Bella Hadid shares tearful health update on 'debilitating' disease which affects several celebrities
Bella Hadid has taken to Instagram to share a tearful health update with fans about her Lyme disease diagnosis.
Earlier this week, on Thursday (25 June), the 29-year-old model took to her Instagram Stories to share several snaps about a recent flare-up related to the disease - a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks.
Several other celebrities have likewise been diagnosed with Lyme disease, including Shania Twain, Alec Baldwin, Kelly Osbourne, Avril Lavigne, and Justin Timberlake, as well as Bella's mum, Yolanda, and brother, Anwar, just to name a few.
Bella, who got diagnosed back in 2012, started with a lengthy text post describing how 'intimidating' it can be to explain the pain, exhaustion, fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, infections and trauma she experiences.
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She added that the symptoms often lead 'to severe isolation and depression, especially over long periods of time'.
"Especially when you try anything you can," she continued, explaining that she's spent time reading books and personal stories to better understand her condition and symptoms, but still faces frustrating setbacks.
"You demand answers that no one can find. You fight. You finally have a few good days. You think you've found the right protocol, the right routine, the right treatment... and then a flare-up comes back and all of a sudden nothing feels certain again."
Bella went on to say flare-ups often force her to cancel plans and leave her unable to commit to anything because she 'never' knows how she'll feel from one day to the next.
"You wake up with anxiety already living in your body," she wrote. "Physical pain before your feet even touch the floor....And somehow, still have to find the strength to move through another day in a body and mind that are completely exhausted."
She also reflected on how she's become used to hiding what she's going through, sharing: "Sometimes it feels like unless you've lived something like this, or loved someone who has, it's impossible to fully understand."
Offering encouragement to others facing similar struggles, she reminded followers that 'there is light, even if you can't see it today... There is hope,' before sharing the words she turns to during her hardest moments.
"As so many have said..I have to remind myself that healing isn't linear...I believe God puts before us, somehow, only what we are capable of carrying, even when we don't understand why at the time," she wrote, adding that there's a "deeper purpose to all things in life."
Although she admitted the journey is difficult, Bella said she believes 'every hardship leaves us with a lesson, a deeper compassion, or a strength we never knew we had'.
"It leads us to the places and people and experience we have now.. I have so much gratitude for life, but without living in a body that has more rough days than good," she continued. "It's hard to find joy or purpose or reason to even go outside...but we will keep trying! always!"
She wrapped up the message with a heartfelt reminder for anyone going through a difficult time: "You are loved. You are needed. Your life has purpose. And you will make it through every season life puts you through...love you and hold you deeply."
Bella later posted a tearful close-up selfie, revealing she still couldn't 'shake off' the flare-up, adding that she'd slept for 11 hours and continued needing naps throughout the day.
"Took every protocol from any and every doctor I've seen. Still nothing helping," she wrote, before joking that she'd 'diagnosed myself with 12 other things, so that's good'.
She added that she 'was out of breath walking to the kitchen'.
"I don't think there's a singular brain cell in there working and my last two are beefing with each other," she continued. "I took a shower without fainting tho... so again, if you know you know....that felt like a really big accomplishment for me today."
Bella finished by sharing two Instagram Reels from content creator Oliver George, who uses humour to highlight the realities of living with chronic illness, including constant exhaustion and the ongoing challenge of managing symptoms.
In her latest update shared today (26 June), Bella wrote: "I'm sorry if I worried anyone.
"I know it sounds jarring, but in full truth, it's my reality, so it's something I'm able to cope with to a capacity now. I'm sorry if I startled anyone. This truly is an everyday ebb and flow, for me, for the past 15 years.
"I just had an overwhelming amount of emotion over not being able to do the things my mind is capable of setting, but my body is not capable of doing
"Every day is a new day, and tomorrow I'm hoping for God willing a better one. I love you guys so much. Thank you for all of your support. I wasn't expecting it, but I'm truly grateful. Love you guys so much."
Topics: Bella Hadid, Celebrity, Health
Rhiannon Ingle