Join a Community That Understands You

Get answers from those who share your health journey

All Posts

AlikeTeam's Post

AlikeTeam ✅

Ever been told you’re “too young” to have your condition?

Can you help? Connect today

Platinum

all the time

Bre19

same

KathyN

Yeah and i don't have any family sickness background 😐

Nataliejean

same, so my family has no idea what it’s like!! It can be so frustrating

Steve_Iwan

I know that feeling too well

Bre19

same

Bibarra2251

Ever since i got diagnosed at the age of 17 and now being 26

Bre19

that must be difficult

billybob99

Its a real pain when your folks deny your diagnosis and tell you that "you're fine" when obviously you're not.

hazyeclipse

I sort of feel like parents are more likely to do this than anyone else. I've learned to take mine with a grain of salt. I wish I knew what went through their heads though

amobeear

I feel the exact same, when I tell them I have a problem they always think I was attention or I'm just trying to guilt trip them

Kelliko

and the doctors! If it’s invisible and you push thru it, you must be fine. Especially true if you have overlapping diagnose(es).

pacer

to acknowledge it most likely means they would blame themselves for it. If its genetic or they just didn't get you tested for something will make them blame themselves for not doing more, so it's easier to deny it so they don't have to believe you live with something that effects your life.

Myfox

yes and especially when they say “but you look so good”

ashbear2022

i feel this.😥 my maternal side always said I was just seeking attention.

Cyprus87

Yeah. I love how our family and friends think they get to decide how we feel😂

NovaSystem

literally everytime i bring it up. or the good old fashioned “god has his plan” like yeah i know but that doesn’t help?

QueenBee90

img right my mum just says 'awe I'm praying for you' like ok Nathan's but thsts not helping me right now. Especially when she could of helped too :(

SIOFan

Yeah no one believes all my diagnoses

CmcC

I'm so sorry you have to experience that, it sounds super frustrating!

schmaslow

Yes, at the age I was diagnosed and now often when people don’t know my age because I look so young.

Bre19

felt

Jelly_Beanz

I’ve so many different illnesses, I’m tired of being told to try this diet or that one. Or just exercise more or the best with my severe migraines, just take a Tylenol and you’ll be fine!

Miloz

😥 ❤️

spacejunkie

my husband tells me it's because I am not active enough although he sees the work ups from my doctor's. It is very heartbreaking

Coty

I know exactly what you mean, I changed my diet to be very healthy and it almost feels like it made me worse, then the emergency doctors tell me to exercise like I’m not crippled down to the boots with anxiety and pain. Easy for someone who isn’t going through it to write it off as bs ya know

comealittlecloser

The first psychiatrist I ever spoke to at 16/17 told me I was too young to have depression despite having just been released from the hospital because of it :/

CmcC

that's so horrible, I hope you have a better support system now 😥🙏

MPM

wow. That right there tells me he has No clue,, Nor should he give any opinion What so ever

La_Machina

My surgeon made me wait 4 years for my hip replacement till I had no quality of life. Said I was too young to get it done. I got kicked by a donkey when I was 9 months pregnant! It was an accident!! How are people too young for an accident to happen to them?

Pammybear79

I was born deaf so just what life is

sirtommy

I've actually been told I'm too old to have ADHD.

Ash.G

I have been told that I did not have ADHD because I am not male enough.

Bre19

11mo

that must be annoying

Nasonml

Yes

Bre19

same

Zonnie

Oh yes! Like when adults in your life tell you that it can't be worse than aging or you should be able to deal with it because you're too young to be sick. Or that because you're so young, you must be mis-communicating how you feel. Or when they infantilize you because you must just be developing slower.

ToastyToast

I feel that. My mom keeps telling me that I'm too young to be in this much pain, but with patellofemoral pain syndrome, that logic doesn't exactly work.

Miloz

makes you want to smack them and scream "Are you even listening to what I'm saying? Of course you aren't!

SAMHAIN

Exactly why I was self-dx ADHD+ASD+PTSD at 33... and then confirmed literally 7 days from when I phoned for a dx eval appointment! 😂😮‍💨

SAMHAIN

Also: EDS at 33. ← particular physical hell, being forced to go to skating events and such when I've had debilitating SI pain since birth.

Bloom30

I am 30 and in the process of trying to get tested for EDS because my dad has it and I'm displaying the same symptoms. It is hard when it is so rare.

kodigoldie

I recently have been having some heart issues and I haven't stopped hearing it. I get "too young" and also "too skinny" bc ppl assume that skinny = healthy which pisses me off, it's like frankly I didn't ask for your unprofessional dumbass not-a-doctor opinion

Miloz

need to put that on a tee shirt lol

Bre19

11mo

it's so annoying

Chiara

I was early onset (statistically) with all of my disorders/diseases. My endometriosis was the easiest for me to grasp at a young age though. I was 15 when I was having bad pains & knew something was wrong, but my doctor insisted I was lying. It took 2 years to finally see a gynecologist who would listen & do a laparoscopy to confirm the endometriosis.

mynewfriend

the same with me and pelvic pain. And then the very first gyno to look into the pain finds out I have all these things wrong that could have been diagnosed when I was a teenager.

candieland73

same here! My PCP treated me for many different things until he referred me to a gynecologist. Her first words after reading my chart was, I think you have endometriosis. Sure enough, she was right. I was 20 when diagnosed.

Belleromeo

I had the same thing - severe crippling endo pain from 12 years old, only got a diagnosis at 19 because people just didn't believe me:(

Moon_Fawn

I yawned at 4 pm (because I’m always tired) and a man told me it was too early to be starting to yawn now. I said “Oh it starts when I wake up” then man was shook lol mind ya own business sir

Bre19

geez

Moon_Fawn

Also as I was rapidly losing weight I went to the doctor to see what was going on and he said, word for word: Models would pay to be this skinny. You should be happy.

CmcC

that's such a horrible thing for anyone to say, especially coming from a medical "professional" 😭

KratomEater

unfortunately they give licenses to narcissists all the same 🤦🏽

Jenni_Star

Only every other day…

Bre19

felt

Florina

All the time! The only doctor I’ve had on my side my entire time is my PCP and one neuro at the hospital who no longer works there. So I have my primary doctor and my parents. Mostly my dad since my moms in a wheelchair. I just hate the “you’re too young” or the lovely you’re a woman so you don’t understand concept that makes no sense to me.

Bre19

felt

OuchyAbdomen

Definitely. It's the reason I switched my primary DR. New patient interview was awful and ended as soon as she said this ⬆️.

Bre19

felt

InnocentRobot

For the longest time no one believed that I hurt. It was painful to say the least

Bre19

felt

kittenintheyarn

Yes! I'm too young to be imunocompromised... like that makes ANY sense when babies are BORN with conditions that cause that sometimes.

Bre19

that's not how it works though people don't understand

Sigil

Literally all the time. Especially since my most prominent symptom is chronic pain and chronic fatigue. "Oh, youre too young to be in pain" "Wait until you're my age" I'm so freaking sick of it. I have a chronic genetic condition, stfu

Bre19

yep

MissAl

I hate the “oh my gosh, and you’re so young, I’m so sorry for you”. I know it’s meant well, but to me it’s like salt in the wound.

Bre19

same

miss_world

i ironically have not, but as someone recently diagnosed with adhd as a young adult, i’ve had relatives tell me there’s no way i have it and i would have been diagnosed as a kid, almost like a “i’m too old to have it”

Bre19

interesting

Nachtmahr

I completely understand this! It took a lot of patience and understanding especially when it comes to PTSD because it's hard to just explain it. There is a HUGE difference between Knowledge and Understanding. Depression is also hard because people that don't have episodes don't understand why you are sad or unmotivated. They want you to just "stop being a downer", "you have nothing to be depressed about" ect. It's rough. You yourself need to accept it and people don't realize that once they accept they have a mental illness to whatever capacity, they can start their road to recovery to whatever degree. Hope this helps. If you'd like to talk more feel free to inbox me. 💜

Syd.The.Space.Sloth

my mom constantly makes the excuse that i'm "too young" and just "trying to fit in with my friends" or "spending too much time on the internet". it's frustrating

PineappleHoneyMelon

This is exactly my situation. It’s always people saying I’m trying to fit in but often it’s the opposite that I can’t fit in because of how I am. So frustrating and I’m sorry you have the same experience.

Hivemind

This 👆

Bre19

ughh so annoying

CasuallyCerebral

Broke my back at age 9 but took forever to actually be diagnosed since there’s “no way” a healthy kid could’ve possibly done that.

CmcC

you must have been in so much pain oh my gosh 😭❤️

Bre19

oh no

Beethie

Not really, people just don’t understand. Like when you say that your having anxiety right now, they’re like “why?” but there’s no reason why it just happens. Always in the chest.

Bre19

interesting

MoonWolf

Yep, people think I’m over exaggerating when no…I’m really hurting in pain.

Bre19

yep

AsherC

Constantly I have visible worsening authritus but because im only 20 it’s “not possible”

Bre19

oh geez

gutz

all of the time and literally anytime I’m in the er lol. i became ill at age 19, like right around or right after my 19th birthday so that on top of usually having ok vitals means I’m always getting told there’s nothing wrong with me

Simmerr

I feel this. When I'm having a panic attack because of my PTSD and my blood pressure only slightly elevates for some reason, they just look at you like you're faking it.

Bre19

oh geez

Airtime

I’ve lost a brother over this

CmcC

I'm so sorry for your loss 😥💕

Bre19

so sorry to hear that

Airtime

I don’t know what to say.

Airtime

I can’t stop crying

Airtime

Same. I don’t think I’ll make it here.

Airtime

I’m sorry you’re hurting

Airtime

I will be here for you. I don’t know if I can be there for you from Alaska.

Zoey_Val

I have been told this by my family and almost every doctor I have seen. They say I’m too young or too “skinny” to possibly be struggling with these health problems. One thing that is absolutely real and terrifying especially from reading these comments is that if you look healthy on the outside, no one will take you seriously or believe that you are ill. I actually have lost a scary amount of weight due to my illness and yet doctors don’t seem to find this to be an issue ???

Bre19

ughh

Emo_Enby_99

Me, 14: I keep having panic attacks, dreams of my father hurting me, and nighttime incontinence due to SA from young age. I think I have PTSD Dr: You have mild anxiety and I think you have a small bladder. Go do this invasive test to see how big your bladder is. Me: *gets more trauma from the bladder test that showed I have normal sized bladder* I don't trust men anymore 🥲🙃

CmcC

I'm so sorry you had to go through that that's horrible 😭❤️

Bre19

so so sorry you had to go through that

CommaLlama

I was exhibiting symptoms of schizophrenia in my preteens and too afraid to tell anyone about it because I had heard no one developed schizophrenia before the age of twenty. Sure enough when I finally got up the nerve to talk to family about it, I was accused of attention-seeking and told my problems were unimportant and made-up. I was 17 then. I wasn't diagnosed schizoaffective until 2018, when I was 26 and a close friend helped me get into a mental health clinic. There are exceptions to every rule in both physical and mental health. If someone come to you with legitimate worries and concerns about how they're feeling, turning them away will only make their lives harder.

CmcC

exactly! I'm glad you finally got the help you deserve ☺️

Scarlettrose

Yes

Bre19

11mo

same

Wilder

Yup, nothing stings more than family or friends not validating you. I go out of my way to baby anyone who complains about anything, just so I can be the opposite of the people in my life.

Bre19

I'm so sorry they don't offer any validation

taylorg

I had a heart condition called svt and for the longest time they told me it was acid reflux

Bre19

and it was something more serious I'm so sorry they didn't listen

treelover

i had a very bad IBS flare up recently (extreme fatigue, dizziness, brain fog) & my parents were so disappointed in me for coming home from work early. my mom said to me “dude is it really that bad” & said it was just tough love. me dad told me “you don’t want to be the sick one” i guess to make excuses of getting out of work? idk, but it made the pain so much worse. luckily i got the rest i needed & there are other people out there that understand & sympathize ❤️

Tadha1982

I have this too. They told me it was from having multiple kids that my pelvic floor wall have dropped. I'm like okay are you guys gonna fix it. They told me to speak with my pcp.

MPM

do you watch your diet?. After having 6-7 IBS attacks I finally went to the ER, last month lying on the floor to where you want to pass out because the pain was that unbearable.. I swear death would be welcome. Most excruciating pain way worse than child birth

Pammybear79

😥 I suffer bad Panic Attacks since as a child we don’t know where it came from

Bre19

same here

hmmmm

i've never had it said in disbelieving way but i've had multiple people say it in a sympathetic way 🙄

Bre19

same here

preciousfriendship

Yes

Bre19

11mo

same

marshfroggie

i’m apparently “too young” to use a cane. sorry i need it?

Bre19

11mo

people don't understand

Faemoira

Being told "you're too young to have all that wrong with you" as if they think you're just making things up as you go..

Noodlez

Wasn’t allowed to test for BRCA until I was 16 even though my mom was diagnosed when I was 13

Noodlez

Also doctors still think I’m making hypothyroidism to get meds that’ll make me skinny- weird

Embers

Yes. I've been told this alot about my now diagnosed PTSD. My dad said I was too young and didn't experience the 'real world' yet so I couldn't possibly have PTSD

IndigoChi

All. the. Time. I have fibromyalgia that was diagnosed at 28. Hashimotos at 19. Many other things as well. People think I’m too young to have it or it shouldn’t be this bad.

Sleepy.Ginger

yes

Boogs02

For the first time ever a few weeks ago from a nurse. It hurt so badly, like I wished for this life. But when she looked at me it felt genuine, like even she didn’t wish this for me. It gave me both comfort and anger.

chinchilly

my mom told me i was just stressed about AP tests when i was 15 and had ptsd and a panic disorder which led to my later diagnosis

Bre19

11mo

so sorry she didn't listen

michii

It’s so unreassuring and really is painful

Bre19

11mo

very true

Piper_Blaire

YES and it is RIDICULOUS. I understand it comes from a place of surprise and feeling genuinely bad- but it's a bit insulting- it doesn't make me angry, just annoyed

Bre19

11mo

I felt this

leesvomit

Definitely, they don't realize over time we become more prone to conditions. I got so pissed off when I was told I was too young to be tired or stressed although I have diagnosed depression and anxiety.

Bre19

11mo

so true

MaggieNoelle

I get told I’m “too young to be so tired” blah blah. I’m tired of the “wait until you’re older” comments

Bre19

11mo

it's so annoying

Ivy_daley

All the damn time. Like, wanna talk to my doctor?? Lmaooo

CmcC

literally 😭😂

AjCrowley_777

All the time! People believe Self Diagnosis isn’t a thing, but I am pretty sure I have multiple personalities 🤣

Vidya

thats not funny. Hi ave you checked with a doctor. Many times this comes with childhood trauma

MarinaV

yes! I hate this so much! I know I’m too young but you can’t put an age on any illness. I’ve had majority of my symptoms when I was a preteen. didn’t get diagnosed until my early 20s.

CheckMeowt

Yep. At 29 and having menopausal symptoms that were ignored until I couldn’t have children for some reason.. I wish my drs would’ve listened to my concerns. Maybe I could’ve saved some eggs so I could have children.

leeuhsaysh

or that it just straight up cant be possible

leeuhsaysh

like yes it can

Rosie_Posey

Constantly. My first rheumy told my mom “well she’s too young to have anything like this” when I was 1.5 years old. The PEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGIST. My mother went ballistic.

friesandrupees

Yes. All by doctors…

Zepharasite

This is my parents all the time. With almost everything.

TabiG

Kind of, I have three different types of Muscular Dystrophy. I was diagnosed at 13 with MD, at 36 a more in depth DNA test because I was having trouble walking and with my balance. One doctor made it seem like I was pretending…. After I got my results, he was nicer to me.

frickerdoodle

When it comes to certain conditions like bipolar, schizophrenia, and related disorders, I can't really blame anyone for thinking you're too young for it. These things often develop in adulthood, but if someone is showing obvious symptoms and is assessed by a psychiatrist, they need a diagnosis and treatment.

fwubee

I was told Im too young to have BPD when i was 17. Im now 18 and hoping to get diagnosed soon

Frankengirl

I’ve had two stroke events (resulting in 5+ actual strokes) and both times they didn’t even consider stroke at first because of my age (:

SaltyLoon

I get this alot, especially because I try to have a pretty active lifestyle and push through the pain when I can because no meds help me it leads to alot of people thinking I'm being dramatic

Anniston

Yes! All the time!

FayeWally

UGH ITS HORRIBLE, my mother refuses to beileve I have anything wrong with me

royalty

Yes omg! "You're too young to be in pain" "everyone has their problems" please I'm just trying to tell you why I can't stand at the stove for two hours luke you can

BanderSnail

It's the first response I get any time someone finds out I have rheumatoid arthritis

Marvel01

All of the time.. I recently was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and I see a endocrinologist for unrelated issues, she was stunned. Anytime I see her she’s always like “you look good! Your levels are good!,” My whole life I’ve gotten the your too young for this it can’t be. or you look healthy!!!

Sebby

Or they say, "that couldn't possibly hurt"

Bumble.Bee.Boo.Boo

Yes for depression, back pain, being gay, being trans, having an eating disorder, and ptsd. I've also been told I'm too old for conditions like adhd and again being trans. I'm too young and too old to be anything or do anything. Something I noticed in my teen years.

Cailey

My mom has been a big trigger for my anxiety since I was a teen but I'm realizing recently that my anxiety is a deeper rooted issue and I've been having panic attacks since grade school.

Bre19

10mo

that must be difficult I'm so sorry

Ray___

Yup :( just got told it yesterday by my grandmother. Then again she’s also VERY mentally abusive

Bre19

10mo

I'm so sorry

A_Delicate_Flower

Yeah, I first started having health challenges at 24 years old. I went to my Dr 3-4 times telling her that I didn't feel right. She said I probably just have anxiety and that being tired and achy is a part of growing older. At 24, I barely made it through my work day then slept as soon as I got home, maybe ate a bite, then went straight back to sleep to do it over again the next day. Not normal. Fortunately, I found a Dr who believed me before I wasn't able to work anymore and he got me sorted and functional again.

Pammybear79

🙌 🙌 💕

LavenderSwan

Having a cardiac issue starting at 17 I was always the youngest person to see my cardiologist and whenever I tell people about my condition it’s always “Youre too young for that” it always makes me feel so much worse

Bre19

10mo

you can have issues at any age I'm so sorry people have invalidated you

Marry_Me

Yes..

freebaby

Although my parents didn't seem to believe me about my symptoms and you could see that something was wrong, it didnt stop them from collecting SSI for me from the time I was about 11. Didn't find out about it until DECADES later, and it was not from them. I can't tell you how disgusted I was to realize they were collecting money for my condition while they denied anything was wrong with me to my face.

Ms.MisfitMagician

Yep! Lol

Bartholomew_11

Every. Single. F***ING. Day.

Bre19

10mo

that's got to be frustrating so sorry

Shannonbh

I get the you look amazing ( beautiful in shape your well educated ) there can’t be anything wrong with you ! It’s so hard when the condition is invisible.

Bre19

10mo

same

jdubz

yep. i developed a pulmonary embolism at 22 and every adult in my life that i’ve told has said the same thing: “you’re way too young to have that happen!” well, it happened so i guess my body didn’t get the memo

pacer

pacemaker at 28, I hear that so much it's irritating to hear anymore. Sorry this isn't helpful but I can understand

kabby

Yes.i have 5 diagnosis working against me and my family refused to even listen to a few ways not to cause me traumatic triggers😥

queenkilla

yeah i never really get support by anyone besides my dads & husband. when i tell my mom about my appointments or any new diagnosis she tells me to stop looking for stuff 🙄

UnicornBabez

Yes I have been told that Fibromyalgia is a “Old People disease” lol I literally didn’t know what to say except I’m a MA and see people all the time of all ages with Fm.

