Ever heard the term hidden or invisible disability?
An invisible or hidden disability means that you can’t tell that the person is disabled by looking at them. Sometimes they might choose to wear a lanyard explaining their symptoms or need for a mobility aid. Some people immediately think of Autism and ADHD when we talk about invisible disabilities but there is a lot of other hidden disabilities that people can have.
You might have seen this sunflower lanyard before, it is a simple tool for you to share that you have a hidden disability voluntarily. You can find out more here.
Some examples of hidden disabilities are:
Tourette Syndrome or Tics which are fast repetitive muscle movements that result in sudden jolts or sounds, they don’t happen all the time and sometimes can be suppressed but that’s not always the case. Each person with Tourette’s has different tics and will experience diverse symptoms.
EDS or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome which has several different types causes flexible joints and stretchy and fragile skin.
POTS or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is when your heart rate increases very quickly after getting up from sitting or lying down, among other symptoms.
Endometriosis which affects at least 1 in 10 people that are assigned female at birth but it has been found in cis men too is where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows on other organs.
Supporting yourself (or a friend) with an invisible disability
It can be very hard and lonely to deal with a disability all by yourself so here are some important tips:
- Read or watch things with representation of your disability. Seeing characters (or actors) on screen who you can relate to can be a positive experience, you might even meet others who engage in the fandom for the same reason!
- Follow people online with your disability. They may have tips on how to manage your disability and it can be good place to connect with a community who share similar experiences to you.
- Consider mobility aids. While this doesn’t apply to everyone remember there is no age limit on them. If you think a walking stick, rollator or wheelchair will help then you should consider getting one, even if its just to see if it helps.
- Find friends with a similar condition. You will be able to relate and learn from each other.
- If you are needing to rest, look into crafts like painting, sewing and crochet. It will give you something to do so you don’t get bored.
- Be kind and treat yourself. It’s important to look after you and your mental health, our AyeFeel page has loads more information on this.