30 Times People Who Suffer Non-Obvious Illness Reveal Why Others Got Angry With Them
The best way forward is to be as kind as you can to everyone you meet
Some people get judged for illnesses nobody can see, and that can make everyday life even harder. In this Reddit thread, people with non-obvious medical conditions shared the moments when others got angry with them, misunderstood them, or assumed they were being difficult.
The stories range from PTSD and Crohn's disease to autism, chronic pain, and rare disorders, and the common thread is frustration over invisible symptoms. Friends, family members, coworkers, and strangers all show up in these posts, often reacting badly to things the person cannot control.
Read on for the full thread, and the reactions that made these conditions even more exhausting.
A redditor asked:
u/limeyshark1. PTSD
SeveralFools, Brian Lundquist2. Crohn's disease
candmjjjc, drian Swancar
3. ADHD
That kind of misunderstanding shows up again and again.
lurklurklurkPOST, Robina Weermeijer
4. Migraines
wildonthefrontier, Matteo Vistocco
5. Celiac disease
MollFlanders, Julia Tsukurova
6. Arthritis
And the comments keep getting more personal.
PossessionNo6878, Towfiqu barbhuiya
7. Memory problem
Boring_Blueberry_420, arritos Mexican Soda
8. Autism
ihaveteafortea, Alexander Grey
9. Depression
burntbtoast
10. POTS
odysseyshot, Mufid Majnun
11. Diagnosed Agoraphobia
dissapointingsex, Jake Weirick
12. Autistic
Some of these replies hit especially hard.
This is similar to the AITA fight over adopting a dog when a partner is allergic.
blackesthearted, Elia Pellegrini
13. Medical Conditions
Hold down a job. I've got a triple threat of medical conditions: epilepsy, diabetes, and Asperger's. My parents see me only through my physical appearance; my dad has even stated that it's because I'm part of a generation that wants instant gratification and all the millennial stereotypes. My mom thinks I'm just playing a sad sob story as an excuse not to work hard. But the thing is, I try my damned best to do what I do. I mean, I can't earn over a certain amount or my social security stops, so I take the role of house husband and do all the chores—cook, clean, grocery shop, etc. But my parents think it's me being lazy.And I'll be the first to admit I've never been good at holding a job. Between the depression from being torn away from my hometown and friends without even being allowed to get phone numbers to say goodbye, and the epilepsy that made it nearly impossible for me to get my driver's license, I decided being a homemaker would be my best course of action. But of course, nothing will ever be good enough for them. They hold every mistake I make over my head. As Dr. Susan David, an emotional agility expert, states, "Emotional agility is about being flexible with your thoughts and feelings so that you can respond optimally to everyday situations." It sucks. I can't even afford a service animal to help me with my epilepsy/seizures.- Dr. Susan David
Tony Tran
14. Severe Endometriosis
HowlingKitten07
15. Connective tissue disorder
ForsakenPercentage53
16. Acute Leukemia
justmanny_beingmanny
17. Combo disorder depression
angroro
18. Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder
Craicpot7, Kinga Cichewicz
19. Chronic bladder and kidney infections
t1nydancers, Towfiqu barbhuiya
20. ME/CFS Club
The thread keeps stacking up examples of the same problem.
Mysterious_Sugar7220
21. Psoriatic arthritis
I have psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia. Just recently diagnosed but have been dealing with the pain and fatigue for years. I get a ton of judgment because my husband is “Mr. Mom” and takes on a ton of the parenting duties for our toddler, especially when we are out of the home.He doesn’t care - a) he’s an equal parent by choice, and b) it’s an agreement we’ve made, that with all of the energy it takes me to even get us out of the house and socialize…he primarily manages the parenting once we get there…but people see a dad being the primary parent and the judgments are plain as day on their faces. As Dr. Terri Orbuch, a relationship researcher, states, “It’s important for couples to communicate openly about their roles and support each other against societal judgments.” Now that I finally have a diagnosis, those sideways comments from my own mom implying that I was lazy have stopped.- Dr. Terri Orbuch
Klara Kulikova
22. Stuttering
SammyCCFC, Jessica Da Rosa
23. Asthma
Amaranth-13, Sincerely Media
24. Broken shoulder
Carl__Gordon_Jenkins
25. Social anxiety
Shynosaur
26. Dyspraxia
a-jm93, Ethan Sykes
27. Chondropathy
LTKerr, Lindsay Henwood
28. Borderline personality disorder
By now, the pattern is impossible to miss.
neuroticfledgling, Kayla Koss
29. Serious back condition
automatorsassemble, Afif Kusuma
30. Erythromelalgia
padi_cake
The degree of daily chronic pain and discomfort some people may experience is another factor. The best course of action is to be as kind as you can be to everyone you meet.
Feel free to clarify any medical conditions in the comments that you feel are being misconstrued or perceived incorrectly so that everyone can learn more.
Want the family fairness debate that sparked arguments, see whether parents should repay loans after covering expenses.
