Model and entrepreneur Bella Hadid has opened up about the ongoing challenges of living with Lyme disease, sharing an emotional update about the physical and mental toll the chronic illness continues to have on her life.
The 29-year-old took to her Instagram Stories and candidly discussed the pain, exhaustion, anxiety, brain fog, infections and emotional trauma she experiences during flare-ups of the condition. Hadid revealed that these difficult periods often leave her feeling isolated and can trigger depression, particularly when symptoms persist for extended periods.
The supermodel admitted that living with a chronic illness is difficult to explain to those who have never experienced it firsthand. Despite exploring various treatments, conducting extensive research and constantly searching for answers, she said setbacks remain a recurring part of her journey.
“Especially when you try anything you can. 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,” she wrote.
Hadid also spoke about the unpredictability of her condition, explaining that flare-ups frequently force her to cancel plans because she never knows how she will feel from one day to the next.
“You wake up with anxiety already living in your body. Physical pain before your feet even touch the floor…. And somehow, you still have to find the strength to move through another day in a body and mind that are completely exhausted,” she shared.
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The model reflected on how she has learned to conceal much of her emotional struggle because people who have not dealt with chronic illness often find it hard to understand the reality of the experience. Nevertheless, she used her platform to offer encouragement to others facing similar health battles.
“There is light, even if you can’t see it today… There is hope,” she wrote, offering reassurance to those struggling through difficult periods.ย Hadid added that one of the most important lessons she has learned is that recovery is rarely straightforward. She said she continually reminds herself that healing takes time and often involves setbacks along the way.
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“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.
In a lighter moment, the model shared that small comforts still help brighten difficult days. Posting a photograph of herself wearing a Star Wars-themed robe, she joked, “Although this Barefoot Dreams kids poncho does make everything a little better.”
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Hadid also expressed gratitude toward the team behind her fragrance brand, Orebella, saying their unwavering support during challenging times often moves her to tears.
Later, she posted an emotional selfie and revealed that her latest flare-up has been particularly severe. She explained that despite sleeping for 11 hours, taking additional naps and carefully following treatment plans recommended by multiple doctors, she continued to feel unwell.
“Took every protocol from any and every doctor I’ve seen. Still nothing helping,” she wrote.