You Don’t Look Disabled

Five years ago, a nurse walked past my room in the ICU after my stroke and said, “You belong here.” My outward appearance didn’t match the seriousness of your medical condition. That moment became significant in shaping my understanding of invisible illnesses. It was my first glimpse of what I would encounter repeatedly—people believe what they can see. Living with a central vestibular disability and chronic pain created a strange internal negotiation. If people see me laughing, creating, enjoying my life, or simply having a good day, will they think I'm not suffering? A photograph captures the smile, but doesn’t capture the work it took to get it on my face or the fatigue and pain after everyone goes home. In this episode, I talk about the pressure I've sometimes felt to look "sick enough" to be believed, what my stroke recovery has taught me about living with things others can't see, and why I don't have to prove my pain exists. I can laugh while my head hurts, be grateful while grieving what I've lost, and love my life while wishing parts of it were different. My disability doesn't disappear when I'm happy, and I don't have to have a cure to allow myself to live.Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:Rather listen on Apple Podcasts? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recovery-daily-podcast/id1693924779Visit my Recovery Upcycling Etsy shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/RecoveryUpcycling