What is an Invisible Condition?
What is an “invisible condition”?
An invisible condition is a non-apparent illness or health condition (physical or mental) that isn’t seen from the outside. This may include, but is not limited to chronic illness, autoimmune disorders, mental illness, neurodiverse conditions, chronic pain or fatigue, trauma, cancers, and brain injuries.
Invisible condition is inclusive of invisible illness, invisible disability, and invisible disease.
Earlier in 2023, a friend shared with me that she was diagnosed with ADHD. This diagnosis was scary yet freeing for her (listen to Rosanna’s story here). She trusted me with the news of her diagnosis however she was hesitant to share it publicly.
There we were, sitting across from each other through Google Meet and Rosanna shared that she didn’t identify as having a disability, disease, or illness. So I asked her, “What about the word condition”? I don’t remember exactly what she said but I remember seeing her light up and say “Yes”!
The Origins of Invisible Condition
In the fall of 2022, I was sitting at a local coffee shop with a great friend, Michael. He was doing what he does so naturally, asking great questions about what was next for me. At the time, all I could focus on getting healthy enough for surgery but I also had a different idea percolating in my mind; a project called Everyday Someone.
When I was explaining to Michael about this project - inviting everyday people to share their extraordinary stories, he pressed into the reason behind this idea and I said something like, “So many people live with an invisible condition and I am tired of hiding. I want to invite others to share what makes people their version of “normal” (insert air quotes)”.
He said - that’s it - consider diving into this space deeper. So there you go, Invisible Condition was born!
Definition(s)
There are many words we can use to define what it means to live with something that isn’t visible from the outside. And I think it’s really important to understand the foundational language that surrounds invisible disabilities, illnesses, diseases and conditions.
Invisible disability | Invisible illness | Invisible disease
An “invisible,” “non-visible,” “hidden,” “non-apparent,” or "unseen" disability is any physical, mental, or emotional impairment that goes largely unnoticed - Invisible Disability Project
A condition that is invisible to the casual observer - health.com
Non-apparent disability | Non-apparent illness | Non-apparent disease
Implies the disability is just that – non-apparent and does not imply any negative connotation - DisabilityIN
Additional resource: World Institute on Disability
Hidden disability | Hidden illness | Hidden disease
Some disabilities don’t have physical signs so we cannot always tell if someone has one. Hidden disabilities include autism, mental health, acquired/traumatic brain injury, sensory processing, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, partial sight and hearing loss - The NHS
Normal person
I am adding the definition of “Normal Person” because it is so utterly ridiculous!
A normal person has no serious physical or mental health problems - Collins Dictionary
What’s common with these definitions?
To me, it’s a few things:
It’s a health condition
It’s not visible from the outside
They are all very formal and that is OK!
Inclusive Language
Even though I (I can only speak for myself), live with multiple issues (Crohn’s Disease, Arthritis, and Mental Well-Being struggles), I never identified as having a disability, disease, or illness. Sure, I can claim a disability tax credit however I often feel strange doing so.
I met others, like me and Rosanna, who haven’t identified with this language. Yet, I have met people who do.
So, with Invisible Condition, the goal is to create inclusive language around the things that make us our version of “normal”.
Some may say the word “invisible” is an offensive word and I think it’s important to address this. When using “invisible condition”, this term refers to the condition, not the person. In no way will we ever say the person is invisible. Everyone is visible regardless of who you are!
Make it Personal
When someone says to me, “You look tired” or “You should work out more”, I laugh. Not at them but at the You Look and You Should language.
To me, This is “my normal”. My normal is that I look “fine” from the outside but on the inside, I have sore knees (thanks to arthritis), I am missing over half of my large intestine (thanks to Crohn’s), and my mind plays tricks on y mental state every day (thanks anxiety).
I want to challenge you to define what your “normal” is and embrace it. Live it. Improve it (or not), and most importantly, define Invisible Condition how you need to because no website will define who you are!
