Invisible Illness

Millions of women who look perfectly healthy on the outside are grappling with chronic conditions that make normal life anything but. They have what's been dubbed an invisible illness, because their struggles go unseen. Here are their stories.

Life Interrupted: Living With an Invisible Illness

Shailene Woodley on Struggling with 'Debilitating' Health Condition: 'It Spun Me Out for a While'
Shailene Woodley opens up about a serious health condition she has faced that caused her to say "no to a lot of projects ... because I physically couldn't participate in them."
POTS Is an Illness Causing Fatigue, Rapid Heartbeat, and Nausea—Here's What It's Like to Live With It
"Other people don't see the pain of existing in this body," says one woman who lives with this chronic invisible illness.
Living With Sickle Cell Disease Is a Constant Battle With Pain, According to One Woman Who Has It
People always tell Danielle Jamison, 35, that she "doesn't look sick." But the genetic blood disorder she's battled since childhood makes day-to-day life a challenge.
5 Anxiety-Reducing Resources for People With Invisible Illnesses to Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic
People with invisible illnesses may need extra help during this stressful time.
Health Is Partnering With 'Made Visible' Podcast on a 6-Week Writing Workshop and Essay Contest
Learn how to share your invisible illness story through writing.
I Hid My Genetic Disorder for Years—Until Doctors Found a Golf Ball-Size Cyst in My Lung
All her life, Harper Spero, 35, has been living with a rare, incurable syndrome that affects her immune system. But it wasn't until she underwent life-threatening surgery in her late 20s that she began facing the challenges of this invisible illness.
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More Invisible Illness

Post-Concussion Syndrome Makes It Hard for Me to Function—Here's What It's Like
After an accidental hit to the head, Kate Anderson, 37, was diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury, which led to post-concussion syndrome. A year later, day-to-day life with this isolating disorder remains a challenge.
I'm a 22-Year-Old With Fibromyalgia—and Some Days I Wish I Could Detach Myself From My Body
After years of debilitating pain, Bel Banta was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a disorder that's not well understood by doctors. Here, she shares what it's like to be 22 years old and living with episodes of chronic pain few people are aware of.
What It's Like to Live With Bipolar Disorder—a Mental Health Condition No One Can See
17 Women Reveal What It's Really Like to Live With an Anxiety Disorder
Millions of Women are Living With 'Invisible Illnesses': Here's What That Means
Everyone Thinks I'm the Picture of Health—but Every Day I Struggle With Ulcerative Colitis

I Survived Thyroid Cancer—but Dealing With the Side Effects Has Been Harder Than I Ever Imagined

Writer Christine Coppa had her thyroid removed because of cancer. Here, she explains what life is like without this important gland, her struggle with weight gain and mood changes, and what she wants others to know about surviving the big C.

All Invisible Illness

My Struggle With Eczema Cost My Parents $35,000
What It's Like to Have Your Immune System Attack Your Hair
How One Couple Works Together to Conquer Chronic Back Pain
Is Chronic Pain Ruining Your Relationship?
4 Ways to Keep Chronic Pain From Straining Your Friendships
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