Bella Hadid Opens Up About Struggles With Chronic Lyme Disease and Mental Health

Model Bella Hadid, 29, revealed the severe physical and mental toll of living with chronic Lyme disease, which she has battled for over 15 years. In a series of Instagram stories posted on June 28, 2026, Hadid described the unpredictable and debilitating symptoms she endures, including pain, exhaustion, anxiety, brain fog, insecurity, secondary infections, and trauma. She emphasized how these symptoms lead to isolation and depression, especially during prolonged flare-ups.

Hadid explained the difficulty in managing the disease, noting that despite researching and following various medical protocols, she still experiences relapses that force her to cancel plans and struggle with daily decisions. She shared the constant presence of anxiety and physical pain from the moment she wakes up, highlighting the exhausting challenge of coping with the illness both physically and mentally. Hadid also posted a tearful selfie, expressing frustration over ineffective treatments and the complexity of her condition, which now includes multiple additional diagnoses.

Despite the hardships, she found small victories, such as being able to shower without fainting, and humorously requested a cookie as a reward. Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted by tick bites, can become chronic and cause severe symptoms like extreme fatigue and cognitive difficulties. Several other celebrities, including Justin and Hailey Bieber, Ben Stiller, Avril Lavigne, and Alec Baldwin, have also disclosed their struggles with Lyme disease.

Experts suggest the high incidence among celebrities may be linked to their lifestyle, often involving residences in wooded, rural areas of the U.S. where ticks are prevalent, and activities like horseback riding and hiking. Additionally, their access to private healthcare allows for complex testing and diagnoses that might be less accessible to the general population.