"But You Don't Look Sick": The Invisible Reality of Living with ITP

ITP is often called an “invisible illness”, and for many patients, the hardest battles are the ones no one else can see. In this episode of Beyond the Count, Danielle speaks with longtime volunteer and ITP patient, Stassi Austin, about the emotional and physical realities that rarely show on the outside.Together, they explore what it feels like to hear “But you don’t look sick,” the exhaustion of constantly explaining a rare disease, and the hidden symptoms that shape daily life, from fatigue and bruising to anxiety, cognitive fog, and the mental load of always being on alert.Stassi shares her lived experience with honesty and humour, offering insight into the invisible challenges many patients face and the pressure to appear “fine” even when everything hurts.This episode is a reminder that invisible does not mean imaginary, and that every person living with ITP deserves to be believed, supported, and understood.Keywords: ITP, invisible illness, chronic illness, fatigue, bruising, mental health, rare disease, patient stories, emotional wellbeing, autoimmune diseaseSupport the showThanks for listening to Beyond the CountFor more information, resources and lived experiences about Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP), visit ITPANZ.org.au.📱 Follow us on social media:Instagram: @ITP_ANZFacebook: facebook.com/ITPANZ LinkedIn: ITP Australia & New ZealandYouTube: @ITPANZ🎧 Subscribe to Beyond the Count on your preferred podcast platform so you never miss an episode.Do you have feedback or a story to share? We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at [email protected]