”You Don’t Look Sick”: Living with Invisible Disability

When Nicole Edmunds first became unwell, doctors told her it was stress, anxiety, or poor sleep. But she knew her body — and she knew something wasn’t right.

After months of medical gaslighting and self-doubt, Nicole was diagnosed with POTS: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome — a form of dysautonomia that affects the autonomic nervous system and is often invisible to others.

In this honest and moving episode, Nicole shares what it’s like to live with an invisible disability in a world that rewards performance over rest, and productivity over pacing. She speaks about identity, relationships, and how exhausting it is to prove your pain when no one can see it.

Whether you have an invisible disability or want to understand how to be a better ally to someone who does — this story is for you.

Listen now and reflect on how we make space — or don’t — for people with invisible disability.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Australian POTS Foundation

• Dysautonomia International

• Standing Up to POTS

• The Ehlers-Danlos Society