Bella Hadid spoke out about her struggle with Lyme disease at a gala event in New York on Thursday.

The model, 20, was diagnosed with the ailment in 2012 and forced her to give up her dream of being an Olympic equestrian.

'My teenage years were taken from me,' she told the gathering for the Global Lyme Alliance Gala, according to People.

Showjumping 'was my dream of my life and what I did every single day until I just stopped and realized I didn’t have the brain power to ride horses anymore, so that was the end of that,' she explained.

Shared story: Bella Hadid spoke about her struggle with Lyme disease at a gala fundraiser in New York on Thursday night, saying the tick-borne illness had robbed her of her teenage years

Bella, whose mother Yolanda and younger brother Anwar have also been diagnosed with Lyme disease, was an honoree at the event hosted by the nonprofit that funds research and education about the tick-borne disease.

'I was forced to start homeschooling my second year of high school, which of course I didn’t want to do because I’d rather go hang out with my friends, go to parties,' she said during her speech.

'I know what it feels like to not want to get out of bed from bone pains and exhaustion and days on end of not wanting to socialize or be around people because the anxiety and brain fog just isn’t worth it.'

The model, 20, was one of the event's honorees and was joined by her mom Yolanda, 52, who documented her own battle with Lyme disease on Bravo's Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills

Could no longer ride horses: Bella was forced to give up 'the dream of my life' - to be an Olympic equestrian - in 2013 after being diagnosed with Lyme disease

Bella gave up her equestrian career in 2013 but it wasn't until two years later that she and her family went public with their health issues.

Despite her illness, Bella like her older sister Gigi has become one of the most sought after models in the fashion world and is managing to pursue her high profile jet-setting career.

Her mother Yolanda's search for treatment and even a cure were documented on Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills and via her social media accounts.

The 52-year-old also spoke at the gala telling the audience that like other sufferers she has often wished 'to die of utter hopelessness and exhaustion.'

'It’s hard for people to understand the invisible disability that owns our life especially behind the beautiful face that shines so bright on the covers of magazines,' Yolanda said.