In this Draw My Life video, an anonymous woman shares her powerful journey living with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). From years of being dismissed by doctors to enduring invisible symptoms that were constantly downplayed, her story highlights the ongoing struggle many women face to be believed within the healthcare system. She sheds light on the reality of a condition that’s too often ignored and the strength it takes to fight for your own diagnosis.
PCOS is a complex endocrine illness that affects millions of women worldwide, frequently appearing as a series of symptoms that go far beyond reproductive health. While it is often connected with irregular periods, cystic ovaries, and hormonal abnormalities, it can also cause terrible exhaustion, chronic discomfort, unexplained weight fluctuations, insulin resistance, excessive hair growth, and persistent acne. These broad and frequently unpredictable symptoms make identification famously difficult, as medical personnel may focus on isolated complaints rather than acknowledging the condition’s systemic character. Many women report a discouraging pattern of doctor visits, in which their issues are trivialised, blamed on stress, or simply ignored without appropriate inquiry. This diagnostic odyssey, which can last for years, significantly contributes to feelings of anger, despair, and loneliness, exacerbating the ‘dystopian’ reality of not being heard in one’s own healthcare journey.
Living with PCOS can have a significant emotional and psychological toll, in addition to the physical symptoms. The unpredictability of symptoms can have a substantial influence on everyday living, job goals, and personal relationships, leading to increased anxiety, despair, and serious body image concerns. Concerns about fertility, which are typical with PCOS, add to the mental misery and cultural pressure. These are the “silent struggles” that extend far beyond clinical symptoms, profoundly affecting a woman’s sense of self and well-being. By visualising these often-unseen aspects of living with PCOS, this “Draw My Life” video aims to break the silence, validating the experiences of countless women while educating a larger audience about the critical need for improved awareness, research, and empathetic care within the healthcare system. It’s an urgent story that highlights the importance of personal storytelling in understanding and addressing systemic injustices.
