Mental illnesses as an Invisible disability Forum Discussion
In Support of Mental Health awareness i figured id start doing discussions on the forum for disability how this will work every 2 days ill post a new question these are usually done in group support but i wish to include those who dont like group support and or it can get too fast for you etc.
once this discussion reaches its end ill start a new topic we can choose one together theirs 63 of them :)
so lets get started shall we in 2 days time ill post the next q
lets begin with an icebreaker shall we?
Icebreaker
What was the best thing that happened to you this past week?
I met an old friend and it was so unexpected!
@richyShiny39 thats awesome you got to see an old friend what happened ?
@CaringBrit
I found an old relic from my great grandpa. What was the greatest thing that happened to you this week caringbrit?
@IluvBiscuits becoming an ATL so i can now help teens that was the greatest thng that happened to me this week.
what was the relic you found ?
@CaringBrit it was my great grandfathers bayonet from ww1
@IluvBiscuits awesome :) something to treasure for sure
Caringbritt, well I just was really lonely and I was happy that I could be able to have someone who has known me since I was in grade school show up.It felt refreshing because being disabled I don't get to see my old friends much?
@richyShiny39 I'm glad to meet everyone
@richyShiny39 aww well im glad you had time to see old friends richy
@richyShiny39 Im glad to have found this forum. :) The communities can get pretty cruel. This though? Very refreshing.
time for our next question for the next 2 days then lovely responses we have had so far and if anyone new wishes to join on the previous questions you still can and ill respond :) lets move onto the topic questions now
Question 1
Our discussion today focuses on mental illnesses as an invisible disability. Lets start off by defining what is an invisible illness?
tagging those who participated in the last question @TheLifeOfKelli @richyShiny39 @IluvBiscuits @mariesd123
@CaringBrit good question Brit! I'll let community answer this.
@kindSoul10 ty every 2 days ill be posting a new one im using our discussions we usually do in group support to bring them here for those that find those to fast
@CaringBrit good thinking. I'm sure people will benefit
@CaringBrit
I'd say an invisible illness is anything that is a disability on the inside, but not on the outside!
@Emily619 yes indeed its the part people cannot see so an inside disability and welcome on the discussion emily :) your the 5th one to join in :)
@CaringBrit Oh my.... a question Im familiar with. Well, hmm, how to put this.... basically, I look just fine on the surface, but even my blood family cannot tell not understand it. Appearances can be deceiving. Getting dirty looks for a handicapped space? I just shake my head.
@TheLifeOfKelli yes exactly so its everything is not so great in the inside even when it may look fine on the outside looks are decieving
@CaringBrit. Exactly! My body type doesnt help either. Its like Im not as fit as you think...its just my natural body type.
Its more frustrating when it comes to mostly all of my blood family that doesnt understand.
@TheLifeOfKelli aww no tht must be tough when they dont understand
@CaringBrit It really really hard, especially now that Im much older than when diagnosed.
It. Is. SO. Frustrating.
@TheLifeOfKelli i bet it is frustrating too sorry to hear that
For the icebreaker, the highlight of my week was going to my sister's college graduation 
@Emily619 yayy thats awesome emily how did it go ?
@Emily619
tell your sister congratulations 👩🎓
our current question for another day
Question 1
Our discussion today focuses on mental illnesses as an invisible disability. Lets start off by defining what is an invisible illness?
tagging those who participated in the last question @TheLifeOfKelli @richyShiny39 @IluvBiscuits @mariesd123
will extend if not many participants
@CaringBrit I define an invisible illness as an illness or disorder that is not visible to the naked eye. I personally have an invisible disorder, where unless I tell people that I have it, they dont really know that I do, as its well-controlled and also is rather rare in females.
@PinkFloyd65 indeed great definition pink and welcome to the discussion you just got that in as its time for me to post my next q its ben 2 days since i posted it :)
@CaringBrit Thank you so much!
@PinkFloyd65 your welcome
@CaringBrit it seems basic but an illness or disability that is invisible to the naked eye. seeming like your okay on the outside
@caringShoulder14 yes exactly thats a great way of putting it caring and ty for joining us on this discussion :)
well lovely participation everyone its ok if some questions are missed its not to late to read back and reply to those :)
our next question coming up this one will be here for 2 days again before i chane to the next one but if you wish to respond to previous questions your more than welcome too.
Question 2 : Can you think of what are some examples of invisible illnesses? Your answer can be either mental health conditions and physical health conditions. :)
Tagging those who have participated already : @TheLifeOfKelli @richyShiny39 @IluvBiscuits @mariesd123 @Emily619 @KindSoul10 @PinkFloyd65
@CaringBrit well depression is an invisible illness sometimes since people are so good at pretending everything is okay but on the inside theyre breaking down
@caringShoulder14 yes depression is 1 exactly right
@CaringBrit Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, PTSD, and many others.
@PinkFloyd65 I am a person with invisible disabilities.
@PinkFloyd65 yes all those are invisible illnesses thats right
@CaringBrit
I'd say invisible one's are mostly mental; however, there can definitely be physical invisible illnesses as well. Some examples that I can think of off of the top of my head include mild ASD and OCD/AD(H)D 
@Emily619 yes exactly all those are invisible illnesses certainly :)
@CaringBrit those* i cant edit my posts yet even though im a forum supporter and group mod role
@CaringBrit
Fixed your typo 
Only Forum Mentors/Stars/Leaders can edit posts
@Emily619 - Actually, forum supporters are meant to be able to edit their own posts in the areas they support. There's a bit of a bug right now that we're working out, but Brit should be able to edit as needed soon! :)
@CaringBrit i got my apartment clean!
@caringShoulder14 awesome :)
anymore invisible illneses you can think of everyone ?
@CaringBrit Severe Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia. Spinal injury. Back injury.
@TheLifeOfKelli yes indeed although some of those show physical symptoms they are invisible indeed
@CaringBrit I chose alcohol during my mid twenties-33. It was the ultimate cure for agoraphobia. Btw, I no longer drink and dont ever want to go back to at least 22 shots daily. I was never trying to get drunk, I actually couldnt, that was self-medication years.
Backstory on the illness I surprised myself with putting out there... I actually learned to hide my symptoms as a child.
Its easy for me to spot, but with people that dont know what its really like? Thats where I get completely misunderstood.
@TheLifeOfKelli oh i see and ty for sharing kelli
@CaringBrit thank you for reading and responding! 
@TheLifeOfKelli your welcome
well its been 2 days time for a new question but first heres a few more invisible illneses : IBS, diabetes, chronic pain like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, mental illnesses like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia etc
@CaringBrit yes for sure didnt think of some of these
@caringShoulder14 then I'm glad I posted :) after all discussions are great for learning
@CaringBrit
Dyslexia is another one. I also don't think anyone mentioned Multiple Sclerosis, which can be invisible. Even Cerebral Palsy can be mostly invisible in some cases! (I've had people tell me to my face that my son "can't have Cerebral Palsy" and "there's nothing wrong with him." It's frustrating.)
@creativeOak9590
Also SPD!
@creativeOak9590 indeed all those are invisible illnesses and sorry they are saying stuff like that it sure is frustrating