--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I had to think to myself that this…" description: "\"“But I had to think to myself that this was normal, because that was the attitude. I was 19 when I went to see my doctor and I was told it was all in t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/hilary-mantel-440_chronic-pain_but-i-had-to-think-to-myself-that-this-w_2596192.jpg" --- # But I had to think to myself that this was normal, because… ![“But I had to think to myself that this was normal, because that was the attitude. I was 19 when I went to see my doctor and I was told it was all in the mind.” quote by Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/hilary-mantel-440_chronic-pain_but-i-had-to-think-to-myself-that-this-w_2596192.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/hilary-mantel-440_chronic-pain_but-i-had-to-think-to-myself-that-this-w_2596192.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/443/hilary-mantel-440_chronic-pain_but-i-had-to-think-to-myself-that-this-w_2596192.jpg) > ““But I had to think to myself that this was normal, because that was the attitude. I was 19 when I went to see my doctor and I was told it was all in the mind.”” [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She realized that her doctor’s claim that her illness was “all in the mind” normalized her experience. **In simple terms:** She accepted the mental aspect as normal. Key Takeaway Acknowledge mental health in physical illness. Themes health mind‑body normalization Mood reflective empathetic Type personal medical When to use this quote - self‑care - doctor communication - stigma reduction - mental health advocacy - personal resilience Key Concepts psychosomatic medical culture Questions to Reflect On - How do you validate your own health concerns? - What role does mindset play in healing? A Different Perspective Medical dismissal can hinder treatment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chronic pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chronic-pain/) [Endometriosis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endometriosis/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Feminist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Sexism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexism/) [Women 's health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-s-health/) ## Related quotes > [“The more I saw, however, the more I needed to see. 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