Content creator Ami shares how wearing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower for the first time helped her feel more confident while travelling to see Harry Styles at Wembley.
Ami is the creator behind @positivami, where she shares the highs, lows and everyday realities of living with endometriosis, ADHD and autism.
From home renovations and running to hospital admissions, surgery and life with chronic illness, Ami speaks openly to a community of more than 70,000 Instagram followers.
Her content shows how different life can look from one day to the next, and why we cannot always tell what someone is experiencing simply by looking at them.
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The different faces of a non-apparent condition
In her video, Ami shares clips from very different moments in her life: attending festivals and raves, running, receiving hospital treatment and recovering from surgery.
“All of these videos are me. Festivals, hospital admissions, raves, surgeries, running. No two days look the same because I live with an invisible chronic illness.”
Ami lives with endometriosis, ADHD and autism. She describes leaving the comfort of her home as something that can make her extremely anxious.
Endometriosis flare-ups and experiences of overwhelm or autistic meltdowns can be unpredictable. When Ami is struggling, she can also find it difficult to communicate that she needs support.
This has sometimes affected her confidence in going out and doing the things she wants to do.
You can learn more about Ami’s conditions in our Sunflower Index:
Wearing the Sunflower for the first time
Ami had considered getting a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower for a long time. When she travelled to Wembley to see Harry Styles, she decided to wear it for the first time.
“I was absolutely not missing out, so I decided to wear my Hidden Disabilities Sunflower for the first time.”
The Sunflower provided a discreet way for Ami to communicate that she has non-apparent conditions and may need additional time, understanding or support.
“The Sunflower is an easy way to let others know that I might need a little bit of extra time or understanding, which put my mind at ease so much.”
Before wearing it, Ami sometimes lacked confidence in asking for support because she did not feel she looked like someone who needed help.
The Sunflower helped bridge that communication gap without requiring her to repeatedly explain her conditions or personal medical history.
Making a busy day feel more manageable
Travelling on public transport and attending a concert at a busy stadium can involve crowds, noise, queues, changing plans and unfamiliar surroundings.
For someone managing chronic pain, anxiety or sensory overwhelm, these environments can become particularly challenging.
Wearing the Sunflower did not remove every difficult part of the experience. However, Ami says it gave her confidence to slow down, take breaks and communicate that she might need support.
Before entering the stadium, she was able to take some time to rest and refresh. She also chose to leave shortly before the end of the concert, helping her avoid the busiest part of the rush home.
These decisions allowed Ami to manage the experience in the way that worked best for her.
Get your lanyard now“My Sunflower was there to bridge the gap between my hidden conditions and support.”
Support, not special treatment
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a voluntary way to communicate that someone has a disability, condition or chronic illness that may not be immediately apparent.
It can let trained staff know that the wearer might need more time, patience, understanding or support. It does not automatically provide priority access, fast-track services or permission to move to the front of a queue. The wearer may still need to speak to the venue or transport provider about any specific assistance or accessibility arrangements.
For Ami, wearing the Sunflower was not about receiving preferential treatment. It helped her feel more confident that she could ask for support if she needed it.
Enjoying the moment without masking
Ami also found that wearing the Sunflower reduced some of the pressure she usually feels to hide or mask her emotions.
Instead of using so much energy worrying about how she appeared to other people, she was able to enjoy the experience more fully.
“Unexpectedly, the Sunflower also took away some of the pressure that I typically feel to mask my emotions, meaning I had such a good time.”
Ami says the difference genuinely caught her off guard. After waiting so long to wear the Sunflower, she now wishes she had started using it sooner.
Her story is an important reminder that support can give people greater confidence to participate in experiences they might otherwise avoid.
Sometimes, a little more time and understanding can make the difference between simply getting through an experience and being able to enjoy it.
Watch Ami’s story
Watch Ami share what happened when she wore the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower for the first time.
You can also follow @positivami on Instagram for more about endometriosis, neurodivergence, home and everyday life.
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