Stigma

IBD is considered an invisible illness, meaning that although a person who has it may look fine on the outside, they are actually sick.  As for Crohn’s and UC, for example, while the person may look completely healthy, they might be suffering from inflamed intestines and are hiding their pain.  This can cause problems with other people not understanding your sickness and everything that you’re going through.  

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Invisible illness: any medical condition that is not outwardly invisible to others

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Many patients with IBD are stigmatized to hide their illnesses. Many times this happens because others are not willing to learn, understand, and respect the struggles IBD patients face "behind the scenes" of their sometimes seemingly okay appearances. Rosa, one of our Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs, proposes three types of silencing that happens as part of society against patients with IBD:

• Silencing of experience - Just because someone doesn't look "sick" does not mean they have not suffered and have no experience with illness.

• Silencing of identity - Hiding IBD can be seen as a need for some patients because they want to fit in and/or are afraid of whether others will accept them. There is also again a conflict of internal suffering and externally deceiving appearances.

• Silencing of voice - A lot of IBD patients are not given the chance to be heard and listened to. 

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​Stigma surrounding IBD can be different for various cultures. Such stigmatization can be very hurtful for the patient and may even delay IBD diagnosis.

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Sources:

https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/blog/being-ibd-visible

https://www.oshihealth.com/reality-of-invisible-illness/