Fear, anxiety, and subtle manipulation can override your rational decision-making leading you down paths that may not be in your best interest.

But what if you could see through the fog and reclaim control of your health journey?

This week on The Healthcare Liberty Lab Podcast, I spoke with Susan Palmer-Ansorg, a seasoned psychologist specializing in treating anxiety issues in adolescents and adults.

Susan pulled back the curtain on the neurobiology of healthcare manipulation and shared actionable strategies to regain your power in medical settings.

“It’s hard for most people to imagine and relate to people intentionally trying to use neurobiology against us and manipulate us for power and control.”

Susan’s words highlight the core issue: It’s not necessarily malicious, but there are other pressures on the doctor.

Clinicians can be manipulated without realizing it. Our healthcare system has integrated systems that bypass rational thinking and activate primal fear responses.

The average person walks into a medical facility already primed for compliance.

White coats, medical terminology, and clinical environments aren’t accidental – they’re psychological triggers that establish authority.

But what if this authority becomes a barrier to your optimal care?

The Anxiety Contagion

Susan has witnessed firsthand how anxiety contaminates medical decision-making from both sides:

* Provider Fear: Doctors operating from a place of liability concerns rather than individualized patient outcomes. They have fear buttons pushed, and are in sympathetic nervous system dominance

* Systemic Fear: Clinicians are given canned information steered to medicine over lifestyle.

* Pharmaceutical Influence: Professional organizations are captured. Follow the money..

* Patient Fear: The stress response that prevents clear thinking and question-asking.

This creates a dangerous dynamic where medical professionals become unwitting participants in a system that many times doesn’t serve your highest interests.

Thinking about it from the patient point of view, it it is important to remember the emotions that inform how healthcare providers deliver care.

Susan also shared her experience of dealing with her own health struggles, and the fear that she saw in the providers when she didn’t follow their recommendation.

The Autonomy Algorithm

What separates the healthcare-empowered from the healthcare-dependent isn’t solely medical knowledge – it’s psychological sovereignty.

Susan’s framework for reclaiming your healthcare autonomy consists of three critical components:

1. Recognize the Manipulation Triggers

When you feel rushed, confused, or pressured in a healthcare setting, it’s likely not coincidental. These are environmental conditions designed to compromise your decision-making capacity.

The solution? Slow down. Request time. Create space between recommendation and decision.

2. Rewire Your Nervous System Response

Susan shared a powerful breaths to short-circuit the anxiety that hijacks rational thought:

* 4-6-8 Breathing: Breathe in fully and inflate your lungs through the nose for a count of four, hold it for a count of six, and breathe out through your mouth completely for a count of eight.

* Practice: It’s important to practice these breaths and familiarize yourself in order to make it automated.

* Relaxation Response: Feeling your body start to relax is a sign you got it. These aren’t merely wellness tips—they’re tactical interventions you can use in real-time during medical decisions.

3. Demand More, listen, Think

As the patient, it’s your job to do what feels most comfortable but remember to get the calm brain

You must remember,

You don’t have to do the first thing you are anxious to do.

Pause,Note, Ask yourself… What is that about?

The Hidden Cost of Compliance

Susan shared her personal health journey, where following her instincts rather than her doctor’s recommendations led to better outcomes.

The pushback she received revealed something critical: healthcare providers often respond with fear when their authority is questioned.

She reminds us to consider that the “expert” might not even know.

And that is okay.

Their fear doesn’t stem from malice – it comes from training systems that reward conformity and punish deviation. Understanding this psychology gives you leverage in healthcare interactions.

Regardless of if it feels challenging, our healthcare is not a service to outsource.

YOU are the one best positioned to make decisions about how to navigate YOUR health and YOUR healthcare.

It is a skill that can be learned!

The Strategic Patient Mindset

The healthcare system isn’t inherently designed for your autonomy. It’s optimized for efficiency, risk management and profit.

Crafting your own healthcare strategy requires:

* Preparation: Research before appointments, not after.

* Documentation: Track your symptoms, responses, and outcomes systematically.

* Boundaries: Clearly communicate your decision-making process and needs.

* Network: Build relationships with providers who respect informed choice. (As a patient, you don’t even have to rely on your own judgment. You can literally get help from whoever else you’re working with)

This isn’t about antagonism toward medical professionals, but rather about fostering partnerships based on mutual respect instead of authority compliance.

Here’s an example of how simple these questions can be:

Final Thoughts

The healthcare system will continue operating as designed.

But the real question is: Will YOU continue operating as expected?

Connect with our Sponsor:

If you are looking to experience freedom from health insurance, check out our sponsor at joincrowdhealth.com.

Use code ‘Liberty Lab’ for $99/month for your first 3 months.

Connect with our Guest:

Susan’s substack is Rogue Psychologist. It’s absolutely amazing. Check it out here.

Thanks for hanging out with us.

Until next time,

Tiffany

* Never medical advice

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thehealthcarelibertylab.substack.com