritize Real Self-Care: Move beyond surface-level self-care (like manicures or happy hours) and focus on what truly restores your health.
2️⃣ Question Everything: Don’t blindly accept medical advice—ask why, demand explanations, and find a doctor aligned with your beliefs.
3️⃣ Incorporate Meditation & Mindfulness: Karen shares how daily meditation transformed her stress levels, mindset, and overall well-being.

🎧 Tune in now and discover how to break free from medical gaslighting and reclaim your health!

Download your FREE TRUE Wellness Checklist here: https://go.drdee.com/checklist

Want to watch the full interview? Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.deephd

🎙️ Your journey to true wellness starts now!

Previous Episode

Breaking the Cycle: Robb Beams on Managing Stress, Smart Nutrition, and Achieving Peak Performance

Are you struggling to break free from stress, bad diets, and exercise guilt?

In this episode of the TRUE Wellness Podcast, Dr. Dee welcomes Coach Robb Beams, a globally recognized human performance expert and founder of Complete Racing Solutions. With over 30 years of experience, Robb has helped world-class athletes, weekend warriors, and individuals seeking sustainable health solutions. Together, they discuss how stress, misinformation, and quick fixes in the wellness industry hinder long-term health and performance. Robb shares actionable strategies to break these cycles and focus on sustainable practices that lead to true wellness.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

The Impact of Stress on Health and Performance:

Robb explains how chronic stress—whether from relationships, work, or physical exertion—leads to weight gain, adrenal fatigue, and decreased performance. Learn why reducing stress is the cornerstone of sustainable health.

Why Sleep is Non-Negotiable for Wellness:

Discover why 8–9 hours of sleep is critical for releasing recovery hormones like HGH and testosterone, and how lack of rest creates a vicious cycle of exhaustion and weight gain.

Nutrition Myths and Truths:

Robb debunks common diet fads and shares why balancing macronutrients with whole, real foods is essential. He emphasizes the importance of personalized nutrition, blood work, and staying hydrated for optimal energy and performance.

The Problem with Social Media Wellness Trends:

Understand how misinformation on platforms like Instagram leads to dangerous practices, such as extreme caloric restrictions or eliminating essential nutrients. Robb offers tips for cutting through the noise and trusting evidence-based approaches.

Breaking the Guilt-Punishment Cycle in Exercise:

Robb highlights how viewing exercise as punishment for eating perpetuates an unhealthy mindset. Learn how to reframe fitness as an enjoyable and sustainable part of your routine.

#TRUEWellnessPodcast #StressRelief #StressManagementTips #WellnessJourney #SmartNutrition #BalancedDiet #PerformanceNutrition #PeakPerformance #RecoveryIsKey #SleepForHealth #SustainableFitness

Download your FREE TRUE Wellness Checklist here: https://go.drdee.com/checklist

Want to watch the full interview? Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.deephd

🎙️ Your journey to true wellness starts now!

Next Episode

Cindy Warden on Breaking Free from Limiting Beliefs & Unlocking True Potential

Do you ever feel like something is holding you back, but you can’t quite figure out what it is?

In this empowering episode of the TRUE Wellness Podcast, Dr. Dee sits down with Cindy Warden, a transformational coach, TEDx speaker, and expert in helping ambitious women break free from limiting beliefs, childhood conditioning, and societal expectations that keep them stuck.

Cindy shares her deeply personal journey of overcoming self-doubt, people-pleasing, and perfectionism—all of which were ingrained in her from an early age. Through powerful mindset shifts, she learned to rewrite her internal story, break free from patterns that no longer served her, and step into a life of confidence, fulfillment, and success.

With clients ranging from Grammy-nominated artists and Top Ten Finalists on THE VOICE to entrepreneurs and Fortune 100 executives, Cindy’s on a mission to help women create extraordinary, soul-fulfilling success in every aspect of their lives.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Limiting Beliefs Are Holding You Back (and You Don’t Even Realize It)

Cindy explains how these invisible mental blocks shape our decisions, self-worth, and even our health—keeping us in cycles of self-sabotage.

✅ The "People-Pleasing Trap" & How to Reclaim Your Power

Discover why so many women put everyone else first—and how to stop seeking validation from others and start prioritizing your own needs.

✅ Why Changing Your External World Won’t Fix the Root Issue

Cindy reveals why simply changing jobs, relationships, or routines won’t bring lasting happiness unless you address the beliefs that led you there in the first place.

✅ How to Identify & Rewire Negative Thought Patterns

Learn actionable strategies to replace limiting beliefs with empowering ones, so you can shift from self-doubt to self-mastery.

✅ 3 Steps to Start Breaking Free Today

Cindy shares her simple yet powerful process to uncover and rewrite the subconscious beliefs holding you back—so you can finally step into the life you were meant for.

Follow Cindy's pages for more updates: