Bella Hadid is once again opening up about the difficult reality of living with chronic illness.
The 29-year-old model shared an emotional series of Instagram Stories this week, giving fans a raw look at the physical and mental challenges she faces during a flare-up related to her Lyme disease.
In a lengthy message, Hadid described how symptoms including chronic pain, exhaustion, brain fog, anxiety, infections and trauma can lead to periods of isolation and depression.
“It’s intimidating trying to explain what it feels like,” she wrote, explaining that even after reading countless books, researching treatments and trying different health protocols, flare-ups can return without warning.
“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.”
Living with uncertainty
Hadid said one of the hardest parts of chronic illness is never knowing how she’ll feel from one day to the next.
Because of that uncertainty, she often has to cancel plans and struggles to commit to everyday activities.
“You wake up with anxiety already living in your body,” she wrote. “Physical pain before your feet even touch the floor… And somehow, still have to find the strength to move through another day.”
She added that she has become used to masking how she feels, saying many people don’t fully understand chronic illness unless they’ve experienced it themselves or cared for someone who has.
Finding hope during difficult days
Despite the setbacks, Hadid encouraged others facing similar struggles not to lose hope.
“Healing isn’t linear,” she wrote, adding that she believes every hardship eventually brings a lesson, greater compassion or unexpected strength.
She reminded followers that even on the darkest days, their lives still have meaning.
“You are loved. You are needed. Your life has purpose. And you will make it through every season life puts you through.”
Tearful update
In another emotional post, Hadid shared a close-up selfie showing tears in her eyes while admitting this latest flare-up has been particularly difficult.
“I can’t shake off this flare-up,” she wrote.
She revealed she’d slept for 11 hours and was still taking naps throughout the day, despite following treatment plans recommended by multiple doctors.
“I took every protocol from any and every doctor I’ve seen. Still nothing helping.”
The model joked that she’d “diagnosed” herself with a dozen other illnesses out of frustration, before describing how even simple tasks had become exhausting.
“I was out of breath walking to the kitchen.”
She added that taking a shower without fainting felt like a major accomplishment.
“If you know, you know… that felt like a really big accomplishment for me today.”
A long health journey
Hadid has been open about her battle with Lyme disease for years, documenting periods where the illness has significantly affected both her career and personal life.
Although she continues to experience setbacks, she thanked her support system and her team behind her fragrance brand, Orebella, for helping keep her going during difficult periods.
Her latest update received an outpouring of support from fans, many of whom praised her honesty about the realities of living with chronic illness.
