Last month, we celebrated National Invisible Illness week. And with that — we celebrated the “October Slide”. I honestly JUST learned this term from my fellow clients who, too, suffer from chronic illnesses. The slide is when the seasonal changes cause worsening symptoms such as pain, fatigue, trouble hearing, double vision, slurred speech, immune reactions and more.
Due to the increase in flare ups, many of my clients vented about different levels of support they needed to aide in their functioning. Support ranged from having a wheelchair to owning a disability parking tag and other accommodations. Though everyone shared a difference experience, we all each voiced a collective theme… the feeling of being assessed by others who do not understand the ins and outs of their lives. Clients almost feel pressured to prove their need or to go without to avoid the verbal and non-verbal discomfort of others.
Hot take— a person does need to prove their illness for you to respect their needs or visual aides.
Do you or anyone you know have an invisible illness? How many times has someone said “you don’t look sick”?