Clackity

No, but I do kinda feel that way. When I went to a cardiologist appointment I was the youngest in the waiting room.

Doglover25006

Repeatedly 😒

RadiantObscurity

At my lowest point I was hospitalized on a 72 hour hold and the other patients were all at least ten years older than me. They all gave me a hard time, saying I was "too young" to be feeling the way I was.

Carribean_Mix

Plenty of times

vikingclarinet23

As someone who is AFAB (assigned female at birth) and was diagnosed with ADHD very young. Like 7 years old and was told since I was presenting female at the time, that it wasn't ADHD.

erine1992

I was told I was too young to have a pulmonary embolism at 23. After blood testing was done and nothing came back, rather than further investigating, they blamed birth control. Now 6 years later I finally got a diagnosis of Crohns, which they are certain caused this. Six years, too many doctors and specialists, and it took a 10 minute colonoscopy to explain most all of my issues in the last decade or better of my life. All because I was too young.

Shelly_B

Yes, people just don’t know what to say I mean like if I don’t get a grip on my MG I will only have three years left on earth. It’s scary

YES!" Girl when I was your age I did not know what pain was." " When I was your age I didn't know I had a back." Just ugly words. Thank God they never have pain. 😡😡😡😡

Chronicallyconfusing

Yes! Doctors always push me off and tell me it can’t be something simply because of my age, instead of just checking

edith

I love when people say “just wait it only gets worse” it feels diminishing of how I feel now

Shelly_B

All I want to say to everyone is your feelings matter from the time you’re born to the day you die. If we all just look at each other and say your feelings matter, what are you feeling, how do you feel, is there anything I can do to help? It’s really all about love.

Shelly_B

You’re exactly where are you supposed to be at this moment in your young life and don’t let anybody tell you any different. I work with a lot of younger people my feelings are so hurt if you don’t wanna talk to me he just ignoring me I care about them I don’t care about me is it because I’m old? I have never been this hurt before the way they treat me. 🤧

Shelly_B

What I’m trying to say is the young people treat me so badly and hurtfully.

AraS

Yup. In the recovery room after my cardiac ablation.

Unicorn_Arist

BillyBob99 I've had the same issue with my parenta.

Unicorn_Arist

Parents*

eunji_unnie

The diagnoses started rolling in when I was 12. I feel like I've been hearing this my whole life 🙄

eunji_unnie

Shelly_B I'm so sorry younger patients treat you badly and don't appreciate your experience and empathy. I personally find talking to people older than me about a shared condition encouraging, because it helps me see that there is in fact a future out there for me. I appreciate you❤️

Deadlyanxiety

YES. I've been told I'm "too young" for carpal tunnel even tho my hand tingles and goes numb all the time and it constantly hurts. But I'm too young. So I just let myself suffer

LilyTheKitty

I convinced myself i didn’t have anxiety or depression and I just had‘fake’ mental illness or something. Was way too scared to tell a single soul other than random people from the other side of the country I met online and confided in. What a mistake I made and I can’t believe that is how the people you trust the most react. So sad.

Well when you tell your numerologist your issues and he writes on your chart your a hypochondriac and your not it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. And you like the guy and you have not many doctors to choose from? You live 2 hours away from there office.

kaybay

Yes. It took 2 years to diagnose me with MS because of how young I was

Eva_C

Yes. I hate it. “Your too young to have the joints of an 80 year old” “I have a chronic illness called hyper mobility which cause my joint to sub lax all the time. Don’t tell me how i feel /what i have/don’t have. Thx!” “Oh I’m so sorry”

saggee

Got told my hip dysplasia was growing pains and when they finally took an x-ray they found out that it was in fact, not growing pain, but severe hip dysplasia. I walk with a cane and I’m in high school so I constantly get stared at by other students.

Shannonbh

Too young and you “look so healthy”

BeeBrain

Yessssss, my EDS means I have frequent/constant pain and I can't even count how many times I've been told I'm faking it

cyb3rlov3r

yeah nobody believes i have bpd bc im 17!

jerrielyn

you need to find rhe right psychiatrist because people are dx at your age. I was dz in my 20s with it I'm now 54. No matter what don't start drinking or using drugs the majority of us bpd"s are addicts and/or alcoholics it wasn't very understood when I was younger but there is hope ok. Your almost 18 ams can find a psychiatrist of your choosing to get a true dx. Hopefully it's not bpd I know this day in age there are much better treatments then when I was first dx.

rhuylee

yes, all the time

Rhubarb

I’m 17 and have the heart problems of a 40yr old lol

InhumaneKitten

Yes. I've been told since my mid 20s (now mid 30s) that I'm too young to have chronic pain, or that because I'm young, physically demanding things can be dumped on me instead of them.

I have that same problem my Dr even put on my chart I am a hypo, I hardly complain about anything. It's so hurtful.

Foxlover

All the time all my friends, and family are like your 25 you should have these problems till your 85 lol.

Amelia1998

Story of my life 😒

NikiRose

I had people say it’s just a phase or it’s cause I’m spoiled or I want attention when I was in high school. But now that I been through psychosis my family believes that I have a condition now and I’m not faking it.

skeletoncig

Yes. I'm always so self conscious to have a walk aid since I haven't used one before and being young it's always "you're too young to have that" or "your faking it". It's friends, family, strangers, etc. You cab show them a diagnosis and they'd still hassle us about it.

TanzieLuv

Yep… all the time, until I stopped sharing any personal information with those specific people period. 😒 I have learned who is understanding or willing to be when it comes to my chronic conditions. Those that cannot will just have to deal with where I place them on my “priority list”… as I do not have the time or energy to keep explaining myself or being dismissed. Those that care will show up and those that don’t, will not. Living with chronic conditions, teaches you who truly loves you and those are the people that I make sure to spend my spoons on when I am able to!

SAMHAIN

Ughhhh 💯 Tanzie!

happiness4begginners

Constantly in and outside of the medical community I've had it happen in the past and it turned out that I had really serious things going on from a cancerous: polyp 2 aneurysms in my brain and in my lungs all told it was in my head.

happiness4begginners

Now I'm sick again and we're back to square one

Hail21

Yes, I have. I don't understand why people think that there's an age limit for having a calcium dificency or any disorder.

Tadha1982

I had this too my vitamin d was very low But now my body ache My lungs makes me feel like I cant breath my lower back feels like it fractured But because my Vitals are ok they just tell me its anxiety.

Sponge

All. The. Time.

Beckibb

😡😡😡

TurtleRose

I'm almost 50 and have dealt with health issues since I was conceived, once I was a couple years old until about 10 it was mostly normal stuff but then things started showing, my parents only took us to Drs when they absolutely had to, so at 18 I started getting more diagnosis and still hear I'm not old enough! Finally I asked a Dr if I'm not old enough how do you explain babies,, her answer was that's an entirely different situation!

Nana1124

I went through menopause 10 years early because my disability caused an unintentional major weight loss in a short amount of time. I'm grateful I did because my disability is enough to deal with on its own, and not having my monthly cycle in addition was heaven sent.

AnaSloth

Yes and a doctor said I couldn’t have my condition because of my gender.

Knightstarr

So many times it is ridiculous

Nomad

Yes. I started showing consistent signs of mental illness when I was 12. Self harm and suicidal behaviors continued throughout middle and high school and was always explained away as me just looking for attention.

Beckibb

That’s crazy. I’m sure whomever told you that doesn’t know what rheumatoid arthritis is. People need to look things up before they talk.

kiwitaffy

All the time - I'm an ambulatory wheelchair user and they often tell me I don't really need my chair or other mobility aids bc I should be young and full of energy

Solar

Yes. Especially when I mention my PTSD because I wasn’t in a war 😥 I still almost died..

Reesie

Not parents but doctors unfortunately

Momma_84

I was told that many times. It stinks!!!

PugsSlugsSnails

Relentlessly

Bunzo_McGee

Every. Damn. Day. Of EVER.

707kimber

😥 ✋ 💕Many Times. But; I can’t except that. Because anyone at anytime can fall mentally I’ll, or Just I’ll for that matter!!

MandaBear

All the time

MiMiMiMi

I hate that. People say I am too yound and I weigh too much which is not helpful.

Oouchthathurts

Yep, Story of my life.

DangerNoodle

Yes, specifically by those older than me

Rainstorm

Yeah, it took me too long to get a diagnosis, because my parents believed that nothing could be wrong because of my age. You’re not alone, just remember you kind of have a head start on things rather than waiting half your life knowing somethings different but not quite… it’s a good thing to get diagnosed early! It’s like a superpower, to know yourself so much deeper. I’m sorry that anyone has put you down that way.

MiMiMiMi

All the time - also that is I would lose weight my knees would feel better( I am at a healthy weight)

zenflower

yes and i absolutely hate it

Emo_Enby_99

Once I overheard a doctor in the ER say "she's probably faking it, look how dirty she is. She probably just wants some opiates, she's too young for heart attacks. Just give her a Tylenol and a benadryl and send her on her way" I was there because my chest hurt so bad I thought I was having a heart attack, and my blood tests came back negative for it. They didn't bother looking elsewhere to see what it was. It's happened several times since, and from matching symptoms and related conditions I matched it to maybe being Costochondritis, an inflammation of the joint area of the ribcage. Something that happens with arthritis. Which my previous doc said I couldn't have.

GentleGemini

Yes

Woot_Woot

I have arthritis, people associate that with old people, I got it when I was 15. All the time

jordie1k

Yes I have

Alykat

I’ve been told I’m fine it’s all in my head, I’m to young, or those who don’t know my full story just the good parts telling me I’ve had a good life.

Suzi

Yes I have for years now

Benjiii

absolutely, people think im just brainwashed or something despite having an actual diagnosis.

Sapphire

Yes and you find yourself having to explain or prove your conditions and limitations.

MomWhoIsAtHerEnd

My entire life!!

kenicki

everytime i go to a doctor, stunned i have RA! but i'd been trying to tell doctors since i was in high school and no one believed me

Shenanigans

"JuSt WaIt TiLl YoU gEt OlDeR" Thanks for reminding me that my vision and joint pain will only get worse. 😎 im only 26 dammit

bean_lord

Way too many times. I’ve lost jobs because of it . And got denied jobs

Reasonable_Music_404

Literally every day I'm told this - glad I'm not the only one 😆

Little_Lou

✋

SAMHAIN

@WikkidWitch1 - well, it's not "gaslighting" bc they—the clinician—did not do the thing to you of which you are "confused" or being made to question. The term doesn't mean what millennials and GenZers are using it to mean and there's a nice, very specific term being ruined via colloquial misuse bc of it. Gaslighting is specifically the act of a narcissist actively creating a situation (often with the help of drugging in any way) which leaves the victim without complete certainty of an event's details; then, they use manipulation to prompt the victim to begin to question their own sanity since their experience and foggy/lapsed memory doesn't match the reality of the event as being illustrated to them by this individual they otherwise trust(ed). Questioning any/all other memories they previously assumed to be true is implied to follow, so then their "reality-checking" function begins to go haywire and they fall into a sort of psychosis, validating the "reality" their narcissistic manipulator has engineered. Their actual sanity must be challenged, or it's not “gaslighting”. Denial of your truth is not “gaslighting” w/o the intent of both driving you crazy and making you appear crazy to any outside onlooker. The manipulator creating both the event in question and the victim's doubt of the validity of their own memory is key to a situation ACTUALLY being a "gaslighting" event. Your doctors aren't gaslighting, they're just jaded/apathetic/bigoted bungholes.

SAMHAIN

Gaslighting is the tactic of a narcissistic manipulator and comes from a 1938 play ("Gas Light") and it's subsequent noir film named "Gaslight" (1944). The term pre-dates its recent explosive use by almost a century; so contemporary use is factually incorrect misuse of the wonderfully-implicative term. It popped up in psychiatric journals in the '80s (but isn't in the DSM), and then some idiot on The Bachelor literally defined it incorrectly on camera: “Gaslighting is when you try to make someone else feel like it’s their fault.” —NOPE! Sorry. That's just manipulation and "denial." In the play of it's namesake, the protagonist's husband intentionally works to make her believe she can no longer trust her own perception of reality. One tactic he uses to drive this confusion is turning down the gas-powered lights in their home so they flicker throughout the house. When she asks him why the lights are flickering, he denies they're flickering at all, suggesting it's all happening inside her head. 🎒🚸

Rico

Yup

Justine

Been told too many times

Zurie

All the time!

Oleander

absolutely, my parents wouldn't let me get treated for my schizophrenia, despite dealing with and complaining about my symptoms since i was a small child (7 or so). i don't blame them though, because it's really uncommon and hard to tell between actual symptoms and child make-believe at my age. instead theyd play into my delusions and build me up with phrases like "oh! you must be psychic!" which i again, i understand, i just wish they understood the severity of the issue. ended up diagnosed with social anxiety instead years later, due to paranoid delusions that my therapist was out to get me and refusal/inability to speak coherently. it took me a couple years into adulthood to finally realize there was something really wrong and being able to verbalize it and get a diagnosis.

SAMHAIN

Your response does not make any sense as a response to my comment. You are not addressing the topic. I did not say that medical gas lighting does not exist, I said that you are using the term in the incorrect way. As you just did, again, just now, because you did not read my comments before you responded. What you just said to define the term, again, is not gaslighting. That is called "denial," maybe "manipulation" if the intent is to actually mess with your feelings. "Denial of someone's experience" alone is 🚫NOT🚫 "gaslighting." End of story. Full-stop.

SAMHAIN

Therefore what you just said is incorrect, "medical gaslighting" is particularly NOT "downplaying a patient's concerns." Adding a qualifier doesn't make it sound smarter, nor more true. It just displays that you don't understand the subject of which you are debating. Gaslighting is gaslighting if it actually is, it doesn't need a qualifier. Adding a qualifier doesn't make any sense because it doesn't change anything about the situation regardless.

Rosita

I’ve been told your depressed? Why are you depressed? If anyone should be depressed it shouldn’t be you. What do you have to be depressed about? I’m the one who should be depressed.

Sillypeach

All the time. It’s difficult to explain to some people that we don’t willingly seek out medical diagnoses.

SAMHAIN

🙄 sorry to melt your little snowflake in the snow globe you've made your world, but, no, it's not. Some people's kids never heard they were "wrong" and learned how to process not being the center of the universe... and this is what happens.👶 Can you not read? Here let me help show you more objectivity which you will undoubtedly ignore in an asinine attempt to look like the victim of some tirade about the simple definition of a word you're manipulating which is—not ironically enough—about how someone in a domestic partnership manipulates the picture of the objective truth deliberately to drive someone insane (🚫not🚫 just to say "no you're wrong.") Is the objective truth of the situation getting through to you yet, witch? "Immaturity": n. - behavior that is appropriate to someone younger. "Willful ignorance": n. - A decision in bad faith to avoid becoming informed about something so as to avoid having to make undesirable decisions that such information might prompt. —Synonyms: deliberately ignorant, negligent, derelict, lax, neglectful, remiss, slack - These adjectives mean guilty of a lack of due care or concern, e.g.: ”The negligent child failed to acknowledge their lack of education about something they've never learned properly.” We can do this all day. You're still wrong. Repeating your own provably-false pseudo-definition to a term mis-defined by a television bimbo which was established before the parents who didn't teach you how to listen spawned you doesn't make you right 👍 You won't understand much from life when you steel-plate a skull that thick 💀

todd

Mine did but then figured it out.

Altoria

All the time. I've probably been victim of "medical bias" because apparently if you're young you can't possibly be sick 💀

Addeson

Yes I have had a chronic illness since I was 12 and then was diagnosed with arthritis at 13 and now am a 17 year old with a feeding tube and multiple illnesses

Jenny7777

All the time and my response is always no shit unfortunately I got a delta shitty card in life. Then people usually laugh and drop the conversation🤪

Yea I guess

Blu1

Yea I went in a thyroid storm. Before the docror figured it out I had someone in my family told me that it was all.in my head I was really sick for 3 months before the doctor figured it out.

zdetx

Having OSDD (or DID) this happens a lot with my family, they also invalidate it with “what trauma??”

Flutershy

Ya my dad was that way

cheyenneseybold

yes, i’ve been told im way to young to be diagnosed with bpd so they diagnosed me with inaccurate diagnosis and took meds for the diagnosis i didn’t even have. now that im diagnosed, the meds are better

Chandel

Yes.

Bleeper

Lol yes I hate it so much and then they just tell you to get over it.

Baby.K

Always. I’m on dialysis & I’m the youngest person there. Everyone else is 60+

kiwikiki

absolutely , i was diagnosed last year and my parents think it just randomly happened. no! i’ve been like this my whole life.. they deny it

Vexx

Only my whole life. I just say man I wish someone would have told my body that. Lol

Unicornp

Ive been told I’m not bipolar enough. i showed them lol

Beesolie

Sitting in a doctor's office being the youngest one there builds character 😆

Pammybear79

Someone thinks I am schizophrenic but I know I have depression and anxiety

Sebby

I was told I couldn't be bipolar because my mania didn't make me spend enough. Check my diagnosis now biatch

AuntSquirm

When I found out I had micro instability I was told it normally is seen in 85 year olds, I was late 20s then.

Max_Glass

I'm a teenager and my dad denies my panic attacks

Benny_Dusk

I had to annoy my mom to take me for therapy when I was 13 years old and i had one session. She made it about herself and that’s the kinda toxic parent that made me who I am among other things. I didn’t get the help that I needed until my 20’s

Otterotie

Yes. I have been told many times that I shouldn't have to take medication for my depression at my age, that those medications were designed for elder people who were depressed. I find it to be extremely invalidating and unsupportive

L.L

All the time, mostly for my depression, eating disorder, and D.I.D...

Student_girl

Yes and I get weird looks when I park in handicap and walk with forearm crutches. People are always like “really?” When I tell them about my disease and all my surgeries. Like yes really, I’m not making this up.

Catey

Yes my parents find it hard to understand

pricklypear

A geneticist told me that I was too young to have a condition that would mess up my surgery, so we went ahead with the surgery. A year later my surgery failed. I was nine.

Joza

I’m told this constantly especially when I’m trying to ask for help :/

Jenni_Star

Each and every physical ailment has been second guessed or underestimated because of my age

Dud

I was told my childhood was "too nice" for me to have any mental problems. My mom still insists I get a scan of my brain to see if I have any tumors causing my problems

anxiousdude95

Yes. To the point to where they think I'm lying.

VoodooLive

I get told this all the time by myself, sometimes i feel like I'm to young to feel this way, but I'm not sure...

VoydAlive

No, but when I went to my mom in 2018 and told her that I could have PTSD, she said that I was fine and the flashbacks were normal. And now shit's been getting worse and I haven't brought it up to anyone for fear of sounding stupid

peaceful

Yes, I know how you feel. So, as difficult as it is having these conditions and not having any understanding or compassion from a family member is very hard.

Brookevc

well yeah i was experiencing severe depression at age 10 and was asking for help from my mom, (who also has depression) and she said “well i think you’re fine so you’re fine.”

Pammybear79

I am learning abt Tapping can help with issues very interesting but……. Will it work ?

Pammybear79

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=02bN4JFx10Y

haileh

just because i’m going through something my family has never seen and i’m “gen z” it automatically means i saw it on the internet and im just lazy.

