Living with Invisible Disabilities | Invisible No More Campaign

We envision a world where people living with illness, pain and disability will be Invisible No More! The Invisible No More!® Campaign is Sponsored by the Invisible Disabilities Association.

Often people battling various mild to severe debilitating conditions are told they, "Don't LOOK" sick or in pain. Because others cannot see their fatigue, cognitive dysfunctions, mental disorders or pain, they often do not believe the symptoms are real or think the person must be exaggerating. Contending with symptoms, doctor appointments, therapies, medical bills and losses can be overwhelming enough without also battling for the support of friends and family.

Believing a loved one when they say they are sick or in pain is the most important thing we can do. Just because we can't see from the outside, what they are battling on the inside, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Belief, validation and support can give a friend or family member the strength they need to continue the fight!

Therefore, the Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA) is bringing awareness, compassion and belief to millions living with debilitating conditions, shining a light on the "invisible." Let's Envision a World Where People Living with Illness, Pain and Disabilities Will Be Invisible No More!

Thank you to all of the incredible people who have participated in this eye-opening campaign! Check out our channel to watch 11 featured stories and many more!

Together we can make a difference in your community and around the globe!

The IDA Team
Invisible Disabilities Association

IDA's mission is to encourage, educate and connect people and organizations touched by illness, pain and disability around the globe. We bring awareness, education and support through our websites, books, pamphlets, articles, radio interviews, television interviews and more! We have produced over 200 YouTube videos highlighting conferences, personal stories, individuals and organizations making a difference! We have special events such as the Annual Honor Awards and Brain IDEAS Symposiums, as well as programs such as the National Disability ID Initiative, Invisible No More Show, Invisible Disabilities Week, Invisible No More Campaign, Cleaner Indoor Air Campaign, Programs 4 People and Invisible Heroes. We also host the Invisible Disabilities Community, Meetups and we are present on other social media!

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[Lakewolf]

Everything said to these people was said to me:Get Up!...Quit being lazy!...You're fine---you just won't work!"

That last comment hit me hard.In 2000, I was (retroactively) diagnosed with fibromyalgia caused by walking 5 miles in waist-deep snow, then, after I was thawed out & wet, being sent out to shovel snow.

My uncle called me a cab, & graciously paid the fare. When I got to my building, I attempted to climb the stairs...but my left knee would not bend. I ended up going to my 3rd floor apartment on my rear. After 3 days of (unpaid) recuperation, I returned to work, only to find I STILL could not climbed the stairs.

Long story (cut) short, I worked with this in jobs that required constant physical activity . My working life (60 hrs/wk minimum) lasted exactly 18 years. When I counted up the hours & divided them by 40, then divided by 52, I discovered I'd worked as many hours as a 70 year old person would have working a regular 40 hour workweek.

When I discovered I couldn't work anymore, I attempted suicide five times. I say "attempted", because during each attempt my mom would call me & say "I just had a really bad feeling about you---are you ok? "

I of course then had to call an ambulance, or she would have.

19 yrs later, I;m on SSD with a list of disorders WAY too long to write down. My mom & I became close for the first time during our lives ( which had always been her greatest wish), having taken me in & gotten me help, so, in a very true way, I thank God for my disabilities, because I was allowed to get close to her, and, when she became ill, to be a medical POA, as fierce as a rabid wolf  towards doctors who ill- or mis-treated her.

I also had the privilege, while staying overnight in her hospital room, to hear her say to me, "When you're with me, I feel completely safe. I know no harm can come to me as long as you're around."

 I was with her when she died, along with my spouse & my best friend (who was, no matter who likes it or not, the"favoured" daughter.) Her obit listed these two as her daughters along with me.I never held a funeral or memorial service for her, because people who barely know the deceased usually show up, & I didn't want to go to jail for assault & battery.

That last sentence is more honest than you can know. I would've hurt these people for abandoning her whwn she was still alive.

