Shocking posts by Bella Hadid about her chronic illness…and a poignant message about medical anxiety

International supermodel Bella Hadid spoke about her ongoing battle with Lyme disease, through a series of posts, in which she reflected some of the daily difficulties she experiences.

Hadid appeared mocking the superficial view that some people show towards chronic diseases, without adding any comment. She then reposted an influencer’s message about what she called “the duality of chronic illness,” commenting: “Medical anxiety is very real… Thank you for putting all my daily thoughts into words.”

Bella’s messages come after months of health problems. Last September, she posted pictures of herself from inside the hospital, and wrote at the time: “I’m sorry for my constant absence… I love you all.” Shortly after, she shared photos of her gradual return to exercise, saying that she had begun to regain her stamina.

Despite her medical journey, Bella returned to the runways, where she recently appeared in the Saint Laurent show during Paris Fashion Week.

For her part, her mother, Yolanda Hadid, spoke about the difficulty of seeing her daughter suffer “in silence,” and described the experience as “an unknown hell,” stressing that Bella was a “warrior” who faced debilitating symptoms, including joint pain, brain fog, anxiety, and extreme fatigue.