People have one view of what illness looks like.
[Many people] with an invisible illness just dont get acknowledged.
But this doesnt make their health repercussions any less serious.
Many chronic diseasesweaken the immune system, making it easier to catch COVID-19.
Unfortunately, getting a diagnosis from a doctortherefore legitimizing ones spot in lineis often a hard-fought battle.
A diagnosis can be more difficult to attain for women and, particularly, women of color.
chronic illness advocate and the founder of The Chronicon Community
Theyre essentially forced to prove that theyre disabled enough to warrant help.
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
One example is people who experience chronic fatigue, Chopra says.
There are many times when they are literally too exhausted to work.
But this is often judged as being lazy or irresponsible, she says.
Chopra says this is something she experienced while waiting in line to vote during the most recent presidential election.
I heard people say, Why is she in that line?
She doesnt have a disability,' she says.
Now people with invisible illnesses are facing the same thing with the vaccine.
chronic illness advocate and the founder of The Chronicon Community
Theres so much shame and questioning.
This community, at the very least, deserves to be taken seriously by health-care providers, says Chopra.
Why is it taking decades for someone to get a diagnosis?
I think there needs to be a [visual] showing two people.
One is on a ventilator and the other person is standing and looks completely fine.
I think the government should put out posters showing that.
There needs to be more education.
There needs to be a global shift in how people talk about us and treat us, Chopra says.
We just want to be seen.
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