Bella Hadid's Health Spiral Has Friends Fearing The Worst

By Chukwudi Onyewuchi on October 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM EDT

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Bella Hadid's glamorous public image hides a far darker struggle.

Months after revealing haunting hospital photos from her battle with chronic Lyme disease, insiders say the model has withdrawn from friends, ignored messages, and faced emotional collapse.

As eerie texts and new details emerge, the truth behind Bella's health spiral reveals a story far more human than fame itself.

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Bella Hadid's Hidden Struggle Behind The Camera

Bella Hadid is seen leaving The Beauty set in Paris
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The world saw Bella dazzle again at Paris Fashion Week, but what fans didn't see was the emotional toll behind the runway.

The 29-year-old supermodel was fresh off a month-long stay at Germany's St. George Hospital, where she underwent grueling treatments for chronic Lyme disease.

Photos showed her pale and teary-eyed, surrounded by oxygen tubes and IV lines, a haunting image of strength under siege.

Bella later apologized to her 61 million Instagram followers for being "MIA," but insiders told the Daily Mail that her silence was more than social media fatigue.

"Bella is as functional as she can be, but there's always room for improvement," one insider revealed. "She just struggles to be around people. When things get bad, she retreats. Her batteries seem to recharge when she's alone."

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Her loved ones reportedly tried to reach out through texts, calls, and check-ins, but she often didn't respond.

"She doesn't respond [to texts] for days or even weeks," said the source. "But when things are better, she will text back. She doesn't ghost, she just says, 'I can't talk today, sorry.'"

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Bella Speaks Out About Anxiety, Depression, And Isolation

Bella Hadid at The Golden Heart Awards 2022-NYC
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On World Mental Health Day, Bella Hadid quietly confirmed what many close to her already knew.

Sharing a post from activist Alicia Cook, she posted the words: "Hi. Sorry I haven't texted you back."

It wasn't just a meme but a cry of honesty. The note reflected the quiet pain of those struggling with depression and anxiety, something the supermodel herself openly faces.

"The weight of my anxiety and depression can sometimes feel all-consuming, paralyzing, and invisible to the outside world," Bella admitted.

"Over the years, I've learned that this is not a weakness — it's a part of me. My sensitivity, my awareness, my empathy. In many ways, it can be a superpower," she wrote.

Those close to her say the message resonated deeply with them.

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"Everyone was supportive of her coming out and talking about it because it's going to help so many people," said the insider. "She has a huge support system — her mom Yolanda, her siblings Gigi and Anwar, and her boyfriend Adan. Everyone who loves her gets it."

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Bella Hadid's Life In Texas And Her Quest For Peace

Bella Hadid on 'The Apprentice' Red carpet During the Cannes Film Festival
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After years of fame and exhaustion, Bella found solace far from Hollywood.

In 2023, she relocated to Fort Worth, Texas, not for a career move, but for healing.

It was there she began dating Mexican-American rodeo star Adan Banuelos, a relationship that insiders describe as "grounding and genuine."

Bella told Allure in 2024, "After 10 years of modeling, I realized I was putting so much energy and love and effort into something that, in the long run, wasn't necessarily giving it back to me."

She added, "For the first time now, I'm not putting on a fake face. If I don't feel good, I won't go. If I don't feel good, I take time for myself. And I've never had the opportunity to do that before."

Her words revealed a profound shift, showing a woman no longer defined by her schedule, but by her boundaries.

"Now, when anybody sees me in pictures and they say, I look happy, I genuinely am. I am feeling better; my bad days now were my old good days," she said.

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Inside Bella's Costly Battle With Chronic Lyme Disease

Bella Hadid on 'The Apprentice' Red carpet During the Cannes Film Festival
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Behind Bella Hadid's recovery lies an astonishing medical journey.

Her month-long stay in Germany included an array of extreme and experimental treatments.

An insider told the Daily Mail that she underwent "whole-body hyperthermia treatment," a process that raises body temperature to 107°F to kill off Lyme-related bacteria, twice in one week. Each round reportedly costs between $90,000 and $115,000.

She also received antibiotics, peptide infusions, and chelation therapy, which removes heavy metals from the body. The treatments were invasive, exhausting, and controversial.

Despite her dedication, some skeptics still question whether "chronic Lyme disease" is medically recognized.

The CDC notes that most Lyme patients recover after a few weeks of antibiotics. However, for sufferers like Bella and her mother, Yolanda Hadid, lingering symptoms such as brain fog, joint pain, and fatigue can last for years.

Recently, Bella shared an infographic about mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), a chronic immune condition that can cause severe allergic reactions and panic symptoms.

The post, originally shared by naturopathic doctor Laura Gouge, highlighted the "anxiety, panic, and OCD-like symptoms" tied to MCAS.

Bella didn't confirm whether she was diagnosed, but it was another glimpse into the complex, overlapping nature of her illness.

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Bella Hadid Finds Strength In Vulnerability And Quiet Resilience

Bella Hadid wears a green jacket with matching pants while out and about during NYFW 2022
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Bella's story has become something larger than fashion headlines, but a mirror of modern vulnerability.

Even after walking for Saint Laurent and returning to modeling, insiders say she's still pacing herself.

"Right now she's doing less because she doesn't have to do any more," said the source. "When she's struggling physically, she struggles mentally as well. That's just her life right now."

While skeptics debate the legitimacy of chronic Lyme disease, Bella continues to live its reality, one filled with uncertainty, treatments, and emotional endurance.

However, there's hope in her resilience. "She has too many people concerned about her and checking in," the insider insisted. "She may struggle, but she knows she's loved very much."

Her journey from hospital rooms in Munich to runways in Paris, from isolation in Texas to quiet strength online, paints a portrait not of weakness, but survival.

In a world obsessed with perfection, Bella's honesty about pain and recovery may be her most powerful act yet.

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