“I was told my symptoms were too “generic.”
“I was told that my symptoms didn’t add up.”
“I was told both that I was “too young” (age 15 with crippling back pain) and “too old” (with such painful legs I couldn’t bear weight, or ‘growing pains’ as my doctor called them) to be experiencing the level of pain I was feeling.”
“I was told I had anxiety and all of my symptoms were due to stress. My bloodwork and x-rays were clear. I was discharged without further investigations.”
“I was told I had a life-long condition, and discharged without support.”
The frustration from not being believed, having pain or concerns dismissed, constantly coping with pain, fatigue, and other complex and body-wide symptoms can cause distress, depression, and anxiety.
Today is World Mental Health Day, a vital day of awareness. Understanding is needed from both health professionals and wider society of the impact that these symptoms, our diagnosis journeys, and the challenge of coming to terms with living with a chronic condition can have on a person.
If you or someone you know with EDS or HSD is struggling with either their physical symptoms, or with mental health concerns it is important that these are heard, understood, and helped.
Global Mental Health Resources
