Yet again just another little blog, 🙂 the messages I have received from people speaking openly about their experiences recently, explaining that these sorts of posts make them feel as though they can speak out, genuinely make me feel happy to continue writing.

“But you don’t LOOK sick!” “Please, tell me, what does sick look like? I’ll make sure to try and get it right next time”.
My awareness point of today is that someone wearing makeup and a smile does not automatically mean they are healthy and well. As such, we as a society have been conditioned with messages from movies, tv, books and the internet/ social media to believe that disabilities are only those that are visible, 100% of the time.

These pictures were taken less than 24 hours apart. The first being on a day I could function better, I wore makeup and I left the house. It takes everything out of me even on these days, I still struggle with my mobility, I still struggle with the pain and I still struggle with every debilitating symptom that I carry even on my better days; BUT I battle through the worst days in order to enjoy the better moments. The second picture: “Body says no”.

Whether I am facing one of my “good” days or one of my bad, I am still the same person. I am still battling. Whether you can see it clearly or not quite as much on certain days, life with an “Invisible” Disability/ Chronic Illness means that it is possible to deal with the condition(s) better at times due to our “good days”.

So when you see us out for a few hours – smiling, laughing, talking and such, it doesn’t mean we are magically well; on the contrary, we are here to get a respite from the 24/7 stressful, physical and emotional life we live, by focusing our attention to something positive.
We want to spend time with those closest to us and have fun. Sometimes this means putting on our best face – ‘social mask’ to make us feel better about ourselves and heading out.

So to anyone struggling: No matter what you are facing, there is no judgement here. As the saying goes; You don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. <3