Skip to content
Fighting What You Can’t See: Living with an Invisible Illness
ey everyone, I hope you’re well and had a great weekend. I’ve been chilling out, catching up on all the sport, and trying my best to avoid the endless rain lately!
Today, I want to talk about something that affects so many people—but often goes unnoticed: invisible illness.
If you live with one, you’ll know exactly what I mean. From the outside, we might look fine. We might even seem active or strong. But what people don’t see is the pain, fatigue, and struggle that happens behind closed doors—or after doing something as simple as going to the shop or standing too long.
Honestly, I’m tired of being called lazy. Or hearing things like, “Come on, you’re a big lad, you can manage that no problem.”
Well, maybe I can in that moment. But what people don’t see is the aftermath—how drained I feel, how every joint aches, how I sometimes need a day or two just to recover from doing something “simple.”
Just because you can’t see someone’s pain doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
I’ve learned to do what I can, when I can, and that’s enough. I’ve also learned to stop explaining myself to people who aren’t willing to understand.
So, if you’re someone living with an invisible illness, please know this:
You are strong. You are not alone. And you are doing amazing, even when it feels like the world doesn’t get it.
Keep going. Keep fighting. You’ve got this.
Thanks so much for reading—and have an amazing week ahead. 💪
http://buymeacoffee.com/livingwithmentalhealth / Please Buy me a coffee
"We are a start-up and like anyone need some funds to do our good work in the community" If you can support this venture using the "Buy me a coffee" link it helps the CIC with some urgently needed expenses. These expenses are things like Accountancy fees, Company House requirements and other official expenditure that helps run the CIC. Effectively the Coffee you buy us helps us stay legit and operate to UK CIC guidelines.
2 Responses
Spot on. I often spend my working time masking, leaving me exhausted on days off
Dear John
Some things I note.
1. Everyone has rights. People with Lived Experience are not different in that respect.
a. People may not want to know about MH or Autism. They have this right. My opinion, here, is that they
are short sighted. I think you might agree in both parts to a?
b. Those willing to hear and understand are wanting a change and a long term investment in community.
c. We have also got the right (us lived experience folk) to assert ourselves – this can be saying no when
you cannot help to help yourself.
2. People with Lived Experience often talk about their conditions in wellbeing groups. I think that often
these talks only have to be said once to introduce each other. Sometimes no explanation is necessary.
3. We do not need to waste our breath in directions that make us tired or need explaining so many times
that understanding that should be inherent is not gained.
Understanding = Peace
KR
David
Picture says from Norfolk to Suffolk with Love. (Ellingham Mill on the Waveney)