Just because one’s physical pain isn’t visible to others doesn’t mean they aren’t suffering. It’s a lot like a judging a book by its cover: You have no idea what’s really going on underneath just by looking at a person — especially while many out there are living with an invisible illness or disability.
For instance, there are those with fibromyalgia, who experience widespread pain and tenderness, affecting their ability to accomplish even the simplest of everyday tasks. And then you have mood disorders like depression, which can manifest itself in physical symptoms like headaches, muscle and back pain and fatigue.
Life with a chronic condition can be incredibly frustrating to those who suffer from them, and there are so many disabilities you can’t see with the naked eye. From chronic fatigue syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis to Lyme disease and diabetes, here are 15 disabilities people suffer from every day that you can’t tell they have by looking at them.
A version of this article was originally published in May 2015.
Lyme Disease
If not caught in time, this tick-borne disease can cause chronic joint swelling and muscle pain, along with severe fatigue.
Lupus
Many people with lupus feel ill and fatigued most of the time. The disease attacks the immune system and can affect everything from skin (lesions and rashes) to your memory.
Fibromyalgia
Those who suffer from fibromyalgia experience widespread pain and tenderness that can affect their ability to accomplish even the simplest of everyday tasks.
Epilepsy
According to the World Health Organization, more than 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, a central nervous system disease that causes seizures.
Depression
Depression is a mood disorder, but it can manifest itself in physical symptoms like headaches, muscle and back pain and fatigue.
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn's disease is an inflammatory disease affecting the intestines that causes severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever and other symptoms that affect a person's day-to-day life.
Asperger Syndrome
People with Asperger syndrome have normal intelligence and near-normal language skills, but they have a delayed ability to socialize and communicate with others, according to the Autism Society.
Asthma
Asthma can make breathing difficult thanks to inflammation that restricts the airways. An untreated asthma attack can even be fatal according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Autism
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 59 children are on the autism spectrum.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a common mental illness associated with mood swings that range from depressive lows to manic highs.
Brain Injuries
Though they aren't visible, brain injuries can affect everything from a person's communication to their ability to perform everyday tasks.
Diabetes
According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes can lead to an onset of complications if left untreated, including nerve damage called diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), kidney disease, high blood pressure and more.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is the chronic inflammation of smaller joints in the hands and feet. This inflammation can affect a sufferer's ability to perform even the smallest tasks, like opening doors or gripping jars.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia affects a person's ability to understand reality and can lead to hallucinations, delusions and extreme thinking and behavior.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Anything requiring exertion — including walking — can be next to impossible for people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.
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