What is an invisible illness?

Looks can be deceiving. Take a moment to understand what is on the inside

An invisible illness is a certain kind of disability that is not immediately apparent to others.
Invisible illnesses can have symptoms such as debilitating pain, fatigue, dizziness, brain injuries, learning differences, mental health disorders, hearing and vision impairments and other symptoms that limit daily activities that are not obvious to others
Not everyone with chronic condition has the same symptoms or degree of symptoms
The disability creates challenges for the person who has it, but the disability can be hard for others to acknowledge or recognize
The fact that symptoms are invisible creates misunderstandings, judgments, and false perceptions
The invisibility of most chronic conditions makes it even more difficult to convince others that you really are in pain
People with certain invisible disabilities are accused of faking or making up their disabilities since it is not obvious to the onlooker

The 1994-1995 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) found that 26 million Americans (almost 1 in 10) have a severe disability, while only 1.8 million used a wheelchair and 5.2 million used a cane, crutches or walker (Americans with Disabilities 94-95). In other words, 74% of Americans who live with a severe disability do not use such devices. Therefore, a disability cannot be determined solely by whether or not a person uses assistive equipment.

List of SOME Invisible Disabilities