#visible

Times Are Changing

Imagine my surprise as I click onto a celebrity news channel for a little bit of guilty late night watching, only to find the top two news items are not what I was expecting at all.

The usual drivel of who is dating who, what so and so have called their baby and the fashion highlights- and fails- of the latest red carpet was what I had clicked on to watch. What the top news stories were ended up being a surprise indeed.

Gigi Hadid- a world famous model and member of Taylor Swifts 'squad'- spoke at the Global Lyme alliance gala, about her mother who was diagnosed with neurological Lyme disease. A tough and horrible condition to have to live with, her mother (Yolanda, Also from the show 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills') then took the stage, confessing that there were many nights where she wished to die. Her two youngest children, Gigi's brother and sister, Bella and Anwar were also diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease in 2012.

It is so rare for celebrities to come out and say 'hey, I have something wrong with me- for real.' So how amazing is it to hear it being broadcast around the world. The platform that Gigi has, as well as her mother through her show, not only to bringing awareness about Lyme disease but also showing that it can effect anyone is a huge step in the right direction.

So there I was thinking, 'wow how amazing is this! Lyme disease is an awful condition I'm so glad they are speaking so publicly about it.' When BAM! The next story is pushed onto my screen.

Actress and singer, Selena Gomez, talking about her health battle with Lupus.

For anyone who doesn't know, Lupus is a condition where the immune system can't tell the difference between healthy and foreign substances in the body and ends up attacking the healthy cells and tissue, causing damage to all areas of the body, including the brain.

Selena explained that she was treated with chemotherapy in order to stop the Lupus from causing a stroke, so it was pretty serious! (Though note that Lupus is an incurable condition.)

Lupus effects of women between the ages of 15-55 all over the world. Imagine the power that these women now feel knowing that there is someone who has a voice and is speaking for them.

Lupus and Lyme disease are notoriously bad for doctors diagnosing properly. Overlapping symptoms such as muscle aching, fatigue, depression and anaemia are common with a lot of other conditions as well, such as MS and fibromyalgia.

I was tested for Lupus in my quest for a diagnosis as the symptoms also overlap with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. I know that my year of tests and doctors' visits may not have been as scary or may not have made me feel like I was crazy and that everything was not actually all in my head if there had been a celebrity I could connect with who was going through the same things I was.

Imagine that extra bit of confidence and self-belief growing in girls who think that they are different, and that no one understands what they are feeling and going through- all over the world.

Then the news went back onto who was hooking up with who, so I switched off and wrote this.

Who are your favourite celebrity role models that speak out about mental and physical health?