We don’t know what people on social media, movies, tv, or the runway are going through and one great example of that is top model Bella Hadid. We might see her stunningly walking the runways, or posing on gorgeous fashion shoots, but like many people in the world, outside the spotlight and behind closed doors, things might be quite different and painful.
Bella Hadid has spoken up about dealing with Lyme disease in the past years. The supermodel was diagnosed in 2013 when she was just a teenager and has shared some of the painful moments of her disease in the past. However, she now shared some valuable lessons we can all learn from.
Bella Hadid’s Journey with Lyme Disease
In a very lengthy Instagram post, Bella Hadid shared some photos of what it’s like to live with Lyme disease. She opened up by addressing her young self and expressing how proud she feels for not giving up on herself: “The little me that suffered would be so proud of grown me for not giving up on myself.”
Then she expands on how hard it’s been living in a state that keeps “worsening with time and work while trying to make myself, my family, and the people who support me, proud.” Although many of us might not relate to that specific condition, we can all share with her the toll it can have to deal with something personal while still trying to keep up with everyone’s expectations, call it family, work, school, or simply our social life.
For all her fans struggling she shared an encouraging message: “The universe works in the most painful and beautiful ways, but I need to say that if you are struggling- it will get better. I promise. Take a step away, stay strong, have faith in your path, walk in your truth, and the clouds will start to clear up.”
She closed her post by thanking all the people who have helped her throughout this 15-year painful journey, including her doctors, her work team, the companies she’s worked for, her fans, and her family. Her mother Yolanda, and her brother Anwar Hadid, have also shared the excruciating experience.
What Is Lyme Disease?
As explained by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lyme disease is one of the most common vector-borne diseases in the United States. It’s a disease caused by the bite of ticks infected by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
Most commonly, Lyme disease includes symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, and skin rash. However, if it’s left untreated the infection can spread to the joints, the nervous system, and the heart causing much more painful symptoms and conditions.
When diagnosed early, the standard treatment for Lyme disease is a course of antibiotics that can successfully eradicate the infection. However, there are cases of chronic Lyme disease when the infection is not diagnosed and treated early in which the spirochetes with the infection can spread throughout the body and go in hiding for weeks, months, and even years.
Patients like Bella Hadid can continue to feel excruciating pain, fatigue, brain and nervous system complications, muscle, and joint pain, issues with the heart and circulation system, digestive problems, skin rashes, affectations in the reproductive system, and even experience cognitive difficulties for years. Although it’s not constant, symptoms can appear and disappear with time.
