Introduction

Meet Jane, a woman in her thirties who lives with an invisible disability. She has multiple sclerosis, a condition that affects the central nervous system, causing problems with movement, balance, and vision. Due to the progressive nature of her condition, Jane no longer goes outside for a job, but her life is as busy and fulfilling as ever.

Morning

Jane’s day starts slowly. The stiffness and fatigue that come with multiple sclerosis mean that she needs to take her time getting up and moving. She starts with simple stretches to loosen up her muscles and then she heads to the kitchen. Breakfast is a smoothie, packed with nutrients to fuel her day.

Working from Home

Jane may not leave the house for work, but she certainly works. She runs a successful blog and podcast about living with an invisible disability, reaching thousands of people worldwide. She spends her morning responding to emails, planning content, and recording episodes. Her work is deeply fulfilling, allowing her to connect with others who are experiencing similar challenges.

Afternoon

After a light lunch, Jane takes a rest. Fatigue is a common symptom of her condition, and she has learned that managing her energy is crucial. Following her rest, she spends the afternoon editing her podcast and writing blog posts. She also allocates time to engage with her community, replying to comments and messages.

Evening

Jane uses technology to order groceries and other necessities that get delivered to her door. Cooking is a creative outlet for her. She prepares her meal, ensuring that it’s balanced and nutritious to manage her symptoms. After dinner, she usually has a video call with friends or family, keeping her social life active even though she can’t go out often.

Night

Jane ends her day with some light yoga, which helps manage her symptoms and relax her body before bed. She then unwinds with a book or a movie before heading to bed, ready to do it all again the next day.

Conclusion

Jane’s life might be different from what she envisioned before her diagnosis, but it is by no means less fulfilling. She has carved out a life that not only allows her to manage her invisible disability but also enables her to reach out and support others in similar situations. Her story is a powerful reminder that living with an invisible disability doesn’t mean living a limited life. It just means finding new ways to live fully.

If you are interested in supporting women such as Jane (not real name), head on over to https://invisiblewarriors.org and find there the link to donate. OR you can send Nancy a message at nancy@invisiblewarriors.org to talk about other ways to support (volunteer, provide in-kind services, etc.) to the over 133 million women that live with the challenges of chronic and autoimmune invisible disabilities.

This post was written by Nancy Becher. Nancy Becher is a business consultant for over 40 years, received a Masters in Counseling and a PhD (abd) from Western Michigan University. Recently she founded a nonprofit, Invisible Warriors  helping to address health inequalities, improve experiences of navigating healthcare services and supporting women who live with diverse physical and mental health conditions. Most recently she has earned the title of International #1 best seller author and as Huntsville AL best in service for healthcare consultant.