Doctors called me lazy. I was actually chronically ill #chronicillness #health #sexism

Walking into a doctor’s office and not being believed has been Lauren’s experience of several chronic illnesses. Her conditions have left her in pain and struggling with fatigue on a daily basis. “I’ve been [told] … that women often experience a lot of phantom symptoms that might feel very real for us, but they’re not a legitimate or physical illness,” she said. Lauren is one of millions of Australians suffering from conditions that aren’t outwardly visible. Many say they struggle with stigma and a lack of support from the medical system. To understand more about what millions of Australians with invisible and chronic illnesses experience, watch Insight episode Invisible Illness on SBS On Demand.