However, because endometriosis exists internally, it is invisible to the outside eye, causing people who live with it to feel as if they constantly have to prove that they're in pain.
That's why Smythe decided to do something different for Halloween this year — she decided to dress up as her invisible illness.
Smythe told BuzzFeed that after suffering terrible physical and mental pain for years due to her endometriosis she wanted to portray on the outside of her body what it felt like on the inside.
She painted deep bruise marks to represent the almost constant pain she feels. Smythe went on, "I thought to myself, why don't I paint bruising in an effort to open up people's eyes to the effects of this horrible disease? I wanted them to be able to imagine pain that feels like fireworks are trapped exploding throughout your body."
Smythe said that the response to her "costume" so far has been incredible, and that she hopes it will continue to open people's eyes to the horrible realities of living with this disease. "I hope people learn that endometriosis is a serious condition and those suffering should receive the support they deserve," she told BuzzFeed.
As someone living with endometriosis I'm not biased or anything — but this is the best costume I've ever seen.
