Bella Hadid has spoken out again about the emotional toll of living with Lyme disease. The 28-year-old model took to Instagram on November 14 to candidly discuss her ongoing struggle with chronic illness, revealing that she still experiences “medical anxiety” even after years of treatment. Hadid was first diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012 at the age of 16, alongside her mother, Yolanda Hadid, and her brother, Anwar Hadid.
Bella Hadid says ‘medical anxiety is so real’ amid Lyme disease diagnosis
In her Instagram Stories, Hadid shared two posts reflecting her day-to-day challenges. The first was a meme that read: “When your chronic illness is chronic illness-ing and someone says ‘it’s always something with you’ — like… yes… one might say the illness is… chronic.” The model shared it, letting the post speak for itself. But in her second Story, Hadid got more personal. She reposted a message from influencer Alexandra Wildeson about the “duality” of living with chronic illness and added her own reaction: “The medical anxiety is soooooo real. Thank you for putting every one of my thoughts and daily situations into one swipe. The truuuuuth!”
The disease transmitted through tick bites can lead to symptoms like joint pain, fatigue, brain fog, and anxiety. For years, Hadid has spoken publicly about how her condition has impacted her life and career. Her mother, Yolanda, previously told People that the illness can “bring you to your knees,” recalling how she watched her daughter battle through exhaustion and chronic pain.
In September, Bella updated fans with photos from a hospital bed as she continued her treatment for Lyme disease. The images showed her hooked up to IV bags, with the caption: “I’m sorry, I always go MIA. I love you guys.” A few days later, the model shared another update showing her walking on a treadmill for the first time in months. “Just walking, but still! Getting my stamina back,” she wrote.
