Stories related to Invisible Disabilities

Being diagnosed with Lyme disease was a blessing in disguise. It forced Jetty to confront the childhood trauma she had been suppressing and the bulimia that she had been hiding.

When she discovered she was a highly sensitive person, the lens through which she saw her past changed dramatically. It explained why she could feel nuances in the tone, body language, or facial expressions of others—especially her mother.

Through the process of recovery, Anders has discovered his resilience. His brain injury, which he once viewed as a flaw, has proven to be a testament of his power, an amplifier of his voice, and a vehicle of self-discovery.

As a child, Sarah suffered abuse at the hands of her physician father. As an adult, Sarah became a physician assistant and worked for abusive supervising physicians. Leaving this environment gave her the courage to finally seek help for her PTSD.

Jackie recounts her dramatic shift from a thriving lawyer to a patient grappling with autoimmune encephalitis (AE), a rare brain illness. This powerful narrative reveals how trauma can be invisible, emphasizing resilience, the importance of support, and the hope of better days ahead.

Rebecca’s plans for her future were unexpectedly derailed after experiencing a brain hemorrhage and stroke in middle school that left her with several invisible disabilities. However, thanks to an epilepsy support group and other opportunities for assistance, she continues to feel optimistic despite her challenges.