Bella Hadid has opened up about the profound "severe isolation and depression" she is experiencing as a result of her ongoing battle with chronic illness.
In a series of Instagram Stories shared on Thursday, the 29-year-old model described the difficulties of explaining the pain, exhaustion, fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, and insecurities that accompany her condition. "I wish it wasn’t so intimidating and difficult to explain the pain / exhaustion / fatigue / anxiety / brain fog / insecurities that come with chronic illness / co-infections / mental health trauma etc.," she wrote to her followers.
Hadid shared that she had been experiencing a significant flare-up, noting she had slept for 11 hours but still felt unwell. Despite adhering to all medical protocols, she reported that nothing was helping. She described feeling out of breath simply walking to the kitchen and joked about her cognitive state. However, she also highlighted a small personal victory, stating, "I took a shower without fainting tho… so again, if you know you know … that felt like a really big accomplishment for me today."
Later in her posts, Hadid apologized if her updates had caused distress. "I’m sorry if I startled anyone. … I’m sorry if I worried anyone," she wrote. "This truly is an every day, ebb and flow for me for the past 15 years." She explained that she felt an overwhelming sense of emotion due to the disconnect between what her mind can conceive and what her body can achieve. She concluded her message with a hopeful note for a better day and expressed gratitude for her followers' support.
Hadid was diagnosed with Lyme disease as a teenager. She has previously shared insights into her long-term struggle with the illness, including posting about a hospitalization in September 2025. Her sister, Gigi Hadid, and mother, Yolanda Hadid, have also been vocal about their experiences with Lyme disease, with Yolanda confirming Bella's diagnosis in 2015. Yolanda Hadid herself also suffers from the illness, as does Bella's brother, Anwar Hadid.