Pammybear79

My mom says to get over it but I research it that is not how it helps people to get over it

Pluto707

Yes. “What do you have to be sad about?” and “You’re too young to be in that much pain.” 🙄

Cory1988

I actually stopped going to a heart doctor because everytime I went in to see him he said something like "you're too young to have this kind of problem"

Snowy

My boyfriend has this problem and it is so hard to convince him to get treatment for anything because he just keeps getting told that he's too young for the conditions he has. No one is too young to be sick or suffering!! No one is too young to need help!!

butterfly6

All the time

pinhole

Totally agree.My doctor said my memory was not that bad.Took a cognitive test and was diagnosed with early onset dementia by another doctor.

yolk

been depressed since kinder and ive had back and knee problems since i was 10 so yeah, constantly, im still a teenager dealing with it

RJT

I know that feeling. Had that happen to me as a teenager so l suffered with pain and now that l am in my early 50’s it has gotten much worse. Doctors can not believe l was able to deal with that much pain and now 40 years later l am being treated for something that should have been treated when l was in high school

RJT

Cory. You should find a new heart doctor. It is too dangerous to let that go

Rosesandclouds

NovaSystem what do you mean by that. What does that have to deal with age and diagnosis and doctors not believing you. But I do think Christians shouldn't be saying that around certain things because some things are part of this broken world and not actually technically part of His plan

zia827

YES

Wendell

How can they say there isn’t anything wrong with you, and in the same sentence say you (crazy). I hate that word We are not crazy

AmeliaShepherdLover

All. The. Time. It’s totally invalidating

ShellyWelly

Yep! My first gastroenterologist didn’t diagnose me with Crohn’s (which we actually think is colitis) because I was 15 and “too young”. He really messed me up because of that I had to endure a lot of trauma and pain

FalseDrive

Oml. YES. My mom has most of my conditions, but when I’d be having panic attacks when I was little, she’d go “you’re too young to have those, let’s get you to a doctor.” They ran every test in the book and found nothing.

MaggieQuinn

I️ was diagnosed with RSD/CRPS when I️ was 7. Even my mom didn’t believe my pain until I️ got nerve blockers in my spine when I️ was 11, and they helped for about two weeks so I’d go back and voluntarily get 12 more (6 on each side) before moving on to a different course of treatment. And don’t even get me started on how difficult it was to explain to not only kids, but teachers that “Yes, I️ need a wheelchair. But I’m in PT relearning how to walk, so over time I’ll stand up, and walk more and more. But YES I️ STILL NEED MY WHEELCHAIR.”

whosawhatsits

Not necessarily, I think I was too young to be diagnosed with my conditions, though. I was diagnosed with several mental disorders between 9-14, and I think some of the diagnosis were inaccurate, and just me being a pubescent child.

skylerrosee

“You’re too young to have migraines” “you’re too young to have stomach problems.” and my favorite “you’re too young to have PTSD” and “You’re not in the military, you can’t have PTSD”

youngzay

cecilyella

every single time i meet someone new yup

wise

Yeah. It turned out to be an arrhythmia caused by a brand new gene mutation. I was the 5th discovered case ever. But I'm "too young" to have a heart problem that wasn't obvious from birth

MultiMato

A million times over. I’ve been told I was too young to hurt at all.

xenith

i’m always told that i am too young to have joint pain or too young to be not be able to run or stand for long periods of time. usually i’m just told to take tylenol to solve it (it doesn’t help) and same with depression i’m usually told i’m too young to be so sad 😟

AlanaH

All the time is like your young how can you have depression. You haven’t seen the world. I’m over here like I’ve seen enough and been through hell don’t tell what I seen and haven’t

Nettie98

Physicians/therapists especially for me. I've had to switch many times due to insurance and when I pour out my own experiences they dismiss it saying that "you were young so you don't remember that well of what happened". Trust me, I remember... wish I didn't

SAMHAIN

I've started asking people if they'll let me beat, r★pe, and stalk their kids/family in response, since it couldn't possibly cause them any harm or trauma to have stress over afterward. 🤷 Seems to get a different reaponse than explanation and education. People are selfish twits.

Emmett

A doctor told me that I was “too young and too healthy” to be one of his patients, and then refused to test me for POTS, while prescribing me beta blockers 🫥

Moxiegirl

Yes definitely

Reya

Always.

apxxle

yes it sucks :/

Scout1996

OFTEN. I feel so lucky though because I finally found an endocrinologist who takes me seriously. I mentioned that I couldn’t get help bc people always say I’m too young to be sick and she said “that doesn’t matter! We’re going to find out what’s going on.” Best. Day. Ever.

Bearchann

This happens to me all the time 😞

Oliloos

My mom disregards my social anxiety. My throat closes up, shaking and intense sweating, mind fog up the ass, on the verge of crying. But my mom tells me, "you'll just have to get over it" and then criticizes me for breaking down..

Mkat

My retina specialist said this to me when I discovered I had diabetic retinopathy. I am 38 was 36 when diagnosed. It made the diagnosis much more stressful and made me personally feel like a freak of some sort. The guilt has consumed me ever since

Poison

Hate that shit when they say that to us

RJT

I can’t stand when you walk with a cane or any kind of mobility devise wheelchair, walker even crutches people stare at you like they think l am faking. I never had anyone say anything to me yet. I would just say try being in my shoes for just half of the day and you can then make your judgement

Bunny_

Yes! I have fibro and get told by older people that my pain is still probably less than theirs because I’m so young

707kimber

I’m DOUBLE CHECKING ON MY OPTIONS BECAUSE WERE I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA ITS CRAZY 😝 😥HOW MEDICARE AND PART MEDICAL INSURANCE IS TREATED LIKE SHIZZZZ. BUT; IF I WERE TO GET KEISER THEN OMG 😳 😡 THEN I GUESS??? ID BE WORTH MY LIFE BEING SAVED?? I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY DR 👨‍⚕️’…. EVEN TAKE AN OATH TO HELP ALL AND TREAT ALL PEOPLE THE SAME WITH OR WITHOUT GOOD 😔 INSURANCE!!!! ITS ALL BULLLL. 🙏 😢 ✌️

Alanyia

All the time, in fact my parents deny that I have anything wrong to this day.

liss

yes!! doctors have told me they've never seen people my age with my condition

Mr.Robot

Not exactly the same thing, but once when I was 15/16, I thought I could confide in my mother, so I opened up to her about how stressed I was due to school. Having to deal with HW, tests & things of the sort. Her reply to me was something along the lines of: "Stressed?? What do you have to be stressed about? You're too young to feel that way. If there's anyone that should be stressed, it's me". She then, I believe, proceeded to list a few reasons as to why. Such as the fact that she had a job.

Denim

I knew that I had the condition around 14, but didn’t get diagnosed until I was 17. My periods were super irregular (like I had one once a year) and my parents just told me that I was still regulating and that I was fine. Eventually my step mom took me to the gynecologist just to get me to stop talking about it. But I ended up being right.

bzzzcow

yes with schizophrenia

SAMHAIN

Ugh good christ can i report this freakin post for spam or something ffs

Cameron_Cameron_000

I've had someone tell me "you couldn't possibly have anxiety, you have nothing to be worried about. Once you start paying bills, you'll know what REAL anxiety is"

Cameron_Cameron_000

Also some people saying 'why would you have insomnia? Just sleep, it's easy!' NO CAROL IT IS NOT EASY THATS THE WHOLE POINT

Deunx

I’ve had severe delusions from the moment I could string together a coherent thought in my head, but anything that explains it is “supposed to” manifest at earliest like late adolescence. Delusional Disorder and Bipolar are the two things I have that are most likely to blame, but little kids aren’t “supposed” to have those yet. My brother also had earlier onset bipolar, not as early as me but around 2nd or 3rd grade. I think his was taken a bit more seriously because he would have explosive outbursts, where I was always very reserved and internalized my stuff, so it was easy for adults to just tell me I was being too dramatic or assume I just wanted attention from it. Probably played a part in why I didn’t actually have my issues addressed til much later in life, I learned to just internalize it and that telling other people wasn’t safe. Was the most likely culprit for my DID as from the age of 5 I had convictions that my parents and all adult figures were trying to kill me or have me abandoned, and I couldn’t vocalize it because everyone became a potential threat and I decided vocalizing it would only be more dangerous, so my parents didn’t really ever catch on. Took til last year when I was 17 to tell a therapist about my delusions and stuff, felt absolutely horrifying but I’m slowly coming to terms with accepting my issues are serious and I’m not just being dramatic. I think my parents still have doubts I’m not just blowing things out of proportion, but at this point I’ve had to seriously block that out for the sake of my own recovery and wellbeing

Charollwte

all the time

snowboarding22

Yes

Sydneydragonborn

HA yes

Emil

Yup, with my depression, which I got diagnosed when I was around 13-14😒

emosongwriteraf

oh my god ouch reading this

calea

❤️

JessJesse

Heck yes. Because depression is totally for only mid life and beyond people /s

Aku

Yep, I hate the age regulation on this app. I'm younger than 18.

707kimber

😥 🙌 ❤️ 🤗 💕 😥 Frustrating How 👨‍⚕️ Drs Are Supposed Too Help Patients & Too Always Listen Too Each & Everyone/ Patient Equally!!!! But; When It All Comes Down To The Wire These Dr 👩‍⚕️’s, Only Listen and Care For The Patients With The Best Insurance and Money 💰 Coverage 😡 😤 🤬 😢 😭. Frustrating Situations Of Life. ✌️

StarrySystems

Not my specific condition but things like using the motorized carts at stores, having a mobility scooter ect? Absolutely

House_l

My family doesn’t believe in meds and therapy. I’m 57 now and had my first depression episode was when I was 14. It’s tough when you get NO support.

MamasGotYarn

Does anyone realize this is literally the most active thread here? Lol

qveenofthecastles

ALWAYS

Mirah

Being a 5 year old with ADHD, ADD, and PTSD was horrible, I was constantly overlooked and never noticed among my family, so much happened while I was growing up and I couldn't stand being with them. It felt like they hated me for just being alive.

Kell

Yep

graciehatestoes

I got diagnosed at 13 years old I am now 19 with horrible depression and anxiety I still hear to this day I am "too young","too pretty","too happy" "too small" for any of my disorders it's anoying and is what I think to this day is what pushed me into my depression

Kell

You are never to young to have it

twentyonepilots

Yes. It sucks. My parents didn't believe it until I tried to kill myself. Then they believed me

twentyonepilots

"you're not depressed, you just don't read your Bible enough"

t33nym1ll3r

I get told this about insomnia all the time. Or depression! I was dignosed with both at 13

ClockworkCrow

I’ve certainly been told I’m too old to be Autistic/ADHD.

Pickleperson

Yes and it’s extremely offensive lol. I always grew up having a tremor without diagnosis or seeing a doctor for it because I have hand tremors which would make adults think of Parkinson’s disease (which I could have I have no idea) but who would think an 8 year old telling them that their hand is concerningly shaking is telling the truth

Maeson

Oh yes, parents use to scream in my face and tell me to stop faking and acting because nothing in my life was traumatic enough for there to be something wrong..... thanks for the trama mom and dad.

SemenSlurper9000

if I had a nickel for every time I've heard this

French_Fry

I mean how would they know anyway

BHC

Yeah by my parents but then I got diagnosed and it proved them wrong

girlinterrupted

lmao! hashimoto's and being a hoarder made 17 yr old me look like a middle aged lady

atami

man.. thankfully no one else has told me this; but my inner critic has :')) it's true we're the harshest to ourselves sometimes cus wow

MiriBekah

All the time. My own stepdad doesn’t believe I have ptsd bc I’m not a veteran even though my psychiatrist diagnosed me with it.

fiction.finatic

Everyone tells me I'm too young to have chronic headache and dry eyes. These conditions began upon the onset of puberty at 14.

dillpickle

Yeah

Storm21

I feel the same way. I’m young and have a lot of health problems and I didn’t even put them all on here

epea1211

Yes about 8 billion times!

Bariplayer800

My parents didn't believe I had depression until I tried unaliving myself

MLee

relatable

Peachy_Keen

Yup. Especially at work

H_a_r_l_e_y

Way too many times to count, I'm too young for anything it seems, so stressful and it just angers me

LoveLuna

All the time

Skielyr

YES and it's THE most annoying thing when it comes directly from a doctor. 🤦

707kimber

I Can Totally Relate!!! Your Dr 👩‍⚕️’s; Supposed To Listen 👂 To Us Patients and Do Testing And Rule Out Possibilities and Figure Our/ The Patients Problem/ Problems. It Seems Doctoring 👨‍⚕️, Isn’t What It Once Was 😟…. Back Even In The Early 90’s Dr’s Took The Time and Had~ Compassion For All Patients Now I Honestly Don’t Feel Compassion, Let Alone Like 👍 These Dr’s Want Too Help!!!! It’s Honestly Just Like They Push Us Through The System Another Medical Number. The Better The Insurance The Better The Care?? Sad 😢 But Seems True. Good 😌 Luck 🍀 With Your Dr 👩‍⚕️ ✌️.

Atari

didn't know i had to be 57 to have sexual reproductive issues

Juliettel

I was told by my gyno when I told them what the hospital told me she said “your way to young this doesn’t happen till your in your 40’s” when I’ve been dealing with this for 4 years everyday and then turns out she diagnosed me with the same condition the hospital told me to tell her I had 🤦🏾‍♀️

Adria.B

If I had a nickel…

Dillybop

I’ve been told I’m too pretty to have dermatillomania

Jael

Yes. It’s super frustrating especially when you give the most specific examples of a symptom and it gets glossed over cause of your age 🙄

BananaBread23

Yes. It amazes me because most of the comments I’ve heard are from DOCTORS. It’s hard enough to hear it from people that just can’t understand like parents or coworkers. It starts to make you question everything. I’m “too young” to need a cane when I walk during a flare. I’m “too young” to have cardiac problems. (Probably will never be diagnosed until it’s too late). I’m “too pretty to be so sad” or “I just need to smile more” double yikes. Or I’m “too young to be in their chair at the gastroenterologist office”. I’m “too young to be in an oncologist office”. Last time I checked these diseases don’t care about age. So why is it in question? It’s like they think it’s fun for us to spend all our time and what money we do have left to meet with them. ❤️stay strong and take one day at a time. Trust in yourself and don’t let other people tell you what’s normal or how to feel. It’s your body and only you know when something is wrong. Unfortunately you have to be your own advocate. Take care.

Sylay

Yes. And its absolutely awful to hear it especially from other women. I started perimenopause at 26. And older women tell me that its not a thing that young. Even though the drs confirmed it and genetics say its very plausible because others in my family have too.

Buffodon

Yep. Anxiety in 7th grade🥲 by my parents

MLee

My step dad has the same condition as me and he's had it for almost 20 years and she always compares me to him saying how he has it worse than me but mine is actually progressing way faster and aggressively and it's frustrating to be invalidated just because mine isn't as severe (I'm legit 18 and have only been diagnosed with RA for 3 years (at 15) he's 42 and got diagnosed in his mis 20's) + doctors always saying that I'm too young to have arthritis and it must be lyme disease :I

Timm

Yes, I have hypertension at 20 and anxiety since 2018 and parents didn’t pay attention to anxiety until hypertension entered the chat and fucked up my lofe

lexirae

When I was diagnosed with depression my mother looked at me and said “what are you so depressed about your life is great”

AlohaTricia

Yes that’s the reason the doctor didn’t want to test me at first, he told me I was “just a tired new mom”. Thankfully my friend is a nurse practitioner, she told me to go back and demand the test (something I normally would never do.) The doctor agreed and now I’m diagnosed. So much effort to confirm sickness I don’t even want.

Buffy50

It's all very invalidating.

Jcm13

Yes, since I got my goiter at 19 and have had other illnesses since then. I’ve had doctors dismiss me but thankfully not too often and I found other providers who helped me out. It stinks but I try to ignore it and focus on what I know I’m working on and feeling. Ignore the haters and keep looking for providers who help you and not dismiss you. Take your care into your own hands and pursue what you need.

Tawni

Yup, I've had migraines since I was 4 and back pain due to scoliosis since I was 15 and I've constantly been told "oh you're too young for that" which irritated me so badly because me being young doesn't stop me from feeling the pain.

Vexell

Most definitely! Get told I’m too young to have an ostomy bag constantly!

EuropasGlow

My brother and mom laughed at me the other day because I mentioned how overwhelmed I've been. It shouldn't matter how difficult your life is, you should never belittle anyone else's life experiences cause you have jobs and bills to pay as if that disregards whatever I'm going through myself!

AudaCity

Me every time I've been to the hip surgeon with neon punk hair

Tyle_r

My dad and stepmom told me that I didn’t know what real pain was, my dad said if I ever broke a bone I would be on the floor crying until I black out. A year after I moved back in with my mom, I shattered 2 different bones in my foot, I got up and told everyone that I was ok and it was probably just a sprain. The doctors said if I didn’t take care of it the was they said to, that I would loose my foot. I didn’t listen in fact I walked on my foot days after my surgery never practiced pt at home, and I still have my foot, I can walk, jog and very carefully run. I’m very proud of my injury because of how my dad thought I would handle my pain. About a year after I broke my foot my mom noticed signs of my condition and that’s when she realized I was struggling with the same conditions she has.

VigilanteLover

your dad’s opinion of how pain “should” be handled is toxic. You are allowed to stop and feel the pain. You are allowed to honor the “limits” it puts on you. Rest is a form of resistance to this damaging opinion.

Baby_Cactus

Yes, all the time! With back pain, I get told I’m not old enough to be hurting. With depression, I’m told I haven’t experienced enough to want to die. With anxiety, it’s that I need to relax.

Mochanotfound5

Which time it seems like all people say to me is you are too young for every single condition you have and it is like what the heck 🤠

AlternateHeart

Yes, its like i have a old person body. No one realized how bad i had gotten at first because they didnt think it was likely to happen to someone younger than 60

scuba

I've been told I'm too young , crazy, too fat , I was made to feel like everything was just in my head

Wintie

Most definitely... Especially when they say "You're too young to worry about anything" or "You're too young to think that way. You shouldn't be depressed." and that usually makes me feel worse because it doesn't help at all. People assume worries and my sadness just disappear with a snap of a finger but the truth is... It just doesn't go away. Sometimes to gets easier to manage and then there are moments where I can't seem to process it and have to redo the cycle again. Sometimes it never goes away either.

lillypod21

All the time. It honestly gets quite annoying. Especially with my type 1 diabetes. They are like your so young for that. And then I'm like thats just one out of 10 conditions I have. And then they are like your so young or they are like are you sure you have all that. Thats even better one.

socks

of course

crazymustache

I agree. I have depression. My boyfriend doesn't understand. He says " just don't be depressed" ..it's like oh why didn't I think of that

VigilanteLover

I was 40 when diagnosed with cancer. Yup. 2 years ago soo still too young and it’s a lonely place too.

MaxIsWack2

I am 20 and this happens alot!

kayleexoxo

No because I havent went to the doctor for my conditions

anemone

not sure that i have (though i may have... i've heard a lot, including from my doctors. at the beginning of my journey, my doctor said i was "too young" to be experiencing arthritis-type symptoms and that's why it was a concern for possible rheumatic disease. don't think that counts since it wasn't trying to exclude me from a health condition, but it happened ::v). relatedly, as a mobility aid user in my early 20s, i do get treated weirdly because of my aids. especially when i use my rollator - when i use the wheelchair people seem to assume i'm paralysed or something, and when i use the cane people seem to think i just have a foot injury? when i have the rollator, sometimes people act like i'm making fun of elders by using it. i don't get it,

Harp

Yeah, I have very weak bones and I can fuck them up easily then some old person will say I have nothing to whine about because I’m only 17

insanely

Bro, all the time

Kiwipie29

arthritis since 14. i hear that all the time, and to add my other conditions peoples eyes just boggle and seem to think that young people can't get sick, especially to get arthritis.

Sandia721

yes!! Was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 16 so I’ve gotten this way too often.

S.S

Yes. I have depression.

Yura

Yes.

Sandia721

Yep. Was diagnosed at 16 so it’s happened way too often.

