Appearances can be

Deceiving

"you don't LOOK ill"
"You don't look like you are in pain"

I don't look like someone who wants to punch every last person who says those things to me.

I was in agony when I took that selfie. A headache that felt like my head was being cleaved apart. Pelvic pain that felt like someone had doused me in petrol and set me alight whilst stabbing me repeatedly.

I wear a mask.  Apparently some people who should know better, don't. That also hurts.

I don't want sympathy.  I need understanding.  I don't want it to be masked with medication.  I want it to be fixed.