Invisible Disabilities and staying positive

It’s extremely hard to define an invisible disability but it is said to be ‘a physical, mental or neurological condition that is not visible to the outside’, often leading to misunderstandings, false perceptions and judgments. As a result, we have to try and find ways to stay positive and support people who struggle with this.

Many people with some kind of invisible disability (such as renal failure, diabetes and sleep disorders) are often accused of faking or imagining their disabilities. These types of accusations can cause a person to feel dejected and alone, so we must be more careful and think about what someone is going through before we speak.

As someone who has diabetes and has struggled with their own mental health problems, one thing I always think to myself is: Will this still affect me in a year’s time or even 4 years’ time? I guess what I’m trying to say is - find something that will keep you positive whether that be a person, objective or even a hobby. Sometimes we all need a slight distraction to take our minds off things.

In terms of the condition you have, keeping a positive outlook (which I know can be hard) is important, no matter how dire you may feel your disability is. Fight! Don’t let your disability beat you; show it that you’re the one in charge and you’re the one in control your life. Your life may not be what it used to be but it’s down to you to choose how you want to continue on in its next chapters.

Written by Callum.