What It's Like Living With An Invisible Illness

From celebrities such as Julianne Hough openly discussing her struggle with endometriosis to Lady Gaga raising awareness for her debilitating condition, fibromyalgia, it is becoming apparent many individuals struggle with an invisible illness. It is easy for many of us to judge and not be aware of the terrible pain or the struggle many endure when dealing with an illness without visible signs. Let’s break the stigma and continue reading to discover what it is like for those who live with an invisible illness and how it affects those around them.

Types Of Invisible Illnesses

Invisible illness is an umbrella term including numerous chronic illnesses showing little to no visible signs and may not be apparent to others. Invisible illnesses include fibromyalgia, diabetes, lupus, arthritis, depression, anxiety, endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and many other conditions with little to no visible signs or symptoms. The invisibility of an illness presents a variety of challenges for the patient, especially when it comes to expressing the effects it can have on their daily life specifically to others who do not have the same condition.

Many individuals who live with an invisible illness find it just as challenging as those living with any other disability or chronic illness. However, those with an invisible illness often deal with far more judgment and a lack of compassion from others who believe they are not truly sick, are 'faking' it simply because they do not appear sick.

It Is More Serious Than You Think

'But you don’t look sick,' is a common sentence many individuals living with an invisible illness tend to hear from family, friends, and members of the public who do not understand the nature of the illness the individual is dealing with. It may be expressed with no ill intent or malice, however, statements provoking the idea the patient is indeed not ill or dealing with a serious condition are incredibly ignorant and undermining to the true pain and anguish many individuals deal with when living with depression, fibromyalgia, diabetes, IBS, or any other serious health condition.

This is another hurdle patients face when it comes to communicating and talking to others about their health and diagnosis, especially when trying to speak about it with loved ones who may struggle to understand the condition if they do not see the physical effects of it.