Drea_Mercy

All the time...my father was says that I am too young for anything, especially headaches. I use to say that my head hurts and he always say that I am too young, because I don't have a job or anything.

looneylunaa

Definitely I get told this all the time.

Tinyty

Yes.. when It doesn’t mean that you don’t have it .. it means that it’s not as common your age. One told me you must not have it then when I have all the symptoms but not just that on my lab work it showed it critically low. Cardiologist seen that recently and said this can get very severe quick

NiqueMK

Yes and I’m tired of hearing it! Like, thanks for saying that, I feel so much better. 😒

taconado

Absolutely. I had Guillain Barré when I was 19, which is super rare. I’m currently in the process of planning an invasive bone surgery on my ankle due to degenerative bone cysts. Most people in the orthopedic office are older folks with problems related to age. However, if you’re talking mental health, I think there’s really no age where you’re too young to be dealing with it. Mental health has gotten a lot more prevalent in our society, and I think it’s finally getting to a point where we can talk about it without feeling “crazy”. I was 21 when I was finally diagnosed with bipolar, but I know it went for years undiagnosed. It’s hard to talk about, but with apps like this it makes us feel less alone. Depression in teens is horribly common, but now we can find others who have conditions like us.

kat_hleen

I’m 21 and sometimes use a cane. It’s the worst when older people look at me and feel like they need to minimize my pain just because I’m young.

kerri918

Yes i have been told many times by people there is no way i am having menopause this early and refuse to tell me anyway to help with whats going on. All of my family have had early menopause i have it a few years younger then my mom

ivylee

yep. being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 20 was a doozy. people are still shocked every time i tell them. lol

BirdyHums

All the bloody time

Wishes

Right before my mom died she told me she knew that on her mother’s side most of them struggled with bi-polar. Some of her cousins were treated, others committed suicide. My mom and her aunts were some of the nastiest people when they were manic. I finally had to tell in-laws that I can’t just get over it. But since my meds are finally working together I feel most days it’s easier to deal with.

Miloz

that's how I found out l have spinal stenosis. Took a female Dr to find the tare in the back of my leg right under the butt cheek. Went to five different specialist and none could find anything wrong. I moved to Pennsylvania have a female doctor she finds it in 2 months they tried for 6 years.

Cas_499

All the time

giragitsprj

Plenty of times lol

Chelsie98

Yup. I’m 24 and got diagnosed 2 years ago with NAFLD. No history of liver problems either on either side of the family.

SJP

Which one of my conditions 🤣. I've been told this so many times, and had symptoms ignored, that many of my conditions are more serious than if they had been treated when I said I needed to be treated. (Welcome to neglect + abuse, via home and the medical system). To anyone who is concerned about yourself- do your peer reviewed, credible research. Don't be afraid to "doctor shop"/seek out a second opinion, or to ask your doctor "Can you evaluate me for ____".

Chonks25

With osteoarthritis, YES!!!!! But when you get hit by a ducking car 2’ off the road while trying to cross, you have green light and walk sign, they have a red light and plow through it at speed limit…… well, that’s what happens

KayEDS

Yep. Especially with my anxiety and EDS/joint problems…

Ryli

Every.dang.day

zarmina

I hear you, if they can't see it, they don't consider it.

Sox

Personality disorder! Still looking for a proper diagnosis!

Klaire

All of the time.

pigglybandit

Currently going through this and omg I am so over it! Young, and what look like in shape healthy people, can also have medical problems.

splonkus

yes, i’ve had an extremely early onset schizophrenia, people don’t believe me when i say i have it, but are the same people who point out my outward symptoms.

JennieBRiley

My blood work says I am in remission, but my brain fog and fatigue is worse than ever! 😥

Nova13

Often. I also get told I'm "too young" to use a cane. It hurts a lot.

Crabby279

My journey with my various conditions actually started while I was in high school. 25 years ago this month actually. It took 7 years to have a definite diagnosis, and ever since then it was "you're so young!" Or "Try this, you'll be cured." Now, I am 42, almost 43 and have been on oxygen (2 liters) since last June. So, now I am faced with pitying looks and people telling me that they are so sorry for me...to be so "young" blah blah...yeah well, I fought for 20+ years to be normal, and now my body, with the help of protocols we childcare providers needed to follow, has said it can't do what it is supposed to anymore. I have been home now since May of last year, almost a year now and I am no further in getting a handle on the slide my body has taken. I feel so betrayed by myself...does anyone else feel like this?

Chosen1618

Does any one else get pain in there back and stomach by ribs on the right side and if you about to Ovulate it feels worst

Johann

Yes people think I’m a lazy person and that I love to asleep during the daytime and it’s all the opposite 🙁🙁🙁

Fibrofoggirl

My daughter is only 9 years old she just got diagnosed with fibromyalgia. No dr.s ever believed me that I had it either. Thanks to the F/M test we have our proof

Toastttt

Yeah that’s why they won’t go deeper into my symptoms and conditions

AuroraRose

Or being told your condition is apart of growing up, is just a phase, or your just being a kid. Stop right there & give yourself some validation - you and your feelings are REAL.

ZappyRacc

My doctors have completely ignored or dismissed symptoms I have because they're uncommon in my age group. Examples include dural ectasia and synovial cysts. Basically, my spine is twice my age.

CSweet94

All. The. Darn. Time. 😖

Ascending

❤️I got told I was faking it and was lazy! Now I'm 100% service connected BUT folks are like, But you are sooo intelligent - Do it any way! NO! When I crash and end up in the hospital, nobody is around Now I take care of me and set boundaries

ameehaw

Absolutely! It’s hard

ChillGuy408

I felt that

AlternateHeart

Only all the time....

Maddawg32

Also when they make horrible jokes and comments about them 🙄

BenjaminButton2.0

I have been sick since I was 10 years old, mentally I’ll since birth and traumatized since. I hate when people say “you’re young and healthy” I don’t remember what healthy feels like if I ever knew

secretsthaticantsay

same, healthy mental wise is a question to me

secretsthaticantsay

legit almost anything can happen at any age such as dying from brain cancer at the age of 10 because one of my friends died of that

secretsthaticantsay

Yes my parents told me that I'm to young to have arthritis like seriously it happens at any age

RainbowKai

I’ve been told I’m too young to have ptsd and it’s very frustrating. It makes you feel like your just being annoying or extra but remember that it’s valid no matter what people say!

UnicornGranny

All the time I was for 8 years. I spoke up told them it was inappropriate to say anymore!

Blinky

I'm a teenager with a fibromyalgia diagnosis, AND nobody else in my family has it. When I tell you that after I got my diagnosis, my sister said she thought I was faking it to get out of exercise 😭

dixiechik

Oh my gosh yes!! From my doctor!! Come to find out I did have micro calcification in my breast genetic testing said I had brca1 and 2 had to have double mastectomy

Randalson

incogneato

I survived cardiac arrest and had several hospital workers surprised at my age.

Jessica_87

All. The. Time.

Soskae

This morning. I was talking to coworkers and they innocently said I was too young to be affected by my arthritis like I am. They meant it as in they felt bad I am and it’s not fair because I am but it made me think how often I have been told this by doctors in a dismissive way. Someone looked at my arthritis and said it was mild and that I shouldn’t seek help for it so I left it alone then a few months later I showed my GP the report and he was shocked I hadn’t sought out treatment for it so I explained to him that because it said mild I didn’t want to over react and his response will stick with me forever. “It’s mild for someone twice your age. The person writing this report did not take that into account.” I hadn’t considered what the report actually meant until he broke it down for me and I realized I wasn’t faking and I wasn’t just weak it was highly unusual for my body to be behaving how it was and it WAS something to be concerned about. I think being labeled as “too young” for a condition is much more harmful then health care workers realize because it leads to a lot of misdiagnoses and dismissive attitudes towards young people. They are being seen as dramatic not as people seeking help.

Cafpop

Yeah my parents 😕

CrazyQ

I went through three or four doctors before I was diagnosed with fibro because at the age of 13 because doctors were extremely hesitant to diagnose me with an "adult condition." The only reason I was able to get a proper diagnosis was because my mom has it and was not taking no for an answer when I had the exact same symptoms as her. And now all the time when I mention to people that I'm really hurting, they almost always say that I'm too young until they actually get to know me and my conditions

Furmom

Yeah, when I had to have a hysterectomy and my ovaries removed it caused me to go into menopause. I get looked at like I'm making stuff up.

WWW

It took me 10 yrs to get diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. Was medically gas lit by several doctors until I made a big stink to a neurologist that I was having trouble lifting up my baby-toddler and wasn't leaving without an MRI. Had zero family support until diagnosed, all thought I was exaggerating like a drama queen. Still not over it lol but that's one of several issues I'm working on.

WWW

grr some people and their non-supportive comments and behaviors still drive me mad, ignorance isn't bliss. You're not alone, rise above those peeps. 🤗💕

D3stiny

Yeah. I grew up as a very sick child so no one really thought my conditions were that serious and once they found out that they were, they were shocked and didn’t believe me until they actually witnessed it in person

UVRose

Oh allll the time. I'm only 20 and have arthritis and that's the main one I'm constantly told I couldn't possibly have cause that's only for old people 🙄

Gooster

I’ve had fibromyalgia since 20 and it’s been the same. People don’t want to believe chronic illnesses can hit young people, or anyone at any time, I feel like

Gooster

I’ve almost always been the youngest person in specialist’s offices ever since I was 14 and still often am now at 26. I keep wondering when I won’t be too young anymore to have my conditions. I have to bite my tongue every time someone says this to me or else I’ll whip out some real harsh realities to remind them that unfortunate things happen to people of all ages, no matter their age.

SpookyQueen

I've been told by doctors that at an older age (over 60), it's common to have either osteopenia or osteoporosis, but I'm only 19 and I have osteoperosis...

SadMom95

100% all the time. My mother did not address my complaints as a teenager and as an adult she would tell me I'm fine. She has Many health issues caused by genetics. And for some reason, only SHE can have issues. No one else

lavap

yup, “too young” to have everything hurt all the time

Annikaz

My parents think I go to all my doctors because I want pills…. I literally have an autoimmune disorder and need to be monitored but they’re convinced nothing is wrong with me and I just want attention/meds. Makes me mad

Asta

my biological father was like that and even sold my medication one time on a visit because he didn’t think I needed my thyroid hormones.

Mika15

Yes!! I've been told I'm too young to be depressed (or even just stressed) because I have a good life and don't know what it's like to "be in the real world"

Sparklelover

Yes I hate it when I get told I am to young to have a certain diagnosis when it really hurts and my family doesn't know what it's like or friends even neighbors

Asta

Yes especially since I have surgery every 6 months and my body is constantly attacking itself from the inside. I’m used to complications, ER visits, hospital stays, and IV inserts. Every nurse is surprised I’m calm for things others get nerves about. Plus I’ve had well meaning older people try to “pray for me”, think I was a junkie because I complain about my veins being blown from over use of blood draws and treatments, or just not believe me because most of my health issues are seen in older folk and not a 22 year old

Nichole78

I have gotten scars in the bend of my right elbow from being poked and prodded with IV's so many times. They're scared that the next IV poke that my veins are just going to blow up and most of them have. I also get told oh you're too young to have all these chronic illnesses. Then why am I on high-level narcotic pain medication. I have hypermobility ehlers-danlos syndrome, gastroparesis,transverse myelitis, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

rigamarole

Allllll the time! It took me eight years to be diagnosed because my original rheumatologist just said I was too young to have what I'm finally now officially diagnosed with! I also get a lot from strangers that I'm too young to use a cane or walker. I just tell them my symptoms didn't check my ID before taking over.

K.E

Too young for my IC, I wish I were faking

Micccc

My hearing loss. I have acute bilateral hearing loss so it is really severe. My dad denies its a disability and its so frusturating

KitKat1450

This is what sets me off. Or when people are like wait til you get to my age or if I’m sharing about my condition they said your still young. Honestly I can’t fathom getting older and managing because my conditions are degenerative so unless I receive a miracle I’m going to be declining much faster. I didn’t choose to have this happen at a young age and wouldn’t wish this on anyone for that matter. I want more than anything to get better. I’ve been trying to call people out when they say things like this now, like did you think about my perspective dealing with all of this being so young and it essentially robbing me of my youth and the horrors to come as I get older? It takes over all aspects of my life… what kind of future do you think this is leading me into? I say it in the most tactful way I can but I’m so over these kind of comments… they are degrading and destructive and I’m tired of just taking it and chocking it up to oh they probably mean well by saying that. Bullshit.

livvie361

At 14 I was too young to have a diseased gall bladder, but 6 months after this was said another dr did a test to find my gallbladder was practically decaying inside me. I'm apparently also too young to have fibromyalgia, but I deal with chronic pain everyday

Charmer

Yep, can't have arthritis yet, I'm not a retiree. Was diagnosed at 19 when running hurt

Calamity_Pain

“11 year olds can’t be suicidal” ummm ok sure I wasn’t

JeanetteB

Yup!

Vivi207

All the time 😫

JennyBreanne

Absolutely. I have the same conditions as my mom and some of her other family members but it took me longer to be diagnosed because I’m young

Newtworthy

Only nearly everyday lol I get told I'm not taking care of my body.

Kenli_Rose

I have a list of things I have been diagnosed with both mental and physical. It’s the physical ones that people tell me I am too young to experience. I have had chronic pain especially in my knees, shoulders, back, and neck since the fifth grade. I have missed out because of them and my body doesn’t heal quickly like others. Oftentimes people at different jobs (or really anywhere) tell me to do things for them because I am “young and capable.” I am young, but a lot of times I am incapable of accomplishing the task without severe pain after. I hate that people assume that because I am young, I am able. It is ignorant.

Kalena

Yes!!! Many times Hello, I agree

HiddenGem

I have a hip deformation and it really hurts to do certain physical activity. I always hear the “you are too young to feel sore” or “wait til you’re my age”. It’s very disheartening and it feels disrespectful. Conditions and diseases do not care what age you are or what lifestyle you live.

galaxychild

Yes! It's so frustrating. I am the youngest one at the cardiologist waiting room. I get looked at by all the older people and the nurses are like "you're too young to be here!" And I was like "well I'm in pain"

Snoots

Yes!

Kofuku

Yes—fibromyalgia. I started developing symptoms at 13, and I know the signs because both of my grandmothers and my mom are diagnosed. It was brushed off very quickly, unfortunately. :(

cardeg

My mom would tell me that I just wanted to get out of doing house work...till she started to complain of pain in her arms and was told she had fibro also. She had sleep issues and IBS for years..apparently those were her only fibro symptoms, so when she was put on elavil for the fibro, it corrected her sleep and her IBS..

Inkey

Yes, two of the conditions i was diagnosed with at 16 are suppose to be for "older" people.

bluelady

I was diagnosed with something that was supposed to be for older people as well.

PicklesTheCat

The reason why it took so long to get a diagnosis is because I was so young. I begged for years and didn't even get taken remotely seriously until I was 18.

depressedunicorn

YES having chronic constipation as a teen I never stopped hearing your too young for that just eat more fiber🤦

SecretFrog

Absolutely. I’m 26 and had a hip replacement. I use a handicap placard. I’ve had many people say rude things or look nasty towards me. It’s sad.

afraid94

Yes I been called a liar and a fake by people that are close to me it hurts

CheleKelly

Yes many times with a lot of my conditions. It frustrating to be told that and sometimes not believing I actually have it.

lilac_brain

When I told my grandmother I was depressed at 8 years old she told me I was too young and didn't know what I was talking about.

bluelady

Yes, but in fairness I am too young to have my illness. It's fairly rare, but not totally unheard of, for someone my age to have CML. It can make for some annoying convo starters

EmilyG

So many times. I've even been called a hypochondriac.

901Snoop

Yes. I have hip problems and people look at me crazy and say you to young to have hip problems

Ducki

So, I have been dealing with abandonment issues that stem from my biological mother and my stepmother and father have finally accepted and realized it. And of course, they didn't accept it until after I moved out a month ago.

Ducki

And my stepmother has finally accepted that I have anxiety as well.

gloomie

i’m 20 and I was diagnosed with PTSD when i was 17, and was told that i most likely have had it since i was as young as 12. I have been told by many that because I have never experienced war and/ or i’m so young that i must just be being dramatic. Abuse is an extremely real way to develop this kind of condition and I hope anyone in my situation knows their reason for gaining a mental illness is just as valid as any other reason.

katc

My insurance I had at a previous job refused to pay for my medication under the diagnosis fibromyalgia because they said I was too young to have it, so my doctor had to say it was a nerve fibroid disorder to get the gabapentin covered. The insurance I have now wouldn't pay for a neurologist with a nerve concern surrounding my carpal tunnel syndrome so my doctor put in a generalized central demylination to have me further evaluated.

cjness

For real! Or just get over it. You can't let disappointments get you down. You can't just go to the hospital.

asc

Yes and they took forever in the ER tem saying a 30yo could boy have heart problems. I am.now 41 and have a pacemaker

AEJ

Yes I have been especially by doctors. I hate hearing I'm too young.

Shaunny

I have been told that I was too young to have a stroke, having had my first major stroke when I was 14. I also have lupus and now degenerative disc disease... It's so crazy because I'm ALWAYS in pain and my fiance doesn't know how to deal with it other than pretending that everything is fine...

safe

Yes

Squarepeg

Yes 🙌🏻, 100% can relate to this! Just had my mother say something similar to me, when in reality, I’m beginning to understand my trauma, statements like these validating some of them. And still, they have no idea how hurtful their idea of “helpful” is…

MiloSunshine

The joys of having PTSD.

Lynda76

Yes for the last twenty years.. are 36 when I had a massive heart attack and noone believed me.. now 45 with open heart surgery and CHF...

Lil_Orca_Light

All the time! I’m 32 and I hear the phrase too young more times than I can count. I hate it. I have to remind people that because of all of my different conditions that recovering from an illness, injury, or surgery takes me longer. My age has nothing to do with it.

sendhelpmydudes

Yes all of the time. Theirs no age minimum for any of my disorders. People can be so hateful.

lovelylo

YES. when i had my back surgery my surgeon didn’t even want to perform on me because i was so young and nothing specific had happened to cause a 13 mm protruding disc!!!!

Kat.Wilder

I was diagnosed with arthritis at 3, so yes. I needed to use a walker at one point and this guy (trying to be funny) said that I looked like I belonged in a nursing home.

Maryslim

Don't pay attention to others, it wasn't until I had my spinal surgery, before anyone believed I had a problem. But you need to believe in you. Only you know your condition. I always told my son, there are only 2 people you need to please in this world, yourself and God. You do that and your life will be good.

SweetK

Oh yeah

LilG

ALL THE TIME. It absolutely SUCKS.

PurpleMage

All the time

Milano1015385

My teacher told me I didn't have tourettes when I was 12, but it in fact starts in childhood

TheLadyHolliday

Was told my my own mother that I was lucky to have brittle type 1 because "at least it's controllable" Thanks Ma

Boo2004

I have been told that I am too old for my condition when I have just been struggling with it longer.

EdenAm

Constantly. Made me think I was making up all my problems myself

Janella

I always get from friends and family members that's all in my head and that if i stop thinking about it then it will go away. So I stay silent and when people ask me how I am I say I'm good

spudlord

Yes. Every day. All my conditions. I'm always told I'm too young for xyz but you know what the universe doesn't care how young you are. It will fuck you up.

Lyss9109

Yes on several conditions.

ctmloml

I haven't but ive seen this sentiment online before and it kind of caused me to internalize it. without realizing it, i was applying my own narrow minded understanding of my condition onto myself - minimizing my own experience because i didnt feel "worthy" of suffering. i just felt like less than dirt. i still have a long way to go, and a lot to learn tho.

TipsyFlamingo

Yep. Along with "just wait it will get better... It will happen" etc

Lucas.exe

Someone told me 16 was to young to have period issues...

