Supermodel Bella Hadid just gave fans a glimpse into her ongoing health battle, and it’s clear the fight isn’t over yet. On September 17, 2025, she shared a series of photos, and among them, some appeared to be a hospital bed, where she was seen hooked up to IV drips, medical wires, and even an oxygen mask while resting.
In her caption, she said, “I’m sorry I always go MIA I love you guys,” but didn’t disclose exactly what landed her there. Still, it seems likely that her chronic Lyme disease symptoms are flaring again. Her mom, Yolanda Hadid, who also battles the same illness, commented “Lyme warrior” under the post, a powerful reminder of the family’s long fight.
Bella has been candid about her struggles for years, from debilitating fatigue and joint pain to mental health tolls, and this latest update shows that the invisible disease continues to impact her daily life. Below, we break down her diagnosis, symptoms, treatments, and what her recent update means for her road to recovery.
What Is Lyme Disease and Why Is It Called an Invisible Illness?
Lyme disease might sound like just another medical term, but it’s actually a tick-borne infection that can turn life upside down. Caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, it usually starts off with flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, body aches, and sometimes even a rash shaped like a bull’s eye.
If it isn’t treated right away, it can snowball into long-term issues that affect everything from your joints to your memory and mental health.
It’s often called an “invisible illness” because, from the outside, people with Lyme can look perfectly fine, even glamorous, in Bella Hadid’s case. But behind the scenes, they might be dealing with brain fog, nerve pain, or exhaustion so heavy it makes getting out of bed a win. That disconnect is part of why Bella’s openness matters so much.
By sharing her flare-ups and hospital stays, she’s showing fans that just because you can’t see someone’s illness doesn’t mean they aren’t fighting one every single day. Moreover, many celebrities like her are also going through the same.
When Was Bella Hadid Diagnosed With Lyme Disease?
Bella Hadid was officially diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012, when she was just 16 years old. Her mother, Yolanda Hadid, revealed the news at a Global Lyme Alliance gala, sharing that both Bella and her younger brother Anwar were battling the same condition. It was a shocking revelation at the time, given Bella’s budding modeling career and the pressures of teenage life.
During the acceptance speech, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star said, (via BBC)
Watching my babies struggle in silence in order to support me in my journey, struck the deepest core of hopelessness inside of me. I will walk to the end of the earth to find a cure so that you can live a healthy life that you deserve.
In the past, Bella has opened up about how the diagnosis shaped her early adulthood. In a conversation with People, she said,
Life isn’t always what it looks like on the outside, and the hardest part of this journey is to be judged by the way you look instead of the way you feel.
She has often shared that her symptoms became noticeably worse after turning 18. The model revealed on Instagram stories (via Business Insider), saying,
Every day I feel at least 10 of these attributes without fail … since I was probably 14, but more aggressively when I turned 18.
A post shared by Bella 🦋 (@bellahadid)
She dealt with these symptoms that made simple routines feel overwhelming. She’s also admitted that the illness forced her to give up dreams outside of modeling, like pursuing competitive horseback riding, a passion she once saw as her career path.
For Bella, knowing what she was up against provided clarity, but it didn’t make the journey easier. The diagnosis marked the beginning of years of treatments, flare-ups, and the challenge of balancing a high-profile career with a chronic illness that doesn’t always play by the rules.
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Symptoms She Has Struggled With Over the Years
Bella Hadid has been open about the unpredictable and overwhelming symptoms of Lyme disease. She’s described waking up with daily headaches, joint pain, and chronic fatigue that often make it difficult to get out of bed. The condition hasn’t just affected her body, it has disrupted her daily life in ways most people take for granted.
One of the most debilitating aspects has been the neurological symptoms. Bella has talked about experiencing brain fog and memory issues, and said to PORTER magazine (via E! News),
[I] couldn’t get out of bed for six days. My brain would get all foggy, and I couldn’t see, that was the hardest time of my life. These episodes don’t just interfere with work, they impact her ability to feel present in everyday life.
The mental toll is just as severe. Bella has admitted to going through long stretches of mental breakdown which often triggered depressive episodes. She told WSJ Magazine,
It was the easiest thing for me to do at the time because I was never able to explain how I was feeling. I would just be in excruciating and debilitating mental and physical pain, and I didn’t know why. That was over the past three years.
The frustration of looking perfectly fine to the outside world while battling invisible symptoms has also weighed on her self-image. In the same interview, she said,
For anyone struggling , please remember that. Sometimes all you’ve gotta hear is that you’re not alone. So from me to you, you’re not alone. I love you, I see you, and I hear you.
Even with her polished runway appearances, Bella’s openness pulls back the curtain on what it’s like to live with a disease that doesn’t always show. From exhaustion and nerve pain to struggles with anxiety and depression, her journey underscores just how relentless and multifaceted Lyme disease can be.
Treatments and Long Recovery Process
Bella Hadid’s treatment and recovery journey has been anything but simple. Over the past few years, she has undergone more than 100 days of intensive therapies to manage Lyme disease and its co-infections, often sharing glimpses of IV treatments, hospital visits, and long stretches of rest at home.
After constant and consistent efforts, she has finally reached a place of stability, crediting her doctors, nurses, and her mother, Yolanda, for helping her through the darkest moments of recovery.
Bella Hadid’s journey with Lyme disease has been marked by resilience, setbacks, and hope. While flare-ups still challenge her, her openness sheds light on the realities of living with a chronic illness, inspiring fans with her strength and honesty.
How do you feel about Bella Hadid’s ongoing health battle? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
