When You Can’t See the Struggle: Hidden Disabilities, Loneliness and what we can do
On the 3rd December the world acknowledges International Day of Disability, a moment to pause, reflect and widen our lens beyond what is visible.
Because while some disabilities are obvious there are many more that cannot be ‘seen’.
These invisible disabilities result in just as much, sometimes more, loneliness and isolation as the physical ones, in part because they’re not always recognised or acknowledged.
They cause struggles that go unnoticed.
They mean that people don’t always feel safe enough to say, “I’m not okay.”
Hidden and unseen disabilities, from neurodiversity, chronic mental illness, anxiety, depression, to trauma response and so much more, shape lives in ways that rarely make it into Instagram stories or family Christmas cards. They’re carried quietly… often shrouded in shame, fear and frustration.
And right now, in the lead up to the festive season, those quiet struggles can roar.
The Loneliness You Don’t See
Given our easy access to technology and communication it can be hard to accept that we’re living in the middle of a loneliness epidemic. One that hits young people the hardest. Not because they’re actually alone… but because as young people with an ‘unseen’ disability they feel more isolated than ever, believing they have no chance of fitting into a ‘normal’ society.
As a young person who is neurodivergent, living with anxiety or supporting a parent with mental illness, they learn early how to mask, by: -
· Holding it together when they feel overwhelmed
· Smiling when their chest is tight
· Blending in so they don’t get judged
· Pretending they’re fine because it feels easier than explaining
And masking is exhausting. The emotional labour of “acting okay” is a weight many young people carry every single day.
When they’re doing all that internally while the world around is posting “perfect Christmas” highlight reels… the ache of comparison hits harder that ever.
When The Festive Season Triggers More Than Joy
The holidays are marketed as magic. Togetherness. Family. Fun.
But for many young people, it’s a season that reminds them how different they are, making the weight they always carry even heavier than usual.
Because while everyone else seems to be laughing with family, swapping gifts and making memories… they’re fighting internal battles no one sees.
Maybe they don’t have the kind of family others post about.
Maybe money is tight.
Maybe their parent is struggling with depression and they’re doing more caring than celebrating.
Maybe the noise, crowds, expectations and unpredictability are overwhelming for their neurodivergent brain.
And suddenly the “curated Christmas” on every screen becomes a knife twist of comparison.
“Why can’t my life look like that?”
“What’s wrong with me?”
“Why do I always feel like this?”
This time of year can push young people deeper into isolation just when they need connection the most.
This Is Where We Come In
At Imagine ReEvolution, our space isn’t just “a nice place to hang out.”
It can be a lifeline for young people who are anxious, overwhelmed, lonely or carrying invisible challenges that no one else seems to notice.
Every workshop, every market stall, every creative space, every program, is built around one belief:
When young people feel safe enough to be themselves, everything starts to change.
Our space gives them:
· A place to belong - without needing to mask
· A place to express - through art, music, movement and creativity
· A place to breathe - away from pressure, comparison and expectations
· A place to connect - with peers who get it and adults who see them
· A place to grow - confidence, self-worth and resilience
· A place to land - when life at home or school feels heavy
· A place to heal - not because we fix them, but because we walk beside them
For a young person who feels different, invisible or “too much” this can be life changing.
When You Support the Whole Person, You Support the Whole Future
Hidden disabilities aren’t “less real”, they’re just less recognised.
And they shape every part of a young person’s world:
· How they learn
· How they build friendships
· How they respond to stress
· How they develop self-esteem
· How they dream about their future
And when a parent or carer is struggling with mental illness, anxiety, trauma or neurodivergence, young people often take on emotional roles far beyond their age.
They absorb the tension. They feel the responsibility. They worry in silence.
Our work creates a buffer, a place where they’re not the caretaker, the fixer, the “quiet one”, the “problem” or the “sensitive kid.”
They get to just be… themselves.
And that shift is powerful.
Why Our Work Matters
As we move into December, a month that can feel “too much” for many, our commitment stays strong:
We will keep creating spaces where young people feel:
Seen
Heard
Understood
Supported
Included
Safe
We will keep providing creative outlets, calm corners, warm hugs, patient conversations, sensory-friendly activities and a community where masking isn’t required.
We will keep being the place where loneliness breaks, confidence grows and self-worth is rebuilt piece by piece.
Because every young person deserves a space where they don’t have to hide the parts of themselves the world doesn’t understand.
And we’re here - every workshop, every program - building that kind of world.
If you’d like to support the work we do or explore ways to get involved, reach out, it takes all of us to change the story for our young people. And if you have, or know, a young person who could benefit from what we do, please connect us and help change their narrative.
Equally if you’re an adult who is lonely and struggling, reach out and talk to us about becoming a volunteer – there is nothing more fulfilling than helping others while you heal yourself too.