Cheybug1994

All the time I feel like a failure to my kids some days.

Panda98

Yes.. especially when I tell someone my joints are hurting. They say "oh just wait until youre 50" but they dont understand im chronically ill.

Y0g1

First time I went into my neurologist. The first thing she said to me was “19 years old? No no, you are much closer to 90”. I am told all the time I’m too young to have this issue or that issue, stripping me of the label that has stripped me of everything else about who I am. Age does not mean health- and frankly when people assume that youth equals healthy it makes people like me shrink- or even invisible.

Aborted_toaster

Yep I was on meds for my mental health and stuff and when i moved in with my grandmother she took me off all my meds bc I was "to young"

Dweeby

Constantly used to get it with my gender dysphoria especially back when it got really bad when I was about 14 (5years ago or so)

roseinlandfill

Yes all the time or it's all in my head it's all fake

Firedancer78

Yup! More times than I can count. I was even denied the surgery I need by my insurance company. The surgery is not covered by Medicaid, only by Medicare. So if I was old enough for Medicare, it would be covered.

MystikMandy

Yep. People my age don't typically have osteoarthritis

MystikMandy

Especially not their whole life like me

Farrokh_Bulsara

Yes, my father would call me lazy and get a job, my mother would tell me to get out for some sunshine, now I'm in a nursing home.

BipolarOkie

I actually had a pain Dr tell me I was too young to hurt the way I claim I do. He said so without even looking in my file and checking my MRI and x-rays. Needless to say I got a new Dr and things have been going well the last few years

saksgirl02

I asked for help at 17 as I was feeling unsafe from my Uncle as my parents were out of the country at the time. He told me "go find someone to help you with that" I am now 47 and haven't spoken to him in 8 yrs. It feels great to remove toxic people from your life.

eriingalore

yes! i hate it so much!

wandering.soul

I've been told this by my father many times. It's really stressful for especially since I've had most of my conditions at a young age. He would always tell me that I'm either too young or just completely deny the fact that I have certain conditions. It honestly really hurt me

phillip.marshall

I was told because of my age I'm too young and too old

Crystal_Rose

I kept getting told I was too young to be pregnant 😒 I was a senior in high school at the time. And now I get told I'm too young to have PTSD. I mean my son only died in his sleep 🙄 not traumatizing or anything. Seriously fuck people man 😤

Alliekatt

preach!

Alliekatt

YES. Like 1/2 of my diagnoses and procedures! I'm like "wow, that was remarkably unhelpful since on top of being useless commentary, you don't know the cause, don't listen to me, and experiment on me like a lab rat."

TrixiSchutzo

The aches and pains I have because of my condition make me feel like I was put in an old women's body sometimes

Betsy1120

Yes, indeed. When I had my first mini stroke(TIA). I was 25. I went to emergency. And the doctor there, told me that I had a panic attack. I remember another doctor suggested to do some tests to rule out a possible stroke. And he replied :"Look at her, she is too young to had an stroke." So I went home. And the next day. I had a stroke. Was 2 weeks in ICU.

Nrd

Yup. I was told I was too young for my very needed hysterectomy.

ShoobyDoobyDoo91

Yup alot. Like oh you should be working you look fine and your young.....

audRei

many people, especially on reddit, seem to think that DID and OSDD only develop after 30 years old-- but at the same time they acknowledge it has to form before 9 years old. They act as if anyone 9-30 cant have did/osdd or display symptoms. Like suddenly, on your 30th birthday, you develop did overnight. Did is with you your entire life, it doesnt go away whether you acknowledge it and have it diagnosed or not. They often say "teenagers dont even have a fully developed personality enough to know if theyre 'multiple'" and while it's true teens dont have themselves fully figured out, that doesnt mean you arent experiencing actual dissociation. That doesnt mean that people 20+ have themselves figured out more than teenagers, because honestly, some of the most lost people ive ever seen have been 50+.

Finnley

I get it a lot and i even say it myself (bc intrusive thoughts) like it doesn't make the illness go away or lessen how I feel just bc I'm "too young to be having these issues"

dadoen

Literally get told all the time that im too young for a lot of things and it used to be worse when I was 15 living with bipolar 2 PTSD and panic disorder

sunshineRosalind

All the time

Lady6ug

No, but I was told that I was "too smart" to have ADHD despite having every other symptom. That's called Disney Channel fueled determination bro. And my common sense is lacking, idk why people keep saying I'm smart. I'm just good at faking confidence and people believe me when I talk.

Contessia

Yesss all the time

MaeBea

So often! I've had the same symptoms for YEARS, but it was always brushed off, even been told I was exaggerating and imagining it despite clear evidence on various mri's, blood tests, etc. Suddenly I'm in my twenties, and it's "oh well, it's this and this..." and I find out it might have stopped getting worse if I started treatment years ago?? I'm fully convinced so many diseases and disorders only start a bit later in life because children and teens aren't taken seriously.

Makintosh

ive always been told that i was too young to be depressed or sad or stressed about ANYTHING. i had no one to talk to growing up because i was always blown off as if i was lying or id get over it eventually. now everyone i tried to talk to about my mental health is upset that im talking to a therapist instead of them 😒

Chunky_Viking

Yes. I've been denied disability for 2+ years and multiple times through NYS for disability and they always use my age against me. It's disgusting.

Noemie

Not my condition but my symptoms yes.

LunarQ

This has been my struggle for the past 7 years. Its really irritating and frustrating. Because of being dismissed by my age it has caused me second guess myself. Thinking it's all in my head. Thank goodness I finally got through to a Dr that took me seriously, but I still get the your too young to be having these issues.

lilmomma782

Yes when I was a young teen I started having stomach issues and acid reflux. My father would tell me I was too too young.

BambiStar

I've been told I'm too young to be experiencing the symptoms of my condition (namely memory issues and brain fog), but never the specific diagnosis

AMWes

I HATE when people tell me that I'm not old enough to be in this much pain, especially when my mother says it. Like, I'm sorry my body decided to hate me, I don't know what to tell you 🤷‍♂️

theythem

Before my EDS dx I was told all the time that I'm too young to be experiencing this much joint pain and this many pulled muscles. And too young to have memory problems.. thanks ADHD and brain fog.

LittleRaindrops

Doctors and family alike. Migraines since I was 10 and auto immune since I was 20.

TracyandLanita

Yes

Roland

Way too often. Gets old fast.

Michellebd1980

Yes! When I was diagnosed with many health issues in my early twenties, people always said that to me

yoyoma

They told me I was too young to have arthritis as bad as I do. Now I have been diagnosed with neoropathy without having diabetes and can't figure out why

Crazy_Cat

I moved early last year and was struggling to help my family pack as I had to quit physical therapy while we moved so I was in a decent amount of pain and was upset I couldn't help more. We had some people come over to help including someone who taught me in church and told me I was too young to be in pain and scolded me. Worst part was it was my birthday and she wouldn't listen that it was a diagnosed condition and basically kept the belief I was just lying to get out of work

unsupervised_uterus

Yeah if it's physical or mental and it's just pushed away because "you are not this because you never experienced this and that" and it's really just telling people that your pain is not valid and everything is "fake"

lunakitty414

Yes this happens a lot

AliZ

Hello..new here but I get told this often. I've been so sick and they think I'm making it up. I wish I was because I would put this pain on anyone.

DSmith

I can relate ❤️

Mimzy

Yes, even by my doctor's. I've had bladder issues my whole life and it took over 25 years to be referred to a specialist and diagnosed with internal cystitis

lonebaritone

Ha! Complained about stomach problems since high school. Come find out at 23 not only do I need to watch for colon cancer I have damage in my esophagus that could turn cancerous. All of which could have been addressed when I was in highschool and prevented from getting this bad. I still have doctors who want to label me anorexic and ignore my stomach issues.

Lunabean

I'm getting the, "you're too young!" Comment from doctor about a knee replacement. I have had my meniscus removed, insurance won't approve gel injections and I have done almost 3 months of pt. And the pain is there.

SlothFan26

More times than I can count

BonnieBubblegum

All too often.

chocosmom

I've heard stuff like that but I'm learning that more and more people my age and younger are being diagnosed with similar conditions. I'm glad I was diagnosed young, it most likely saved my life and I've come to know my doctors and they know me on a personal level so it doesn't feel so awkward for me.

LyraDaenestra

Yes, PTSD and Depression. Because apparently you can't have trauma without going to war or having adult issues. And you can't be depressed when you haven't experienced life away from your parents safety net of responsibility over you. Everyone assumes that a child's home life is always good.

not_b00bs

i feel you! i was ten years old, be-boppin around and doing my thing, and suddenly my brain went "i will not be producing serotonin or dopamine anymore. i am done. only sad chemicals now"

Kitty83

Yup. I'm 39 and been suffering with arthritis and fibromyalgia for almost a decade. Whenever people tell me I'm too young to have my conditions or symptoms I just say, "apparently not."

Kishi

i had the opposite issue, i was told i was 'too old' when seeking an ADHD diagnosis (I was 14 at the time) and struggled immensely in school because I didn't have the treatment I needed. I finally got my diagnosis at age 17, after the damage had been done

epiDEMIc

At 31 years old I had a heart attack. I hear about my age and condition numerous times a month.

not_b00bs

i'm so sorry that happened and that people give you a hard time about it. my uncle had one even younger and didn't make it. i hope you're recovering well <3

StrugglinMama

Oh em geeeeeeeeeeee yassssss!!!! All the time, well not so much now that I'm older but I was diagnosed with RA when I was 15 and because u can't see my disease so many ppl think I'm faking or acting or exaggerating... And so many ppl told me I was too young to be having joint issues and to suck it up, it's so embarrassing and I've had to jus deal with it for years.. I try to hide my stiffness as much as possible but here recently I had a woman ask me why I was walking the way I was and I had to explain I have RA and when it rains I get stiff and hurt really bad so I tend to walk different

LyricRainn111

Constantly! Even though my primary condition, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease LITERALLY mostly affects people in their 20s, which I am!

Willow_Limey

Yes I was diagnosed with PTSD at 11-12

kixten

I'm 19 and have been diagnosed with a mother load of disorders and I have been told I am faking or using it to get attention

alexinchains

Only everyday

Wolffgirl

I have my entire life.. I was diagnosed at 5 with Joint Pain. Its grown and traveled since. From my ankles to my knees, hands, hips.. Everywhere. When I tried cheerleading once, the coach purposely made me do cheers that caused me to be pain until I almost collapsed during a game and my dad saw.. The coach tried to tell him I was faking because I didn't like this cheer. My dad lost his mind at her. Telling her I've had joint issues since I was little. She kept insisting I was too young, to my own father..

shellybear333

Yes many times because my condition witch is schizophrenia start when your older but pet seem to not know that it can happen any point in your life

Wild_Goddess

So many people tell me that I'm too young to be a T1D...it bothers me because when I was diagnosed with it, my doctor said she was surprised I wasn't in a coma...

not_b00bs

my mother and her brother were diagnosed at 16, but it isn't uncommon to be diagnosed as young as 7-8 :(

mr.tree

Yes and they look at me and say you're to young to have gone through that much stuff already

Irelan

It's so bad when your own dad denies everything about you and is always on your computer. It's really bad when you can't control anything and it's even worse when nobody understands you and you have no input.

freyaslady

absolutely feel that. My dad believes me because he also has mental health issues and he's seen the x rays showing why I hurt constantly. My mom on the other thing doesn't believe me, constantly tells me I shouldn't be taking antipsychotics and mood stabilizers for my bipolar and doesn't understand why I'm always "acting " like I'm in so much pain. Shes a nurse.

freyaslady

Literally by a physical therapist just the other day. I have arthritis in both knees among other problems and he said you're so young to have arthritis. I'm like tell that to my knees my guy. My parents often joke that I'm older than both of them, my mom always says I'm too young to have all these issues.

Mz.Styles

😥😥😥... It's hard enough to be normal with all the stuff I've dealt with... Been through a lot and I'm just exhausted from it all... I'm tired of fighting my way to become someone I'll need be...

Mz.Styles

Never*

chokingonmysins

yeah. i wasn’t supposed to be diagnosed with bpd in 8th grade apparently lol cuz it’s too young to be diagnosed with any personality disorder. i think it’s bullshit cuz i’m 18 and my bpd has only gotten worse.

Raven077

Everyday

JessiRae

I am told consistently that I am to young for the tendon damage in my knees, and the arthritis in my knees. Both were caused from. Childhood injuries from being active.

JayLee13

Yes, I've had chronic back pain since I was a child and finally got the diagnosis of a bulging disc in my lower back, that I was told looks to be 10+ years old since the original tear 😥

TyeDarkSoul

I was once told "Your too young to have shingles" I was 23. It was stress related.

Lolabear

I don't yet know if I actually have it, but when I told my doctor I suspected I have arthritis, she said "no way, you're too young." Now my physical therapist wants me tested for RA, but I can't get an appointment until mid July. I really wish my doctor had just listened to me.

finncuiss

When I was a little kid I was always told I was too young for depression and that I don't even know what being sad is

not_b00bs

twins 🤪🤪

XenoTheFrog

Yup. I started having anxiety and depressive symptoms at 6. My parents always told me to just stop and always had called me shy. My school found out I had been undiagnosed and tried to get me into a mental institution after an unspeakable event I did. But, I was never diagnosed until literally this year. My doctor said "took you long enough" and I got diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder

not_b00bs

i remember trying to describe my un-ending exhaustion to my tennis coach. he told me i was "too young to be tired." i hadn't yet been diagnosed with depression. i'm still tried.

Void_Winters

All the time, I'm too young to have joint pain, I'm too young to have so many mental health issues, I'm too young to have breathing issues, I'm too young to have tinnitus. It's goes on and on and on.

Nox

I had shingles at 19 and some people don't believe me because I was "too young" to have it

Jpenn552

Totally. I have always had shaky hands that made writing neatly hard and some ppl always say something. Yes, bc I can totally help having epilepsy and CP. 🙄

Noemie

Yep! I have a sharp ache in my left thumb that pops up every so often. It's sensitive to cold and I can't hold cold drinks with me left hand cause of it. It hurts just to tap on my thumb lightly and at times I feel pressure inside of my thumb that's only relieved by popping it. I haven't injured it that I know of but it's been going on since 2014. I finally told my primary doctor about it and she said "well you're too young for rheumatoid arthritis." I didn't even mention arthritis to her so I was confused. I am 32.

CORYGUTZ

Yes, multiple times they said that i was "too young" to be feeling these kinds of things and that I was "lying about it"

Jay.Wish

Yea, for sure. I was 13 when my POI began to show, given that people in their 20's are usually the first to get it, the thought was understandable. Though when they completely blocked out any possibilities other than me being a normal teenager, it got very frustrating.

EatenByWormy

Whew the number of people who tell me I’m “too young” to have poor memory or chronic fatigue I’m not, those are symptoms of my neurodivergence and mental illness, but thank you for being weird about it. 🙄

lemonaden

all the time. been struggling since i was 14.. im 19 now. still get told in too young and its all in my head

thatweirdspice

Yes or that people only get PTSD from being in war.

MrsBabydoll

I was told that I had the health history of an 80 year old.

History.and.cats

Definitely, people don't understand chronic pain in young people.

chickybones

Yes but then blood work proved I have the conditions

OuchiePrincess

I regularly get this and blank stares in public when I explain that I’m as disabled as their ailing grandma. Like they can’t believe it.

Wondercell

Billy Bob 99 my mother died of this condition and never knew what she had. It's one of the reasons I came in with a little more knowledge that this is a thing and it can actually be hereditary although it's usually trauma-induced. Parents that are healthy friends that are healthy family that is healthy they can't begin to understand how sick you are I didn't know my mom was as sick as she was 3 weeks before she died and having ignored her condition it turned into how much worse heart disease which led to death of course but I guess we can all be guilty of not understanding what's going on on the inside of someone when they look fine on the outside, would be nice to bring some awareness to the world though.

AnxiouslyPatience

Only by every older family member in my family

ChemicalX

By my dad, all the fucking time. Like i get it, im 24, i have everything a 80 year old person would have, I get it. Its shocking. But when i kept telling him i was sick, he never believed me. Now it "youre so young to have all these problems" like yeah, okay, i know. Maybe if you took me to the hospital when i begged you as a child and not thinking im "trying to skip school" i would have these problems would I dad? No. 😐

Kaitlyn04

Yup. My anxiety, depression, and PTSD. It's usually accompanied by comments like "but you've never been through anything bad" or "you're too young to have anxiety, you don't even know stress yet." As if they know what I've been through

BrieMarie

Yes! I was told that yesterday! Age has nothing to do with it.

Harvey78

Most recently i tried being friends with someone older than my parents at first they seemed nice but then they started bragging about how they ate 25 yrs older than me and dont have half the things i have like joint pain or chronic pain. And such. I guess it was making them feel better but made me feel worse in the end i stopped talking to them.

weird1

My mother was indifferent about my low potassium, made me wait thru Thanksgiving dinner before she literally dropped me off at the ER door and drove off. I was in ICU 2hrs later and had a stroke the next day...I was 26. Some people.

SourLemons

yeah. it's been a while since then, but i've had a family member really close to me tell me to my face that i'm too young to be depressed, that there couldn't possibly be anything wrong enough to make me feel depressed. it's so wrong to say that to anyone suffering depression—regardless of the age. i'm reminded of that all the time, and it still hurts thinking about it to this day, years later.

Kaymarie

I, 22, hate when I’m at work and say that my back hurts only for my managers to say “just wait till you’re old” I already know it’s going to be worse when I’m older.

RoxieAnn

All the time. People look at me like they dont believe me. 😥

Kei_88

I've seen people say that if your over a certain age, you're "too old" to have adhd, as if only 5 year olds can have it??????

Weiss

Always. Or with depression: "You're life isn't that hard, what do you have to be 'sad' about." Depression is not sadness for one. And for two, you don't know as much as you think you do.

Dylanz

I was always "too young" to have depression, then my family acts surprised when I end up in the hospital.

malimami

It's a disconnect. They can't see it they can't feel it and they don't understand why you do. I totally relate. Muscles and minds have memory and they're hard to retrain. Luckily we can build new memories.

Hivemind

I've never been told this, but I've been diagnosed with Early-Onset Bipolar Disorder. All I can say is that I'm here for anyone if they need someone.

Aspie_Raven

Extreme Macular degeneration in one eye, unknown cause. That's for old people- literally anyone who knows what it is. Also in reverse I am to old to be happy flappy hands in public because i should have outgrown my mild autism.

Lunabean

My parents are a good stable source for me but right now I am getting the "you’re too young" statement from a doctor. He knows its in my best interest to have a total knee replacement since a meniscus removal didn't help but because I'm only in my early forties and replacements only last ten years or so he isn't suggesting it. I have done twelve weeks of pt, my insurance won't cover gel injections so where do I go from here?

UCBree

Not too young but "too pretty." What the heck do looks have to do with anxiety? Sigh

MusicalMicha

All the time. People have constantly berated me for having arthritis. It's always been considered an "old people's disease". But yet I'm only 21 and already dealing with severe inflammatory arthritis.

Dire_Wolf

Yeah. Diagnosed with COPD like a week after my 38th birthday. I tell absolutely nobody about my diagnosis. If I need to use an inhaler around people, I don’t make any comment. If anyone asks, I just say “allergies are flaring up my asthma”… Doctors are continuously making comments about me being too young to have COPD. And I don’t want family to know, because I feel like I would just be judged and blamed for it. I know that some of my conditions are from self-sabotage… but it doesn’t take away from me being a human being with thoughts and feelings who has to suffer through it all.

