Bella Hadid shares emotional Lyme disease update after painful health flare-up

Supermodel Bella Hadid has opened up about the ongoing challenges of living with Lyme disease, sharing an emotional update with fans following a severe health flare-up that left her physically and emotionally exhausted.

The 29-year-old model took to Instagram Stories to document her latest struggle, posting tearful photos while describing the daily reality of living with a chronic illness. Hadid, who was diagnosed with Lyme disease as a teenager, said the condition continues to affect both her physical health and mental well-being.

She explained that chronic illness often brings pain, fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, infections and emotional trauma, making it difficult for others to fully understand what sufferers experience.

Hadid said one of the most difficult aspects of her condition is its unpredictability. Despite following various treatment plans and routines, flare-ups can return without warning, leaving her feeling as though all progress has disappeared.

The model also revealed that the illness has made everyday activities increasingly challenging. She said she often struggles to commit to plans because she never knows how she will feel from one day to the next and frequently wakes up already experiencing pain and exhaustion.

Reflecting on the emotional impact of chronic illness, Hadid admitted that she has learned to hide many of her struggles because people who have never experienced similar health issues often find it difficult to understand.

Despite the setbacks, she encouraged others facing chronic illnesses to remain hopeful, reminding them that healing is not always a straight path and that every difficult season eventually passes.

Hadid also shared that her recent flare-up has been particularly severe, saying she continued falling asleep throughout the day despite sleeping for 11 hours. She joked that she had “diagnosed” herself with several other illnesses after none of her usual treatment protocols brought relief.

Even completing simple tasks proved difficult, with the supermodel revealing she became out of breath just walking to the kitchen. However, she celebrated managing to shower without fainting, describing it as a major personal achievement.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread through the bite of infected ticks and has affected various aspects of Hadid’s personal life and modelling career for years.