You may be living with an undiagnosed chronic illness.
Many of us are aware that we’re living with a chronic condition due to diagnoses and/or oppressive symptoms.
But beyond diagnosed conditions like autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular or endocrine issues, and reproductive health diseases, other health disorders like obesity, anxiety, ADHD, and even severe PMS run rampant. Equally as common are subtle symptoms like fatigue, pain, and cognitive dysfunction that disrupt daily functioning. Still yet are lesser-known conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and POTS that plague undiagnosed, suffering women.
All of these issues profoundly affect daily life, yet they are rarely framed as chronic illnesses in need of real support.
A shocking 51% of adult women in the US live with at least one chronic health condition.
We begin to regard certain conditions as routine, minimizing their life-limiting effects. Flare ups, relapses and constantly "pushing through” exhaustion become normalized. The physical and mental toll can feel lonely when friends don’t understand the cyclical nature of chronic disease. Invisible symptoms lead to feeling dismissed or like you have to prove your suffering.
We think it’s literal madness for a woman to be pushing through life feeling sick with no clear answers as to why and no one to talk to who understands.
Yet medicine gravely lacks research into these widespread illnesses that debilitate millions: only 4% of clinical studies focus specifically on health issues in women's bodies.
This glaring data gap contributes to lack of medical recognition for many chronic conditions. Without robust research, diseases prevalent among women remain poorly understood, leading to inadequate care, treatment and support.
At FeelBetr, we’re working to help close this chasm by elevating the conversation and narratives around women’s unheard health experiences.