A patient with a health problem may face illness invalidation from others, which can negatively impact the patient's ability to cope.
Illness invalidation may be manifested by:
(1) lack of understanding or trying to understand
(2) discounting of symptoms and failure to take seriously
(3) lack of social support
(4) stigma
(5) disbelief
(6) others being judgmental
Some conditions associated with illness invalidation:
(1) fibromyalgia
(2) autoimmune disorders
(3) chronic fatigue syndromes
(4) depression
Negative consequences:
(1) social isolation and loneliness
(2) anger and embitterness
(3) poor coping
(4) depression
(5) reduced self-esteem
