Looking better = feeling better, right? Not necessarily! It's the 10th annual #InvisibleDisabilitiesWeek & the key focuses of the week are 'Listen, Believe, Support' so I want to ask the question; why do we believe & support the girl on the left when she says she's tired, in pain & has a disability but so often we wouldn't even listen to the girl on the right if she said the same? It's because our society is so focused on people 'looking well' when there really is no such thing.

People can't comprehend how we can smile & still be in pain but unfortunately a bit of red lippie won't cure my connective tissue disorder, it doesn't disappear because I look nice. It's this perception of invisible disability which is why it can take so long to get a correct diagnosis as patients are so often disbelieved, misunderstood and gaslit by loved ones and medical professionals alike.

I wish people realised simple tasks which others take for granted like getting dressed up or putting on make up can be extremely exhausting for disabled people & often leave us feeling much worse than we did before. It can also cause us pain. Mobility aids also give completely different kinds of support so different aids don't mean we are feeling better or worse they simply mean different support is needed. And using no aids at all often means we will actually be feeling worse rather than better as we are without the support which helps us, so have a think before you say 'it's good to see you without your stick, you must be feeling better' it's simply not true. We might be able to go without in the moment but there will be repercussions that you will not see.

So before you question someone on social media, roll your eyes at someone using a disabled loo or leave a nasty note on someone's car who is parked in a disabled bay please remember there is no such thing as 'looking disabled' and many people are fighting battles within their own bodies which you know nothing about so be kind, always! And feel free to tell someone they look great but please never ever tell them they look well!

#InvisibleDisability #InvisibleIllness #InvisibleIllnessAwareness #BabeWithAMobilityAid #DisabilityEducation