5 Reasons Your Invisible Disability Is Valid
Introduction
Within the disability activism community, I’ve seen a lot of posts and videos about how invisible disabilities are valid. Outside of it, though, I haven’t actually seen too much. So, today, I wanted to tell you that your invisible disability, mental illness, and/or chronic illness is valid. I’m going to give you logical reasoning for the days you have a hard time believing this because it is definitely something I need from time to time and many other spoonies I know do, too. First, repeat after me: My invisible disability is valid.
Your Invisible Disability Is Valid Even if it Looks Like No Other
Even if your invisible disability looks nothing like your friend’s or someone else’s with the same condition, it is valid. Everyone’s body processes stress, food, experiences, responsibilities, thoughts, and movements a little bit differently. If one person with your condition finds it helpful to use a mobility aid and you don’t, that’s okay. There’s no reason to pretend like you need a mobility aid if it isn’t beneficial. For some of us who don’t look “sick enough,” this can be especially tempting. However, be grateful for the mobility you do have. You may not always be so blessed.
If you aren’t sure whether or not you need an accommodation, don’t look at other people with your condition. For the most part, you’ll know when you really need it or you can ask a doctor.
Your Invisible Disability Is Valid Even if It is Undiagnosed
Just because you do not have an accurate diagnosis, does not mean you are attention seeking, lying, or fabricating an illness. You can still experience pain and other symptoms even when you have no idea what is actually wrong or even how to describe it. Being undiagnosed today, does not mean you will be undiagnosed forever. Maybe you haven’t seen the right doctor or taken the right test, yet. I know the waiting sucks, even if you have suspected diagnoses. I know that not every doctor has believed your story and your pain. I want to tell you that I do.
Your Invisible Disability Is Valid Even if Others Don’t Believe You
There is nothing more frustrating than opening up about your symptoms to a medical professional only for them to tell you that they won’t treat you or even diagnose you. Sometimes, this is the fault of stigma within the medical community and other times it’s the way we appear. The logic goes, if we appear to be able to take care of ourselves, then we’re not in enough pain to warrant further testing or treatment. Even if your pain is caused by unexplained nerve damage or psychological, that does not make it hurt any less for you.
I designed this cute “I’m Disabled Not Possessed Pin” as a reminder to myself (and others) that it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about my pain. They can even believe I’m possessed if it makes them happy. However, I’m the only one who really knows what it feels like to be me.
Your Invisible Disability Is Valid Even if You Don’t Take Meds
I, currently, don’t take meds for all of my health issues. I take enough for it to be annoying, but there are some things I wish could be solved with a simple medication that simply aren’t. This doesn’t make my symptoms any less real. It just means that the meds don’t exist yet or that I can’t tolerate them.
For example, I have ADHD. Unfortunately, I have weird genes that make me react to certain medications abnormally. For ADHD medications, even half of the kindergartner’s dose, is usually too much for me. I fell overly stimulated and usually have a panic attack. I don’t think this is very common, but it is extremely frustrating for me. I wish I could take medication for it because it would help me make more sense to other people without having to work so hard at it. Just because I’m unable to take meds and am somehow able to get through school, doesn’t mean my ADHD is made up or even very minimal. All it means is that I can’t take the meds.
Your Invisible Disability Is Valid Even if It Could Be Worse
The “Oh, but just be happy it isn’t worse” argument is one of my biggest pet peeves. It’s something that people have said to me all my life so let me tell you what it’s not: helpful. This phrase (just one of many) is not encouraging. It is actually invalidating and dismissive. Just because it could be worse does not mean it couldn’t be better or that it isn’t already bad. Add everyone’s subjective opinions, pain tolerances, and experiences into the mix and you’re really just comparing apples and oranges.
Maybe I only have skin cancer. Maybe I should feel lucky that it isn’t pancreatic cancer. Cancer is still cancer no matter how bad it is. Cancer is still scary even if there’s “only a little bit.”
Conclusion
To help the both of us remember that our invisible disability is valid, I decided to design a phone wallpaper feel the love whenever we look at our phones. To download it, subscribe to my blog and use the password in the first email from me to log into the free resource library. You’ll see it in the Encouraging Artwork and Printables folder.
For a lot of us with an invisible disability, this last year has been even more difficult as far as finding treatment options that are accessible and will actually be beneficial to us. Keep on keeping on no matter how hard it gets. You’ve got this babe!
