Understanding and accepting the reality of hidden disability

In the UK, 1 in 5 of us are currently living with a disability. 80% of these disabilities are hidden. Because, while it might be obvious that the person in the wheelchair suffers from a disability, not all disabilities make themselves as immediately apparent.

What is a hidden disability?

A hidden disability refers to any disability that is not immediately obvious to others. Because you might not require any assistance or look particularly unwell but that doesn’t mean you’re not suffering. Indeed, it can be detrimental to those suffering from a hidden disability if they are not acknowledged.

What kind of hidden disabilities are there?

There are lots of different types of disability, some of which you’ve probably already heard of and some of which you probably haven’t. Perhaps the most common disabilities, which encompasses a wide range of challenges, are mental illness and chronic pain.

Mental illness – Mental health problems can manifest themselves in a multitude of ways. From depression and anxiety to more severe problems such as schizophrenia and major attention deficit disorder, there is a wide spectrum of mental health problems that might make it difficult for a person to function in the modern world.

Chronic pain – Just because a person is in pain, they might not necessarily be showing it off to the outside world. A person could be experiencing pain from an injury or could even be suffering from an illness such as fibromyalgia, which causes chronic pain for no discernible reason. Chronic fatigue is another potential disability that is often linked  to chronic pain.

The vast majority of invisible illnesses can be grouped under these two umbrellas but how do you help support those who are suffering without coming across as patronising?

How to support those with hidden disabilities

For those with more visual disabilities, the solution is often more apparent. For example, the wheelchair user might require a wheelchair accessible vehicle and the blind person will require a walking stick or guide dog. But for somebody suffering from crippling anxiety, there is no obvious solution. There are, however, ways to support those with hidden disabilities and cultivate a more inclusive society.

• Don’t make a scene if you think you’ve said the wrong thing. If anything you’re probably just making things worse by drawing attention to it. But don’t downplay it either.
• Don’t expect them to fit into your traditional standards of “how a person should behave.”
• Believe people when they tell you they are in pain.
• Ask them what they need from you and don’t assume they need anything.
• Develop and build on your understanding of hidden disabilities with reading and research.
• Don’t expect people to immediately disclose their disabilities to you just because you ask.