#seenbutmisunderstood

Seen, But Misunderstood

Dedicated to those living with physical, emotional, and invisible disabilities who continue to seek understanding, acceptance, and support in everyday life.

Disability is never far from the headlines. And in 2026, disability awareness is out there. Society speaks more openly about mental health, chronic illness, neurodivergence, and physical disability than it once did.

But behind those conversations, many disabled people still struggle with something far more personal – acceptance in everyday life. Not from strangers. From people closest to them. Because living with a disability is not only about healthcare, employment, or accessibility. It's also about relationships, friendships, family dynamics, loneliness, and the emotional weight of feeling misunderstood. Many people with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities still feel they have to explain themselves constantly. Why they're tired. Why they cancel plans. Why some days they cope and other days they simply can't. Invisible disabilities often carry the greatest misunderstanding. Conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, autism, chronic fatigue, or chronic pain are not always visible to others, which means they are questioned, minimised, or dismissed altogether. The pressure to appear 'fine' for many is exhausting. According to the World Health Organization, stigma and discrimination remain major barriers for disabled people worldwide, affecting social relationships, confidence, and emotional wellbeing. That stigma doesn't disappear at home. Many disabled people still experience guilt within relationships because they can't always function the way others expect them to. Some feel like burdens. Some withdraw socially because explaining their condition repeatedly becomes emotionally draining. Others experience friendships changing because disability can challenge people in ways they are not always willing or able to understand. There is also a loneliness attached to disability that society rarely talks about, honestly. Not the loneliness of physically being alone, but the loneliness of feeling emotionally unseen. Research around disability and social isolation continues to show that disabled adults are more likely to experience loneliness and poorer mental wellbeing than non-disabled adults. (Source: scope.org.uk) And yet many people still underestimate how much emotional labour disabled people carry every day. Adapting. Masking. Reassuring others. Trying not to make people uncomfortable. Trying to appear stronger than they feel. Acceptance in their personal life is often conditional.

But real acceptance shouldn't depend on how easy someone is to live with. It should exist even on the difficult days.

The truth is, many disabled people are still fighting to be understood not only by society, but within their closest relationships. Progress may have been made publicly, but privately, many still feel they are asking for the same empathy, patience, and understanding others receive more freely.

The bottom line is simple: disabled people should be able to live their lives the best way they can, without constantly needing to justify it. That should – and needs to be – a universal acceptance. They're people with needs, they shouldn't be second-class.

This article references data and research from the World Health Organization (WHO), UK Parliament reports, Scope UK, and disability employment studies published in the UK.

About the Author

Ilana Estelle is an author and writer, and the founder of The CP Diary. Born with something she didn’t know she had, later learning it was cerebral palsy, and then ten years after – also being diagnosed with autism, she has turned personal adversity into a powerful platform for awareness, reflection, and change. Through her writing, Ilana inspires readers to explore resilience, mindfulness, and what it means to live authentically, no matter the challenges.

Looking for inspiration and honest reflection? Visit The CP Diary for daily insights. To explore Ilana’s books and resources, head to her author page and discover how her journey can support your own.