Alley_Fantasia

I've been told I'm too young to be in constant pain. like yes I know this, you think I haven't noticed? but never got help for it cuz 'Mericaaaaa

Prue

Many of times, I've been faced with "Oh well I never had that happen when I was younger, maybe you're just overthinking" or "you're too young for that" and to them I say "No one is too young for anything, have you seen the world we live in, open your eyes"

Toadette

I've also heard " Wait until you're my age then see how you feel!" Like I'm sorry I didn't know it was a competition?

NatalieJane

Sometimes its the opposite too. Like, "you're too old for ADHD"

Esri

I've been told I'm too old to have developed an organic tic disorder so it must be functional...

amc

Yes I have. I had this issue when I was diagnosed with depression, anxiety and PTSD. The PTSD was hard for anyone to believe in my family because I was 15 when they diagnosed me. Some people don't understand that not everyone can handle things the same and it's not anyone's fault for being affected by any thing. It's only human to be impacted by events. It's also just human to have different things going on too. Nobody's mind or body is built perfect and that's okay. It's what differs us all.

Hamster99

Ever since I got sick at about 14 I always get "You're too young to be this sick" and it's like well I am this sick 😫 and I hate it

cabbage

I have family like this

QueenieQ

I had my first kidney stone at 11, then another at 17, and 2 more at 18. Luckily haven't had any since, but I was consistently getting told I was too young, and with my second and third times having kidney stones, had doctors attempt to ignore me and nearly misdiagnose my issues due to my age

anzel

Well when you have a leukemia that really only affects nursing home aged folks and you're barely an adult I wouldn't blame anybody for denying

WaywornPuppy

I think having arthritis in my hips at 23 is a bit young

Ashley1990

😥

Ashley1990

I have had Rehumatoid arthritis since I was 15 I always got the comment of "isn't that an old people's condition"

LaveLavender10

I'm always told this, they always think that I'm just "being dramatic" 🙄

OverwhelmedBard

Yes, i had a hard time getting diagnosed and even have the same condition in my family.

katc

By my insurance, back in 2011 I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and I couldn't get medicine because medicade said I was too young to have it because I wasn't 40. Even now my current doctor had to put in neurological shaking to get me the medication I need because my work insurance says the same thing.

pizza2

"You're too young to be walking with a cane/walker." "You're too young to be taking opioids." "You're too young to have severe back and nerve pain." "You're too young to need surgery." Bonus: "Even after you've lost weight I still won't touch you (surgery) because of your age." ~all three sugeons I've talked to. I can accept needing to lose weight before being able to have surgery. But age? Seriously?

zucchini64

my mother thought that way, until i had a break down in front of her and pretty much begged for help. she takes it seriously now.

Lygia

All the time. I've spend most my adult life trying to convince people I had back pain. I've had knee and leg pain since I was 11. I'm 36 so of course I can't possibly be in this bad of condition. I had to have surgery and go into hospital and start taking 15 pills a day for my own family to believe me.

Sleak67

Yes just yesterday but I didn't think 54 was that young lol. 36 was very young when I got diagnosed osteoporosis bad as a very elderly person

Horror_Boi93

All the time.

Boofer

Yes. Constantly.

MistyJade622

Yes I've been told I'm too young to have Arthritis and Sleep Apnea. Even by my doctor. Yet I am diagnosed with both, a couple years ago and I am 21 now.

Pancakes14

I've been told I'm too young to be in pain or to have all the issues I do. 😥 My only diagnosed conditions are GI related and there I've only been blamed for them because "you don't eat right" even though I was a child when I developed them soo

Hannah_6

A little old to be acting like a child or why don't you be a better employee. Princess Personality is what I have that's when I act like a grown version of my little one with crying spells. I get mood swings and happy moments. I fit in with my younger peers more.

mimitalksalot

i always get told that i’m “too old” for anxiety. that i “shouldn’t be nervous, i’m in my early twenties.” it’s so annoying, it’s not like i choose to have panic attacks and get nervous. i try so hard just to get told this.

Option_Unavailable

Not quite that I'm too young to experience a condition, just that people don't believe the thing that caused my PTSD was "that serious" because some other people have been through the same thing without getting PTSD (even though I literally have 3 or 4 other people just within people that I know personally who have gone through the same experience and now suffer PTSD from it(

green

the surgeon that performed my surgery for endometriosis told me to my face "you're too young for endo" and after doing the surgery and discovering the scar tissue, he said "well you have it, but just barely so idk why you've been complaining so much"

CDog

I mustered up the courage to tell my (at the time) therapist that I have depressed thoughts and have hurt myself… She said that it was just “teenage hormones”… 🥲

JustcallmeOmi

Jesus, yes. I was diagnosed with JRA at 13 and I’ve been hearing that my entire life. I’m 48 now and I still hear it about that and my other autoimmune disorders. Frustrating as hell.

AssassinSasha

Yes especially when I mention my depression. I get blown off since I always seem happy and at times energetic. But they don't understand that I literally am having to pep myself up or put on a mask to show that I am not that tired or just done with everything.

redbullbongwater

I was diagnosed with anxiety at 12, depression shortly there after. I'm 18 now and I'm STILL told that I'm too young to have these things, that I don't know what the real world is like because apparently you have to experience the "real world" to have mental illness. It makes no sense that someone would think that way, so I try to just convince myself they don't know what they're talking about. But there's always gonna be that voice in my head that tells me they're right even tho they're not. But no matter what, they don't know me or what I've been through so they can't possibly know if I'm "too young" to be mentally ill.

tattooedlizardlady

All the time. "You can't have joint problems, you aren't even 30 yet!", "just growing pains, nothing serious.", "stop being melodramatic, it can't hurt that bad."

blue89

The "too young" thing is a great part of why I didn't get a proper diagnosis for my chronic pain for years Nothing looked wrong in my bloodwork or x-rays or mris so I must just have "growing pains" or exaggerating about how bad and constant my pain was

Chrissyposi

Yup 🙄 all the time.

Critter101

I was 15 when I first attempted so one of the typical responses I dealt with was "you're too you to be s*icidal" and "how do you even know what that is". My advice to younger people dealing with depression is don't let others tell you that you're 'fine' when you know you're not. You know yourself better than anyone in the world.

prettyporcelain

I was with people today discussing being young with energy... An I'm like can't relate.. I'm here hoping I can get myself to feel much better in my 30s than I do in my 20s

Bob_Mc_Boberson

Back pain

kimmiekins

Oh yeah. Especially since having a total knee replacement at 41.

Anixty

No haven’t heard that

Shannon96

Yes many times

AllieCatB

All the time by cardiologists and doctors and it’s very frustrating. It’s like, anything can happen to anyone at any age.

Officialishness

Literally have my parents say “you just want to find something wrong with you.” All because I been trying to find doctors to figure out why I feel so bad all the time (prescynope, migranes, leg weakness, chronic UTIs, etc.) and I’ve found lots of answers and have been feeling better but my parents refuse to listen to the doctors who say something is wrong/abnormal and causing these issues 😥

loralies

All the time and have been told your too young for all this for at least the last 15 years. I have alternately been told I was too "old" to develop T1D

tikka

Yes, I need a knee replacement! I have severe arthritis in both my knees and been told repeatedly 😥 I'm too young for the surgery. Grrr!

MagickalRebel

I was told this by someone with the same condition. She was my orthodontist and it felt like such a slap in the face honestly to have a medical professional tell me I'm too young.

ellehoots

✋ I'm 33.

Anthea

yes i've been struggling with pain and mental illness since sixth grade but nobody took me seriously until i got ulcers in eighth grade and the only explanation they had was that they were caused by anxiety. i had three doctors telling my mother that i should go to a therapist or something because a kid doesn't get ulcers from anxiety from nothing happening. it took until like a year and a half ago for my sister to make me an appointment with a psychologist and that's only the mental health issues. my pcp shut me down so many times when i came in about my pain and symptoms and he just told me to exercise and stretch (for reference i do in fact exercise and stretch and surpriiise they haven't cured me) and when we finally got through and got a referral to a rheumatologist she told me people usually grow out of those issues and i just wasn't active enough. i've been to so many doctors and i've basically just lost faith in the system because i've had so little help with anything that they can't physically see

Pikachu_girl

Got told I'm too old to be trans cuz I'm 29

LadyBraewood

When I get to the ER and they dismissively say I'm too young to have the history I have. There have even been docs that imply I'm making up a cardiac history so I can get morphine because they don't have my medical records from out of state yet, and I must be a drug seeker. Fast forward to the following day when I'm in the cath lab and they are placing another stent (7 now) while my heart is in a chronic arrhythmia that no medication or two ablations have been able to control. Then the doc puts his hand on my shoulder and very kindly says, "Sweetheart, you are too young to have all this. I'm going to help as much as I can."

ButterflyBeauty

My mom never really accepted I was depressed. She doesn’t want to believe it so she ignores it and it’s hard to deal with. I live with her still and I just have to pretend I don’t have it :(

Frapples

All the time. Between my ganglion cysts in my hands and arthritis in my back, I relate to a lot of arthritis sufferers but I am always immediately shot down with "You think it's bad now? Wait till youre older it's a whole different level" Not an encouraging thing for a 16-24yr old to hear...

Johnnytrytostaycalm

Hi everyone I’m a fellow Crohn’s Warrior I guess you would call it. I’m having a really hard time with my Crohn’s and other chronic pain issues I have been dealing with for 15 years. I’m a 39 year old male and just looking for other people to talk to on here and I’m new on here so don’t really know how it works too well lol.. But I would love to chat with some people who are going through the same problems I’m having. Thanks and prayers to all of you 🙏

Dayze

I'm told consistently I either don't have a disorder and I'm making it up for attention, that I'm the narcissist, or that my symptoms are something I can control and I'm just making excuses

TheRealHarleyQ

Almost daily. Any time I'm at work and make a comment about pain in front of a customer they make some retort about me being too young to complain. I always want to tell them off like... 1. I'm older than I look. I have good appearance genes, but that's it. 2. You're never too young for your body to betray you in some way. Your body isn't built for forever, and some of us were rougher on ours in our youth.

jilliebug

lmao too often

fuzzy419

Yup. My whole life people thought that I was just going through hormonal changes and that I would get over my "issues"

pipeline

got diagnosed for depression and insomnia in like 5th grade and never got helped for it cause people were like "your to young to feel depression when your life is fine, you have no idea how hard it is for adults" like yeah I had no idea good thing I didn't, still doesn't mean it was all sunshine and rainbows tho :/

lucyblue

Haha, yes! Medically for years. Bad joints,bad kidneys,guts such a mess I had to have some cut out. On the flip side Mental health wise I was misdiagnosised for years while I tried to convey it was more that what was on paper until I had a therapist say" I'd say you had schizoaffective or schizophrenia, but you are a bit old to for that to set in" I have been having symptoms since I was a teen! No one had taken it seriously in the days when it made the most sense because I could function through it... finally at 38 diagnosed sa.

Msgicheyaya

My mom had said it but I have to say that her and my husband are now the only 2 that understand as much as they can without experiencing it. They have become over the 17 years of having Fibro and 7 of RA the most understanding supported people I could ever wish for. I wish all the warriors have people in their life such as this. Sending gentle hugs. 🤗

Reyna76

Yes!!!! Doctors always tell me I'm to young to have all the problems that I have yet no one knows how to help fix them😔

Akazumi

My old best friend. I built up the courage to tell him I'm depressed. He ignored me for a week then told me "there's no way. Your too young for that.", also to this day he makes fun of me for being lgbtq+....

BurritoBabble

This is what led me to be in the dark of my chronic pains for 10 years :(

Max_F

Yup. I expressed to my mother at around probably 10-12 that I'm afraid I might have depression or ADHD or something similar, she straight out said "your to young for that stuff, wait till your an adult like me and we will see if you can handle it." Now she says freely "my child has depression and anxiety" after telling me countless times not to say you have something without a diagnosis (still haven't been diagnosed)

Mr._Dank

Yes. I’ve been told I’m too young to be anxious and depressed. I’m in my 20’s.

PokemonGirl502

With my anxiety and depression. It started in middle school.

Bex854

Always, had my first heart attack at 25😥

krissa

Constantly. It's draining and honestly pretty insulting. There's no age limit to health conditions and pain. I HATE the "you're too young to be in that much pain" WELL NO SHIT KAREN BUT HERE I AM IN THIS MUCH PAIN 😅😅😅

tattooedlizardlady

Yes. A lot. Invisible illnesses are insane like that.

AshlynnTowry

Yessss it's so annoying. But just being told your too young is horrible

Harley.Q

Yes I was 10 years old telling my parents that my back hurt all the time and I was 14 when my mom finally seen my back at 14 she realized that my back was messed up I have scoliosis my spine is in the shape of an S... and my grandma would tell me all the time I was too young to know what pain was which made me mad all the time

perrygirl2019

Yes. I didnt get diagnosed on paper for my bipolar 2 disorder until I was 26. I was noticed by my therapist when I was 13 but he said he didnt want to put it on paper because I was so young. That decision led to so many failed med attempts. They were treating my symptoms not my disorder and it caused me to be manic all the time. And I got into a lot of trouble and really struggled to connect with anyone. You are not too young they are just not giving their 100% keep pushing

nerd.of_all.things

Yes! My headaches and migraine, and my foot issues! And too young to be depressed or stressed. It's infuriating.

avian

i just got a cane a few weeks ago and already i've had so many people looking at me weird for walking around with it. it's really annoying

TheSpectator

Yup, sadly

shariadams

When I was in 3rd grade my Dr told my mom I was to young to have migraines

ImGay

I was diagnosed with depression and an eating disorder at 12. My parents would always say, "you're too young", or, "you have a roof over your head and food on your plate you shouldn't be depressed", and other things about my ed such as, "why don't you just eat?'. Although it was hard to hear I found comfort in my friends and other family members such as my aunt and that definitely helped me through the times where I was at my worst :))

Lyla722

ALL THE TIME. One time I was hurting so bad I seriously felt like punching the Costco Lady who mocked me for a few minutes. I Cries later at home instead.😥

frausto86

An elderly lady had asked me to open a medicine box for her because I'm young and have working hands still. That probably hit me the hardest. I was going throught a bad flare up. I couldnt hold a cup my hands were too painful and weak. I didnt want to have to explain and give her my whole diagnoses spill so I just sucked it up and opened it. It hurt so much.

VariaMoon

Yep it’s one of the dumber things I’ve heard too.

ElektraNicPunk

I get told all the time I’m too young to have hot flashes. It’s a symptom of my PCOS. It doesn’t care what age I am.

Skittlemasterrawr

I've had people judge me for using the ride on carts in the supermarket after a heart surgery one time and it made me feel so belittled it wasn't even funny I was a 17 year old girl who just had a box put into her chest to keep her alive for the rest of her life so lets please Hinder this girl who's obviously in pain and anguish who needs help from her mother to get around on the scooter but thankfully when you healed up enough you could finally walk and your arm was out of the slim and you could finally sleep without fearing an alarms gonna go off in your cheat while you sleep in your moms bedroom after a shock from a defibrillator inside of you .

brutal_brown

I would say... To lesson this... In my experience- turn off the TV put your phone down (I put my worship music on). Get away from entertainment. Stay off of Facebook pray for self control. No... You won't see a permanent change immediately. I know our brains are always flying... Every second is a minute every minutes an hour and hours are days... But slow it down and try to remember to unplug. In my experience I pray, read my Bible, fast and listen to worship music and ....I've been so blessed even my work has shown it. When I'm at work I'm not confused at stuff I should know how to do. I'm not making million mistakes. It's awesome. Sometimes I don't know if I'm still affected by the symptoms of someone who has ADHD anymore.

LeighRose

Yes and weirdly it was my GERD I was told at 11yo that I was too young to have heartburn 🙄.

Dexcaliber

One of my previous doctors refused to refer a neurologist because I'm "not an 80-year-old man with Alzheimer's" 🥲

Skylea

All the time in high school my own mom didn't believe it and said I was just a teenager

miaiaia

Yes I recently had a stroke at 35 and everyone is like you're too young. I agree, but the stroke didn'tstop to ask my age first

PuffPuff

people said I'd grow out of my major depression. they also said there's no way I could have ptsd as a kid. I was sexually assaulted by my half brother in a closet at 2 years old. a toddler with severe anxiety and ptsd is real.

peachfuzz

yes yes yes YES!!! i’m 30 and for some reason get balked at for having arthritis. like… sorry about my swollen joints… i guess?!!!!

SPIIDR404

Absolutely! Sometimes people just don't understand trauma can effect kids too.

lulu2020

I am 13 years old and have depression and i was told by my dad my brother and his friend that im to young

XxLarsxX

Like when people tell you youre just a teen and your ilness will leave

Amberrenfro

I am 20 with psoriatic arthritis, lupus and ankylosing spondylitis. I have a handicap tag and I can not tell you the amount of comments and dirty looks I’ve received.

Chadwick108

For sure and you need a knee replacement but you're too young

Amarand26

Yep my parents tell me that. And that I can’t be depressed cause I have nothing to be depressed about. Or my condition is my fault cause I don’t take care of myself.

CaptainHolmes

I'm sorry you get invalidated like that 😥

MythicalMoo

Yes i have

AnimalBoy

Yeah no one believes a teenager about back pain because "that doesnt happen until your 30s" 🙄

lightestofheart

I'm turning 46 this week... But I'm just now getting taken seriously for things I've had my whole life.

kiro

yes, i have bursitis from two separate injuries when i was younger

Frejya

Yes and I tell them that I was too young to have cancer too but that didn't stop it.

i_am_alex

yeah with depression

UnrisenPhoenix

Omg yes. I have back pain and have since I was 19 and I've always heard "you're too young, wait til you get to my age". I have an L1 compression fracture caused by a car accident when I was 19. I don't divulge that information bc if you're telling me I'm too young instead of asking why I'm in pain, then i don't feel like you need to know. 🤷🏼‍♀️

SparklesJ

I get triggered with get over it Or you're weak

Cvprisun

“you’re too young to have social anxiety” “you’re too young to have gall stones” “you’re too young to be this sad” shut up already 🙄

SquippyMars

Not specifically that I'm too young, but I get told my conditions aren't even real a lot 💀

Darkwillow

I have been told I am too young to have all of the conditions that I do, and that I am a “grandma.”

CaptainHolmes

one of my exes made fun of me for being tired all the time and not wanting to stay out late. He said he was dating an old person.

Simmerr

I've definitely been asked how I have PTSD if I wasn't in the military. Seems like everyone would respect my diagnosis, then.

AmazingAardvark4ever

I have ptsd it was diagnosed when I was 11 and I’ve been told this many times as well

Cocosir

YES. i went through this with my high blood pressure

Babsmd

Especially when your condition is not physically obvious

AmazingAardvark4ever

I have been told I am too young to have ptsd. The people who have told me this most the time have never met me before nor do they know my story

Skittlemasterrawr

What gets me is being told I can't use a Ride on basket cart at the grocery store. That's only happened once but I felt like I was so unimportant at the time.

Girlmom0709

Currently fighting for disability been over 3 years since I filed and was immediately denied. I have a lawyer now and anxiously awaiting my appeal. Lawyer thinks they saw my age (41 now 37 at time of filling) originally had a court date in May 2020 but was postponed due to COVID-19 still waiting. The financial burden I am putting on my family is making me feel like a failure as a wife, partner and mother.

Keoki

I’m going through the same thing! It’s been a year and a half since I applied and I am draining my mother who needs to retire but can’t. Good luck. Nobody deserves to get that sick and then be told they are not sick.

seren

They all thought i was joking bc i watched a lot of scary movies with possessed kids . I was being tormented by night terrors every night and seeing and hearing things during the day . Its not like full on demons trying to kill me . Just things moving towards me just out of sight . Steps and whispers that i dont actually hear they just play in my head its hard to describe .

