Invisible Disabilities Week: What You Can’t See Can Still Hurt

This week marks Invisible Disabilities Week, a time dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of conditions that are not immediately obvious to others. These conditions can range from chronic pain and mental health issues to autoimmune diseases and, more recently, Long Covid. The unifying reality of these experiences is that what you can’t see can still hurt — often more than people realise.

When we think of disability, we tend to imagine something visible—a physical impairment, someone using a wheelchair, or other outward signs of illness. However, invisible disabilities are just as real and, sadly, often far more misunderstood. Long Covid, a condition affecting millions in the UK alone, highlights this issue. Despite appearing outwardly healthy, many people with Long Covid continue to experience debilitating symptoms such as extreme fatigue, cognitive impairment, stomach issues joint pain, and breathing difficulties, sometimes months or even years after the initial infection.

Appearance can be misleading, and this misconception is embedded in our day-to-day approach to life. For those with Long Covid or other invisible conditions, casual comments can be unintentionally damaging. Hearing remarks like, “You look well!”, or, “Well you look alright!” might sound encouraging, but for someone battling relentless symptoms, it can feel like their struggles are being dismissed. The well meaning opinion that they seem healthy on the outside doesn’t reflect the reality of the internal fight people can face daily. While these comments are often said with kindness, they can reinforce feelings of isolation and disbelief about the severity of someone’s condition.

Similarly, the frequent question, “Are you better yet?” can be incredibly demoralising. Conditions like diabetes, lupus, heart disease, and cancer are often considered invisible illnesses, yet justifiably no one would question the limitations of someone living with these diseases. For many living with chronic conditions like Long Covid, recovery isn’t linear, and there may be no clear end in sight. Living with a fluctuating illness—where one day may be bearable and the next brings a severe relapse—makes it impossible to define when, or even if, they will feel fully "better." The pressure to recover, or to explain why they haven’t, can add an exhausting emotional burden to an already challenging situation.

The truth about invisible illnesses is that they often have no cure and no quick fix. Managing symptoms and adjusting to a new way of living becomes a daily challenge. What you can’t see are the hidden struggles: the regular rests needed just to make it through the day, the mental fog that makes simple tasks overwhelming, or the constant anxiety of not knowing when, or if, things will improve.

Invisible Disabilities Week reminds us that our compassion must extend beyond what is visible. Just because someone doesn’t wear a cast or use a walking aide doesn’t mean they aren’t in pain or struggling. A person living with Long Covid may smile and say, “I’m fine,” but that doesn’t mean they aren’t battling a host of invisible challenges beneath the surface. It may simply be that it’s easier to say, ‘I’m fine’ rather than have to explain how they really feel.

So, what can we do to better support those with invisible disabilities like Long Covid? It starts with how we communicate. Instead of assuming someone’s appearance tells the whole story, we can ask open, supportive questions like, “How are you feeling today?” or “Is there anything I can do to help?” These small shifts in language acknowledge that recovery isn’t straightforward and that some chronic conditions fluctuate from day to day, or even hour by hour. Crucially, the most important thing is to validate someone’s experience without diminishing their pain and often the amount they are struggling.

As we mark Invisible Disabilities Week, let’s remember that what you can’t see can still hurt. Whether it’s Long Covid or another chronic condition, those living with invisible disabilities need our understanding, patience, and, most of all, our compassion. By choosing our words more carefully and educating ourselves about the unseen struggles others face, we can help create a more inclusive and supportive society for everyone.