When you think about a disability, one that requires a mobility device or that’s visible in some form probably comes to mind. However, a majority of people who have a chronic health issue actually live with an invisible illness.
“Invisible illness” is a catch-all term for a wide range of health conditions, including mental illnesses, diabetes, fibromyalgia, epilepsy, autoimmune disorders and many more. It’s estimated that a majority of people with an illness have one that most people can’t physically see.
Though invisible illnesses and their symptoms differ from person to person, those who have them often share similar experiences with stigma, discrimination and misconceptions. HuffPost spoke to people with invisible illnesses about what they want others to understand about living with their health conditions:
