Bella Hadid opens up about Lyme disease and chronic illness struggles

Bella Hadid shared emotional update on living with Lyme disease, describing physical and mental impact of flare-up

Bella Hadid has shared an emotional update about living with Lyme disease, opening up about the physical and mental challenges of dealing with a recent chronic illness flare-up.

The 29-year-old model posted a series of messages on her Instagram Stories, describing the difficulties of living with ongoing symptoms including pain, exhaustion, fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, infections and trauma.

She said these experiences can lead "to severe isolation and depression, especially over long periods of time."

Hadid explained how unpredictable flare-ups can be despite trying different treatments and routines.

"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 also said the uncertainty affects her daily life, forcing her to cancel plans because she never knows how she will feel.

"You wake up with anxiety already living in your body. 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."

Addressing others living with chronic illnesses, Hadid offered words of encouragement, writing, "You are loved. You are needed. Your life has purpose. And you will make it through every season life puts you through."

In later posts, Hadid shared a tearful selfie and revealed she was still struggling with the flare-up.

She wrote that she had slept for 11 hours but continued needing naps, adding, "Took every protocol from any and every doctor I've seen. Still nothing helping."

She also said she was "out of breath walking to the kitchen" and joked, "I don't think there's a singular brain cell in there working and my last two are beefing with each other."