Bluefire

When I was 13 years old they told my family I couldn't have schizophrenia and it was just my imaginary friends. When I was 14 I was having severe stomach problems and they kept saying it was acid reflux cuz I was too young to have any severe problems. A few months/almost a year later I went to the hospital with a gallbladder attack and they said it was the biggest stones they'd seen in that hospital. Had to have two stints put in to get everything out so my gallbladder could separate from where it had started mildly scarring to my liver so they could finally remove it.

Alirainbowsocks

All the time! Or if I'm sore and it's showing I hear "oh you're so young yet, you can't be in that much pain" or suck it up buttercup.

Emmazing

Every doctor's appointment

chroniclyKatie

Yes until I kept having repeated blood infections

Betsy1120

Yes, when I was 25 years old, I had my first stroke, and when I went to ER, I overheard a doctor to check my heart and do a EKG. And the other doctor told him, nah.. she is too young to have a stroke. So the doctor came and they didn't do the EKG. And just send me back home that what I had was a Panic Attack. So if I ever feel like I was about to pass out. Just lean down and rise my feet. And when I felt down for 3 time. In a month. And when I went to Another ER with with my swollen face and with my half of my body that I couldn't move. That' that they told me I had my third stroke. 3 weeks in the hospital. To 2 weeks in ICU. To find that out.

XanderPH

All the time! I work as a Target Starbucks barista, and I was talking to a guest about the big weather changes, and how it had been affecting my arthritis and ability to come to work. She told me that I'm too young to have arthritis and that I need to do my exercises, haha. And my mother will constantly tell me that I'm too young for nerve damage

SlothMomma94

I get told all the time *, but you're so young.* when I talk about my collection of health issues and surgeries. It's hard to hear but I k ow it'll keep happening. Being so chronically ill can be annoying

ollywolf

Yes. I was told that there was no way I have type 2 diabetes by a coworker, also that I fake my migraines

gurspaceport

Yes. "You're too young to be hurting like that." Or, "You're too young to be this sick. Go out and live your life girl!" It made me so upset, especially in the early ages of my diagnosis when they couldn't figure out what was going on.

Toodaloo

Absolutely. I was denied a personality disorder diagnosis by a psychiatrist because "there are alternative ways to treat these things in a teenager" (The 'alternatives' being bullying me about my personality, my appearance, and my trauma reactions. SURPRISE! It made everything worse!)

CinderLorel

Was told by a doctor that I’m to young to be in so much pain but they weren’t gonna help me

nerdybynature

All the freaking time. It's annoying.

inspainwithoutthes

“Oh wait til you get to my age” as if it gives you a certain privilege

KeiraE

Omg yes. I had a surgeon tell me I am a walking science experiment and another tell me I am a walking Petrie dish

Alex.Tatum1

All the time, I get mad about it to. I want to tell to to piss off sometimes.

chiken

More like I've been telling myself and now it's all bursting out and I can't ignore it.

ineffably_me

If I had a dollar for every time I was told I was too young for kidney stones or joint pain I'd be a rich man 😅

dragonknight

Everything single day, I could be rich by now

ShyTaku

Literally by almost everyone born before 1950's

heatherfeather14

I was 19 when I had a Whipple procedure, and the surgeon said I was the youngest patient of hers to have this done. The tumor itself was "unknown and massive for it's type". It got sent to a medical college to be tested.

maethemonth

I’ve had GERD since I was 5-6 and the doctor had helped get an appointment at Riley’s Children Hospital because it was a shocking age to have reflux at the age of 14

mx.mistoffolees

I'm not very open about my chronic pain but I've very much so internalized the idea that arthritis is for old people, and that a big part of why it took me so long to start accepting my condition

EmmaWai

I have been told sooo many times that I'm too young to be this tired. Then I became a mom and it was that I'm tired just because I am a mom. Turns out I might have narcolepsy 🤷

Metaxsenses

Yes the things I’ve been going through every time I visit the ER or a specialist they tend to tell me that..

AngellMwi

Yes. I had cervical cancer at 26. Before they were completely sure about how it came about.

CinderLorel

Been told after being diagnosed with Lupus at 17, by the specialist, that I was to young to be in this much pain but he wasn’t gonna help me

gatsbybird

i once was told i was too young to have IBS. I’m 22. i also was told I’m too young to need a root canal

Raesfurdaze

I have been told I am too young to have chronic pain as a result of my back problems. Every living thing is capable of experiencing pain in some way.

55isMe

I had familiar tremor at 29, a full decade before even my Dad having 10% of my presentation.

CaptainHolmes

Absolutely, been told I was too young to have back pain even though I have scoliosis. That same person told me I had nothing to be anxious about.

pixiepie

Yes!! Ehelers danlos causing alot of joint issues and pain for me as well as with ptsd. Had alot of adults tell me I haven't lived long enough to be traumatized by anything, and to wait till life really hits me. Usually giving a detail or two makes them shut up but I shouldn't have to make myself so vulnerable for their "approval"

theprincess130

Yep! The admissions desk at the hospital always try to say I'm a visitor after I tell them I have an appt because I shouldn't need to see the cardiologist. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Officialishness

At the ep and urologist always getting told I’m too young to be there 😂 I know it’s just the older patients being snarky or gossiping but makes me and the staff laugh sometimes

Misssmalz

All the time

Emma8901

I've been told I'm too young to feel as tired as I am and that I'm too young to be hurting as much as I "claim" to. Legit had someone tell me I was making it up because "I looked fine "

LyricRainn111

All of the time! Sick and tired of hearing it. Yes, you’re “more likely” to have certain illnesses after a certain age, but it is NOT impossible to have symptoms and get diagnosed younger.

Ella101

All the time. I’m 20.

MrsCora

Ever since I tore my knee I was told I was to young to hurt the way I do. I still get it now my shoulder is hurt and I was diagnosed with a pain disorder

Rays

I actually had my first good experience with a doctor last week in regards to my list of medical issues and my age. “Wow, you’re only 20 and you’re going through *insert him listing off my multiple conditions, surgeries, and symptoms*?! You’re about my daughters age. I can’t imagine what that’s like.” It was so validating and so amazing to feel seen. It’s always great finding a doctor who will advocate for you.

mothful

essentially; i’ve never been taken seriously by most family members, and it’s hard opening up/trying to explain why i’m distant. they have this assumption that i’m neurotypical tho i’ve expressed my mental health issues numerous times and it’s frustrating hearing “put a smile on”, “you can smile, yknow”, or the worst from my grandma (who is christian :/ ): “i pray everyday that god will heal you and you won’t have to take that medication forever”. i can’t even tell her when my medication changes bc she’s so judgmental and asks if it’s addictive. she seems to think this is a phase and i’ll get over it. she seems to forget when i tell her this is my brain chemistry, a lot of it is genetic, but it will get better. it’s not a bad thing that i have to live with this - it nothing to be ashamed of.

Borblover

I get it all the time. That and I’m too young to have as many health issues as I do. I have people tell me I’m too young to be doing xyz treatment like they know what’s best for me without ever having lived my reality.

ChristineD

Yes! For years now! 💢😡

starnotfound

Yes 😥 when I was 8 my friend from kindergarten knew I had anxiety problems, and she told my crush and that's how I got told

thatzeldafan97

Yeah plenty of times with severity of my pain and migraines

pkolios3494

Not recently. I'm 28 now. But I used to hear it a lot when I was younger, particularly in high school. Mostly because of depression...people would say that I have it so easy and those were supposed to be the "best years of my life."

bloopdot

Haha yes. Have PTSD. “What could go so wrong at your age?”

Doggy

No but I was told adhd was a "children's disorder".

kadey

my daughter was told this too, oh you don't really have it, you grew out of it, you just want drugs.. she's 27

K.C

I swear that’s the only reason it’s taken so many years to get a proper diagnosis and they still say I’m too young.

kadey

my daughter is going thru this now. They literally told her today that her attitude is causing pain and she needs a therapist not tests.. what????

WinterSwimmer6232

I got a lot of my diagnosis' when I was 12. Now I'm 20. And I'm always considered "the life of the party", "the fun teacher", "the happy friend"... Because people don't care to look deeper. When I bring it up with anyone, I always get "Obviously nothing is wrong with you. You're so young." Well, I work 6 jobs and still don't make enough to support my family, it doesn't matter how young I am. It's hard. And don't forget "mental health doesn't exist, it's all in your head", "you're just being overdramatic", and "you can't have those problems, you didn't go into the military". If only people could actually just care slightly about mental health... The world would be a lot better. Check on your "happy friends", guys. They aren't always "happy" or "ok" under the surface.

kadey

the happier I am usually the more pain or hurt I have. If I wear makeup and people think I look great it's because I feel worse than usual

NiiTA

Yeah. Sometimes my body aches and my grandparents think because I'm young I shouldn't hurt. I think it's weird. I'm literally human 😒

peachfuzz

✋ rheumatoid arthritis age 30 babey

mystical.bear

All the time . Chronic pain/ spoonie here

Skyfire

All the time!!! I'm always like "well tell that to my body" I always say I'm a 70 year old in a 20 some year olds body, I've literally fel like death since I was in my teens 😮‍💨

writaholic

The worst is when they say "Wait til you're my age." Yes thank you for that.

Meatloaf

What should i do about knee pain

Ehhhh

Told too young and then told I'm old so what do expect? 😡 I expect not to feel like crap all the time. That's what I expect!

lunartrippy140

I get that all the time. At this point I just don't care honestly 😥

Kellygreen

Absolutely. Every time I say my knees hurt people say Im too young for that just wait til I get their age. I'm always like Ma'am I have rheumatoid arthritis. My knees hurt.

kadey

I told me Dr almost two decades ago my knees and hips hurt and make a clunky noise. She told me that was normal especially as we get older. I was 30. I'm 48 and my specialists tell me that it's too late and I should have received treatment 20 years ago, now I have no options but surgery.

Cowboy_frog

Not directly but people have said “ when you’re older you’ll have all these problems…” and I reply “I already have those problems.” Also all the advertisements for my conditions show 60 yr old people they never show someone like me.

thewonder

Yes all the time cause people think I'm too young to be stressed

Skittlemasterrawr

I've gotten you're fine there's nothing wrong with you from doctors and there's nothing they can do so I hear it every time I go to the ER. No one seems to care that I hurt so Much and it's always Pain Olympics around here and no one listens to me.

Xyah

So many times. It's weird that they say that, as if I'm not experiencing said condition. And then they avoid getting you help and then you have to deal with that stuff when you're 20 juggling college, work and your personal life. Also I've gotten it from doctors as well, Like I'm either assuming you're saying that because of medical racism or the fact i present as a girl. No one listened to me which sucked, Let's hope as an adult i do it right and treat myself better than everyone else did when i was 14.

CozyVibez

Multiple occasions. Sympathy is appreciated, but it doesn't solve much.

IXCapnCrunchXI

yes all the time 😭 (I have arthritis)

BonnieBubblegum

Lately it’s been “you have this condition *but you’re so young* that we won’t pursue half the things that might help.” Who knew that my body was taking age into account when it comes to being affected by my illnesses…?

dodge

i was told i was too young to have BPD , because i’m too young to know what i want , when i want. i thought it was complete BS , turns out 2 years later i got diagnosed with BPD, so i told my doctor “ what did i tell you?” and she stayed quiet, i was right all along living in fear of my own emotions and feelings because i never knew what they were and what caused them, but now i know.

amandasnyder588

Yep when I had my stroke at 33

GypsyUnicorn

After a very long two year process of feeling miserable every time I'd eat ANYTHING and not knowing why....I'd endured countless doctors appointments, tests, stool samples...you name it...and now I was passing blood in my stool... they recommended an exploratory colonoscopy. The doctor they referred me to said it was unnecessary and that I was too young to have anything serious that wouldn't have already shown up in other tests. I broke down crying and said I was also too young to feel that miserable with no answers. He once again noted his objections and scheduled the procedure. One week later, in the recovery room he apologized, telling me "I could see that there actually was a serious issue as soon as I started the procedure." He'd removed a polyp the size of my thumb. Later testing revealed the polyp was precancerous and that it not an IF it turns into cancer type of situation, but a WHEN it turns into cancer......

jarchie

yes. i've exhibited OCD since i was four years old as a result of contracting strep (PANDAS). my extended family would purposefully trigger my obsessions because i "was over exaggerating". yeah i don't think a four year old being obsessed and terrified of death is a thing someone, let alone a four year old, can easily get over. 🤦‍♂️

Telescopial

Yes, but more commonly i’ve been too female to have the conditions I have. My “bpd” and “depression” were actually adhd and autism.

Mafuyu

Yes!! Every time I go to my gastroenterologist, the waiting room is full of only elderly patients. I’m always the only young adult. Of course someone will always say “What are you here for?” And when I say why, they’re always like “You’re too young to be dealing with that!” And I’m like I know!! I wish I didn’t have to be here! :(

Braeliynn

Yes they always say your to young for such high BP and I'm like I have cancer so it's going to be high

dayzed

As person's whose chronic knee pain messes 'em up royally, yes. I'm still barely established in my 20s and we very time I can't function correctly because of it everyone won't stop saying it. I wish I didn't have to deal with this, especially at my age either! :(

Butterfly9937

I was jus diagnosed with Acute cholecystitis, Acute pulmonary embolism with Cor pumonale, septic shock, E.coli, and fatty liver. I also have had a heart attack at around 32. I’m 48. I currently have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoarthritis (in most joints), spinal stenosis, ddd, migraines (since about 4yrs old), and a laundry list of others. I’ve had doctors tell me that I’m too young to have all of these issues and ailments. I’m like tell it to my body please. Who knew pain had an age limit especially when I see my geriatric buddies speed walking pass me in Walmart in the mornings as I cringe 😬 in pain with every step.

Wheezerr

Yess. Schizophrenia. I believe i had it since i was a baby, father has it. I remember hearing angels speak to me in my grandmas arms and inside my crib. Even have vivid memories of tiny hot air balloons floating in front of me. A lot of people tell me schizophrenia is a scary illness and the way i behave isn’t like someone with it. Yet 4 drs have diagnosed me with it but i refused to have it on my medical record because hospitals tend to mistreat patients with the disorder i hear. So, no thanks. Since i had it for so long i believe I’ve found ways to cope with it.

Gateway

"You're to young to be depressed, you haven't even really lived" Excuse you?

Vannah349

I’m 28 with rheumatoid arthritis and fibro. So yes. Ha.

Ory

I was 18 when I was officially diagnosed and had my first surgery to remove endometriosis. After searching for help from doctors since the age of 12, and having suspected it was endo from as young as 14. All I heard for years was, "You're too young." I was very lucky to find a doctor who believed me, helped me, and was ultimately willing to operate on me at that age.

GeneralBonkers

I'm apparently "too young and too smart to be disabled or chronically ill" 🙄

TheGreasyStrangler

You're a kid, you have nothing to be depressed or anxious about

IAmHer2

Many many times

alyssa25

Yes many times or told to "get over it" or "it can't be that bad "

Morgazee

Yes, soo many times. That's why it took me so long to get diagnosed. My other favorite is: "but you don't look sick"

LadyVenture

That and "are you sure that this isn't just you making yourself sick?" Like no Karen just help me

Nikki03

All the time 😥

HoosierMama92

Yep, and it feels so invalidating. Just because I'm a younger person doesn't mean I'm not allowed to have pain.

lizzette

yes!! all the time by my own parents

Viynyl

I cannot tell you how many times I've been told "Your too young to have these problems, your supposed to be enjoying life" and they just laugh while I'm feeling bad and slef conscious

EmilyG

Always. "You're too young to have a bad hip". I fell when I was about 8 or so and permanently injured my hip and it's only getting worse ever since but it seems no one believes me or cares. I also have several other issues including degenerative disc and have been told I'm too young to have it and just being a hypochondriac.

Kit91

Ive tried looking into arthritis because of my joints but apparently im too young.

kingseijuro

yes, absolutely. I'm young so I should be able to run, carry heavy stuff, and sleep on the floor, right? wrong. sometimes I feel like being old would be preferable over this.

NiqueMK

Yes and I absolutely hate it.

TrebleNurturer

Yes, and honestly I agree!! I feel like an old lady some days, instead of the age I think I ought to feel like, and technically am.

Amnesty

Yes and I feel like it’s true

PeppermintAnn

absolutelyyy and i wish i had an answer for the ppl that say that - bc yeah i don't wanna feel this pain at 21/22 either!!

ITz_Ronie

Never.. just been told it's abnormal and terrible.. because I am so young and I just get my migraines so strong 😔 I appreciate her.. and she said she has kids my age and she understands why I brought my mom while still being an adult.. (I have the hardest time with doctors and nurses and bringing my mom)

Denotchka

No. If I ever am, I’m sending MY PHYSICIAN to a PSYCHIATRIST.

Karaluna

Yep! Usually by older people. I don’t think it’s comes from a malicious place but it’s still annoying to hear

GunpowderMilkshake

🙌 I can identify with that concept. I’m sorry you have to experience this. Conditions don’t discriminate ages, unfortunately. I was diagnosed with Arthritis @ age 20. That seems quite young for Arthritis, to be honest.

amandasnyder588

Heard it alot after my stroke last year.

Hellokittyprincess

Same my mom laughed at me when i told her my doctor diagnosed me with Depression she didnt belive me it was the worst feeling ever i felt like i couldn't trust her

chaitea17

When i told my dad I was worried because I was having extreme chest pain (this was before I knew i had scoliosis and a heart condition, i was playing in band which put a strain on my breathing organs) He told me that I was too young to be in this much pain, and obviously I just had bad posture or something. Turns out I had scoliosis and a mitral valve prolapse! thanks for trying to gaslight me dad :)

Cbugg

My dad kept telling me I wouldn't have depression if I got a job. And that everyone got depressed and didn't want to live so I wasn't the only one with bad thoughts

Lifewithicyhot

For over a decade now…

catdad22

Today I went to a pain treatment center. The doctor I saw didn’t say I was “too young” explicitly, but she kept commenting on how young I am throughout the whole appointment.

donatello

I've been told that I have a "borderline" condition, despite being over the threshold and it being genetic

Crazy_Cat

Actually got the too young to be in pain when moving cross country with family, some family friends came over for some last minute help and one told me I was too young to be in pain. Couple years later me and a sibling are getting diagnosed with Eds and that attitude still upsets me because it was heavily implied that I was just being lazy. And to make matters worst, was my birthday. Of course this is the most notable followed by the gym teacher who said my asthma was just me making excuses and I was just out of shape.

Pickle19

Yes. I’ve been told I’m too young to be depressed, have anxiety, and have PTSD. A lot of times I have been told by my family

roryascher27

TW yes. constantly i hear, you’re too young to have all these mental problems. they’re all in your head. you shouldn’t have ptsd. i was in war that’s why i have ptsd. you’re only 20 and you’ve been falsely diagnosed with it for 13 years. you’re just a crybaby, get over it. i am not a crybaby. i am a survivor of familial child sex trafficking. try going through the flashbacks that still happen from events that happened 13+ years ago. then tell me i’m just a crybaby. anyone who says this kind of stuff is asking for a fight.

FernGrimm

All the damn time. I would have been diagnosed earlier if my doctors or parents would have listened to me at 16 or earlier. I first tried to fully unalive myself was in 6th grade.

Aquapalooza

I was diagnosed with OCD, ADD, and Depression at 10. So yes, I've heard this many times.

d0llsoup

all the time it’s exhausting

XCxsmic.CalamityX

TW: CSA AND $U!C!D3 I didn't get my depression OR ptsd diagnosis until I was 16 after I tried to unalive myself. I've most likely had it since I was 10 after being a victim of CSA, my mom wouldn't even acknowledge my BACK PAIN, let alone my mental health.

kateafranklin

all the freaking time And it’s sickening

Hummingbird

Anxiety doesn’t have a certain face , color or age! 🥲 I know how you feel

Mj5

Yes my mom said I'm too young to have much pain and to imagine what older people go through. I replied pain doesn't care about your age. Age has nothing to do with it or kids wouldn't be in pain dying of cancer and other illnesses. My cousin's husband has the same disease that I do. After she talked with my mom about what she watches her husband go through she was much more understanding. She said I didn't realize she was in that much pain. Even if it was years later, to have her support now means the world to me! Sometimes it takes someone that is not us to show people in a way they can understand. Find support where you can bc pain leaves you very lonely. I promise your not alone.