In accordance with her wishes, I mingled my cat's ashes with hers (though she never liked cats, she called him her " Treasure"), and sprinkled them over the Gulf of Mexico.

This post was a lot longer than I intended it to be. As I write these words, I write them through tears. I guess I REALLY miss my mom---and my cat.

Thanks for reading this far, if you have.May Yahweh bless you all the days & nights of your lives. May He make His Face to shine upon you---and give you the peace that passeth all understanding.

I love you all.
--LW

[triptoheaveandho]

thank you ot hjelps to know there are many others

[liguefrancaisecontrelascle]

Merci pour ces témoignages sincères et touchants. Les symptômes invisibles... une problématique que connaissent bien les malades atteints de sclérose en plaques ! 

[Timerdude]

thank you....for being there...and helping others to be strong, and helping me, the most.

[lifelieswaiting]

A particularly brutal invisible disability is something called the benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. Besides being invisible, almost no one's heard of it and when you try to explain it, people just think you're a drug addict. SSRIs and other meds can also have a brutal discontinuation syndrome. Also not recognized are people who've been "floxed" (damaged by fluoroquinolone antibiotics). And the Lymies don't get nearly enough respect. So respect to everyone, whatever you're battling.

[Penlady]

@invisiblenomoretv YIPPEEE!! Took 18 hours of work but got Flash Player working, and this is a great video. All of us with Invisible illness (II) have been told we are faking or exaggerating or lazy. I've become a hermit because of that and the illness, but I think the social part of II is harder than the physical part, and the physical part is often unbearable.

[DysautonomiaMD]

This is amazing and quite an emotional testimony! You are Impacting Lives and changing the world with all that you do!!! LoLv.

[debradebbiedeb]

yay! i seeee all of you! :o) Virtual Hugs to you all!!!! deb

[InvisibleNoMore]

@Penlady5 We are so glad you got it working!

[InvisibleNoMore]

@debradebbiedeb So glad you joined us!

[InvisibleNoMore]

@DysautonomiaMD Awareness is the key and sharing true stories can help people have a bit of a better understanding.

[AbiliTV]

AWESOME Channel! I have BiPolar, ADHD, and chronic back pain that leaves me in need of a wheelchair... I have heard nearly all of the lame sayings: You brought this on yourself, You just LOVE attention, Your to young for these things, but you look fine to me...
In 2013 very soon I start a roll in my manual wheelchair from Indiana, out to San Diego to cover topics like this and more... Since when does disability have age requirements? When does it select who is or is not effected?

[MaseryStar]

Thank you for the website and videos. I have many types of disabilities considered hidden, a genetic disorder that made other medical complications happen, and I too found that people thought I needed an "attitude adjustment" or my doctors thought I just complained too much.

[annaroberts]

Thank you for the video and for all the work you do. Life with Invisible Illness and Chronic Pain is thoroughly exhausting...physically and emotionally. For me, each day is a struggle to stay here and fight.  Some people in my life just don't get it, and that only adds to the struggle. But, I will continue on as long as I can. There are miracles, aren't there?

[InvisibleNoMore]

@DebraJorgensen We are so sorry to hear about all you have been through and continue to go through. We would love for you to submit your story!

[InvisibleNoMore]

NEW! Join us for the Invisible No More Show! Watch our #InvisibleNoMoreShow episodes on our web page at: www.InvisibleNoMore.Show! You can also watch on our #InvisibleNoMore YouTube Channel at: www.InvisibleNoMore.TV! SUBSCRIBE!

[InvisibleNoMore]

@Penlady5 This is the first we have heard this. We hope fellow YouTubers can give a tip here? You may want to search for the answer online in the meantime (if you haven't already). So sorry!

[Penlady]

Gosh, I want to watch this, but have a problem. I have adobe flash 11, and this gives me an error message to update to adobe flash 10 or more. I already have it, so how do I get youtube to work? Maybe some others who read these comments can help me.