What Does It Mean to Have an Invisible Condition?

Citation

Cage E & Serbic D (eds.) (2021) What Does It Mean to Have an Invisible Condition?. Frontiers for Young Minds. Lausanne, Switzerland: Frontiers Media SA. https://kids.frontiersin.org/collections/8823/what-does-it-mean-to-have-an-invisible-condition; https://doi.org/10.3389/978-2-88971-796-5

Abstract
There are many people who experience invisible, and often undiagnosed, disabilities and conditions which affect their everyday lives. On the surface, it might not be immediately obvious that someone perhaps has a different way of thinking, experiencing or processing the world around them. Having an invisible disability usually means that it is difficult to provide concrete, visible evidence for it and it can be perceived as ‘not real’ by other people. Indeed, some individuals can often be made to feel they are not good enough, and may end up masking or hiding their difficulties in order to just get by in day-to-day life without being judged. In this collection, we introduce and educate Young Minds about a range of “invisible” conditions, for example mental health conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, autism, chronic pain conditions, intellectual disabilities, stuttering, and many others. We also highlight some of the wider challenges faced within society, such as the lack of understanding from other people, and discuss how Young Minds can potentially support their friends and family who might be experiencing some of these disabilities or conditions. This collection covers what Young Minds could learn about what it means to have an invisible condition and how it can impact on relationships, education, thinking, communication, emotions, behaviours, and generally navigating everyday life. Further, some people might be unwilling to seek help and share their concerns with others, because they are worried that others don’t really understand what life is like for them. We hope that this collection helps those without an invisible condition to think carefully about how they can make the world a more supportive and inclusive place for everyone.