Ziggy_B

Absolutely

Moonlighter

Too many times. Especially since i first got sick at 8 years old

clumsysprout

so. many. times. no one should ever be told this - it’s so discouraging and makes people feel worse , feel guilty about having it when it’s not in their control

eveofblooming

When I was 24 I had a doctor pass around my chart to nurses before a nerve block procedure and coo "Oh she's SO young. Isn't she just SO young??" And she questioned why I was there - while I already had the gown and IV.

EliteLexy

So many times

stajoy

So much doctors don't listen to you or take you seriously. I've had heart attacks and 3 mild strokes. But also Dysautonomia. I Pass out all the time . I have alot of afib. What scares me is the women in my family die young. The oldest was 53 my mom. My sisters 46 when they died. My younger sister who is 42 has heart and breathing issues. I'm 44 and with my heart failure and arithmetic issues along with other things. I've had uncles and grand fathers with heart issues none lived into there 60s. My sister and I keep saying there has to be some connection that we can slow what ever is going on. I'm so tired of taking so many meds some times I think they are killing me.

GingerSnapple

One of the conditions has only ever been had by women that have gone through Menopause.. I was diagnosed with it at 19. So yes.

wheezynwavy

All the time

MedicalMystery89

Constantly

Bre19

All the time

Bre19

By people who think it can't even happen to me because they think I have a perfect life I've been made fun of for what I have

donatello

Especially when i was younger, being a middle child just meant that I was either seeking attention or a hypochondriac

knightmare

I'll do one better- "just have faith." If someone tells me that one more time I am going to lose my wits.

Aquarius_Mage

Yup! Apparently 35 is too young to have arthritis in my lower back. Nah, I made the mistake of slouching and working too hard for years. Unfortunately, I earned my arthritis.

SkylerRose

Yes 🙄 sorry, but the older generation says this to much

Asteroidrose

yes!! every day :(

Urfacehurtsmetoo

Yep, and told they don’t want to give me certain meds that might help bc I’m too young. I’ve been going through daily pain for 3 yrs. Idc what they try on me, i beg them for help every time

cinnabunni

Mostly “You’re too young to have a cane/wheelchair/end of life plans” which really do feel invalidating. I still never know what to say in response.

Beany319

Bursitis in both hips at 21. I had to have multiple x-rays before they would see it as a real issue.

Crypt6

I'm told that daily. And if I even mention that I'm in pain in any way it's met with "You're too young to understand real pain."

Ash.G

I have periodic chest pain but keep it to myself usually.

Tay333

usually older people lose sight because glaucoma and cataracts but i’ve had them since I was young, yet never had this comment

HPLovewrath

I’ve been told I’m too young for certain medications

calion

I was told when i was 10 i was too young to have depression so i suffered for YEARS after, longer than i had to if the doctor had actually listened

Cyprus87

This is one of the worst issues affecting mental healthcare. The entire community sets these arbitrary ages at which you have to be before you can be diagnosed with a disorder, when studies have shown that many disorders, even personality disorders, often times have their roots in childhood and begin developing at a young age. Maybe if we targeted the issue sooner rather than later instead of trying to pick up the broken pieces when it’s too late, we might see mental health dramatically increase🤷🏼‍♀️

Kris_TheDumbo

Yes, there has been so many times I was told as a child I was too you to even know what anxiety or depression even was.

bunniigutz

been told i’m too young to transition, was forced to wait until i was 18 and it destroyed my body

Xarian97

I was told I was too young to be depressed in elementary school.. such fun times 🫠

Teeyra

All the time. When I was a kid was pain was not believed, because I was to young to really understand pain. Or I was over exaggerating for attention or drugs. It was a struggle to get help for quite a long time.

Ella101

ALL THE TIME… HELLOOOO ITS 2022

ReadieFreddie

YES. SO MANY TIMES.

Gwen71

Nope

Whitney118

More times than I can count. I actually had a doctor apologize to me after asking me if maybe it was something "up here"(while pointing to his head) and he also implied that I was medication seeking. I pushed and pushed for the scans on my back and when he saw the images he called me into his office and apologized, stating he never imagined that at my age my back could be that bad.

Bluefire

I went for months with a messed up gallbladder because my doctor kept saying it was acid reflux, that because I was 14 there was no way I could have something up with my gallbladder or liver. Finally one night I was in so much pain I almost passed out in the shower and I was awake in the middle of the night crying. My mom finally took me to the ER and they said I had the biggest gall stones they had seen in that hospital and my eyes were yellow because my gallbladder had scared to my liver because it was too big to give my liver any room. I had to have two stents put in over a long period of time before they could finally remove the gallbladder because they couldn't take it out while it was attached to my liver and probably because I was only 14. I lost over 100 lb in that period of time.

SymptomOfNostalgia02

Yup, I’m “too young” to be feeling so hopelessly depressed.

Beabebeautiful

Yes. I've been harming since I was 8 same with SA.

CavityCentral

Constantly. God forbid you’re young and don’t feel like it

Leebee

All the time sadly

WilburEffingSoot

All. The. Time.

XElliottXOrionx

I was told I was the youngest patient this doctor had that was diagnosed with antiphospholipid disorder, and it's pretty rare from what he said. I've been diagnosed since like 18. I've had a lot of doctors not believe me about my diagnosises because of his young I am, I'm only 20 and have a huge list of issues

Nenna

I get told this all the time “you don’t look sick” “this is the prime of your life” “you’re built for stuff like this” it’s so frustrating and invalidating. Even when I tell people they think I’m just playing it up or they make a joke of it.

MsManders

Only all the time

HarperofDisi

All the time.

dog6ude

constantly

x0_ar1a

all the time. i wasn't diagnosed with autism until last year, just after i turned 18. i had gone to get diagnosed as soon as i moved out, because i really thought i had it, and i couldn't get it diagnosed when living with my parents. my mom always laughed when i told her i was autistic, and when i got the diagnosis, she was shocked. also with my depression and anxiety. shit is intense and yet nobody believed me as a kid.

TattsCatsNaps

I feel this on a deep level 💕

puzzle

yes, i usually heard this from my own family when i was a teenager and i still hear it from my mom

ChronicIllnessBabe

I hate it when people say this. It triggers me so deeply back into being a 6-year-old telling my mother I think I had arthritis (which I DO!) and her and the doctors said I was “too young” 😥

Jo420

Still don’t have all answers because of it 🙃

Beeble

YEP!

Jazzmin87

Yep. I'm an oddity in my family. While family members may have 1 illness they don't have the combo I have. Or they have something that's least destructive on the body. I've been told most of life that I was making it up, seeking attention, that it's not so bad and I'm just making seem worse, or personal fav I don't know what I'm talking about. At this point in my life life I've learned to ignore those people and if they can't understand then they aren't worth my time. I have found doctors who are actually willing to listen to me without judgment. And that has been the biggest help.

tea444

oh my god all of the dang time

LiddoCee

All the time 😥

Kittypop

So often...ugh

EryngoBragh

✋

CarisNotCharis

Fuck yeah! And the fact that it comes from health professionals as well...? Like whaaaat

eethend

All the time. Somehow you cant have migraines as a kid? even with a long family history??

colourfulburrito

All the time. Especially the "young ladies like you shouldn't be taking the lift, they should be using the stairs" or other things. Literally boils my blood.

colourfulburrito

Boils my piss

witchykitty

Yes! This is an extreme example, but I got shingles when I was 14 years old. Yet I'm not old enough for the vaccine, if I even wanted it, even though I'm more at risk for a recurrence than someone who hasn't had it.

lovette

got told i was too young to have bone problems, i frequently get told im "still young and in my physical prime". if this is my prime, i dread whats to come !!!

Leopuppy

Not really that I was too young more of you don't have it even tho I have a diagnosis of it

hurt_copain

Im told im too young for constipation.

OceanH2O

All the time it's rough.. just wish I could find someone who truly understands and relates to me!

Laellaxe

YES. Like...clearly I'm not.

HousePlantLover

Yep ✋

MaryLemon

Yep, with multiple of my conditions 🙃

MaryLemon

For the past few years I've been fighting for a mammogram. I had a referral for one and when I went they refused to do because of my age... Despite having a referral and diagnosed/proven breast masses. Since their refusal my breast issues have just gotten worse. I have paperwork from the past few years form multiple doctors proving it's real issues and the masses have grown. It's infuriating because health issues do not discriminate against age 😤

Levi_

YES OH MY GOD

Lexusherr

Yes. Because I have hip dysplasia, it basically makes me feel like an 80 year old and so when I complain about hip or back pain, people always tell me "you shouldn't be feeling like that you're not old"

Stargazer84

My partner was told he was too young to have arthritis but he has it in his spine

FS_cookielove

All the time. By doctors and people close to me. Almost every procedure requires me to have a pregnancy test which they forget to do because of my age. I tell them I'm not pregnant, but they have to do it legally anyways.

Sarah89

Frequently! That I'm too young, and that I shouldn't have had the particular mix of conditions I have. Or best one, is because I don't look like I have them externally, people think I have nothing wrong 😩

SecondChance

Yes

Semiz

When I first came out as trans when I was 12 my mom was very insistent that I was too young and didnt know what I was doing. For many years she struggled with my new name and pronouns and was in denial of my being trans; Now I'm 20 years old, on hormone treatment, looking to get top surgery, and EVERYONE in my life excepts me as a man. Including my mom. It gets better kids, just keep going!

alyssa2005

All the fucking time. Your too young to hurt. Your too young to be tired. Aren't you too young to have diabetes. Oh all teenagers have anxiety. It makes me so mad all I want to say is " Aren't you too old to be alive?"

italianxpeaches

By every dang doctor I've seen and especially disability lawyers and judges. They are absolute ableist and I for one hate throwing that word around and never have personally but they are the most ableist people I have ever seen in my entire life.

Pixxy

OMG the struggle is real.

BubbleGirl1

😒 only everyday of my life

avian

always lol. people look at me weird when i'm using my cane cause i guess i look too young to have one

Placebo1228

Yes... But I try to think that people are generally trying to be encouraging when they say that.

teiovex

yes, amonst other things.

faerywyrm

I have experienced this a lot. Ageism isn't just against the elderly, it's also a problem for the young.

WitchyWoman89

I was diagnosed with arthritis in both knees at 26 years old, I've been the youngest one in physical therapy for my back that was messed up from birth. I'm working on getting cataract surgery at 33. I'm constantly told I'm too young to have these conditions, I always just tell people tell that to my joints.

AstraDragon

I was diagnosed with severe anxiety when I was in 3rd grade. People kept saying I was too young to have anxiety that badly.

Big_cheeze

YESSSSSS

Rainberries

I've been asked why I have fatty liver disease at my age by a surgeon. I didn't quite know how to answer. I just said it was genetic.

Fates

I have been told I am too young to have x y and z or that vitamins could magically fix my pseudoseizures.

MarVell84

All the time ❤️

EmzPow

Way to often

Neverlandgirl

So many times, and besides hearing "you're too young" I hear "isn’t that for old people" because I have arthritis

Raquel226

I've been told that almost my entire life. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 11. However, we think it could have started as early as 7. My parents assumed it was growing pains, which is common. Most parents don't assume their young child has arthritis. It wasn't until I had a large amount of fluid "water" on the knee that I was finally diagnosed.

faustmare

"You're too young to have body aches and pains" "You're too young to have arthritis" "You're too young to need physical therapy" "You're too young to have loss of memory" "You're too young to have chronic fatigue"

ClayBrooks

I'm on warfarin. Which is usually prescribed to 40-90 year olds, I have DVT which is also a 40-90 year old problem. I'm 18. Got dvt when I was 13 and one of the doctors said to my face that he didnt believe I had this when i told him, he had to check my file to see if I was telling the truth. .

mandyyyy

Literally right now - Recently told I've got IBS, doctor kept saying how I'm "only 20 years old, you shouldn't be going through this"....but not given enough help/looked into why I'm experiencing these symptoms

FibroFun

When my joints first seized up and I went to A&E, I was told that I needed a "strong body for a strong and healthy life and career" and was just given crutches when I could barely move

DogWhisperer

Yup been told I'm too young to be in this much pain!! I was told this around 38-40 I think? At 40 I was told my pains and conditions/concerns were normal for people my age. Ffs I sure feel sorry for you 43 year Olds dealing with what I'm dealing with. Except I've never seen any of them lurch forward due to such bad spasms or sharp as hell pains, screaming in pain, hitting the floor, or crying till they couldn't stand it and wanted to kill themselves over the pain.

SecondChance

Dude this post has been here forever

Valkar

Heartburn, and arthritis :(

Paperheartz

Just to bring a little positivity to the thread, yes I have been told I was too young to have all of the disorders i have. My grandmother told me she felt bad because im so young and should not have to go through everything I go through. She said im too young to have all these problems but the way i handle them is so mature. She always tells me how strong i am and how she feels bad at my age i deal with all the things I deal with.

nanalynnie

Yes I have always been told I am too young for COPD even my family don't understand the struggles living with it

Arianwen

“Too young” to have POTS, recurring shingles etc, and my “favourite”-…. “you’re too young to be this depressed” 🥴

Bakon

Everyone always assumes that I must be exaggerating because I'm young I can't be having that much chronic pain, I must be healthy because I'm young so I'm just abusing the system 🙄

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Omg yes. First I was 'too young' for depression and self harm (first picked up on when I was 7) then I was 'too young' for schizophrenia (it kicked in big time when I was a preteen.) The sh1t thing is that all these years later we are having the same issue now, with trying to get my preteen mental health help, the 'experts' frown and look at me suspiciously saying, "It is unusual at that age..."

Quillathe

I was told I was too young to identify as ace at 15 but now I'm 22 and still ace.

Quillathe

Oh, I also broke my elbow and got my radial head fully replaced. My physical therapist said I was the youngest person she'd seen to have to get that fully replaced.

AnxiousPotato02

All the time

ItchyAndScratchy

Yes! I was diagnosed with an overactive thyroid at 6 - one of the youngest people in my country to ever have it. Alongside that I was also diagnosed with Graves' Disease. The doctors wouldn't listen to my mum and instead sent me for an MRI because they thought that having a brain tumour was the most likely reason behind my symptoms. It took daily visits to the GP for SIX WEEKS before they even did my blood tests

Seae

In 2005, the idea that a 15-year-old could have debilitating TMJ problems was apparently beyond people, including A LOT of doctors. I got quite a bit of “it’s in your head,” to which I’d respond “Yes! Exactly! The jaw is in the head, I’m glad you know your basic anatomy!” It wasn’t appreciated, but neither was their bullshit so 🤷🏻‍♀️

Seae

And when I needed a walker in my twenties. The few times I needed a wheelchair, nothing, but something about a walker makes people want to voice their opinions. It’s like, do you think I use this for fun?

LaurenRomero

Every day of my life

KittyGreen

Every time I ever tell someone I have fibromyalgia

Toaddy

Every time I walk into my rheumatologist office and have to sit in the waiting room. You would think they've never seen someone under the age of 60 with a rheumatological disorder. 🤷‍♀️

Mr.EMT

All. The. Time.

Bambi1993

Yep all the time I feel they don't take me seriously because of my age and size.

TurtleRose

I'm 49 and was recently told that I am too young for all my medical issues yet we have proof of all my diagnosis. All my Dr could do is agree. That being said all the medical field is doing now is try to keep me comfy.

TattsCatsNaps

No (halaluuuu) but I do think a big part of that is because I’m a health professional myself. I shouldn’t have to flex my role to be listened too and understood.

100p

Yep

MangoPoptart

I was literally told to wait a year because I was 2 and my parents wanted a diagnosis for autism.

kindkoala

Everyday

Aludra

Absolutely I have. I also have been told its all in my head and I respond with.. where else would it be? My butt? Lol

Quinniffer

I've been told this for close to 10 years now. Illnesses don't discriminate against age.

spicysugar

Yeah, my doctors have told me for a long time that "you don't have sleep problems, you're 14, you're only 16, you're only 18" and now that I'm 21 with the same sleep issues they're like "whoopsie sorry"

Karlie2000

I have constant joint pain in my ankles, knees, and wrists. Pretty sure I have arthritis of some kind, but any time I express discomfort, I'm told I'm too young to be in pain, just wait until I'm their age, etc., etc..

ChiliBean

I swear, anytime I tell someone I'm not feeling well, they joke about how nice it must be to be a spry 20 year old. Like, m'am, I was tested for arthritis at 14 years old.

SilverLady

I was told I shouldn't have any of my problems for at least another 10 years, I've had arthritis since I was at least 20, I know.

SueLaBear

Too many times 😭

Aiya_the_ill

Yeah, I'm a High school student with 6 chronic conditions. Im hearing this one all the time 😭🙃

basilwasil

I've been in pain as long as I can remember. I'm 23 and I'm only now starting to get help because nobody believes me

Kmlb5464

I was attacked by this physical therapist who was going to asses me on my first appointment before she even touched me talking about how I'm to young to have the issues I have and people have wreaks everyday and get over them. She had to do my reassessment 6 weeks later, I did not report her, but she did indeed apologize to me because it's quite obvious that I need the help.

Overcomer

Oh yes

Jake2003

Thousands of times. But then I get to share with the person what it's like and also share my testimony.

Bre19

10mo

I'm so sorry

RissTheTiger

Yes 💯💯

Bre19

10mo

I'm so sorry

Kimberley7

So many times for a few conditions lol

Bre19

10mo

I'm so sorry

LeonardMartin

I was told I was too young to have a genetic condition that is present from birth.

Bre19

10mo

that is strange because it is literally presented at birth

Ine

I have cardiorythmia at 19. doctor wouldn't stop mentioning it

Bre19

10mo

that's strange that he won't because it can happen to people who are young

Luciza

all my doctors looked at my charts and went "omg you're so young! :(" so. yeah lmao

Milkovich

Sooo many times

korrin

11mo

At least once a week.

Nal

11mo

Yah by my mom

Lucy76

11mo

Which condition? So sorry to hear this x

Beetle444

10mo

I actually haven’t! I guess the health conditions I have generally aren’t ones that are stereotyped to older people. Plus I’m not visibly disabled enough that people randomly come up to me and pray for me or pity me or whatever, like some disabled people experience.

hello.its.me

10mo

All the time and it's only since being at uni that they've started to view me as an adult able to provide my own information. It even worse when they acknowledge what's wrong but say they won't doing anything bc it shouldn't be affecting me too much at this age!

wheely_kismet

9mo

A relative said I'm too young to be like this and expected a magic wand to be able to fix me

wheely_kismet

9mo

Ive also had strangers come up to me and ask what happened. As if they're entitled to know

The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Free unlimited access

to all community content

Find others who are

medically similar to you

Pose questions and join

meaningful discussions

Alike is a transformative platform that goes beyond just bringing together patients; it meticulously connects individuals based on multiple critical factors, such as age, gender, comorbidities, medications, diet, and more, fostering a community of knowledge, support and empathy.

About Alike Wisdom Blog FAQ Editorial Team All Conditions All Posts All Communities Support

Your Privacy Stories Community Guidelines Terms of Use Privacy Policy Helplines Contact Us Group Chats Guidelines Moderation Process

Sign In

Join a Community That Understands You

Get answers from those who share your health journey

Ever been told you’re “too young” to have your condition?