Its estimated that nearly 10 percent of the United States population has a disability or illness that goes unseen from chronic pain to mental health conditions. Peoples struggles with these types of chronic illnesses often go unrecognized, simply because the conditions arent visible.

But some of them are speaking up: Five individuals, varying in age and illness, told HuffPost what it feels like to live with a condition others cant see, and shared how they make it through each day.

Interviews have been edited for style and clarity.