Category
Blog
Putting a Face on Teen Mental Health
Josephine Urbon is a 16-year-old sophomore living in Los Angeles, California. She gets good grades, plays sports, and has supportive parents and close-knit friends… yet she is still one of the many teen girls in the US that has faced anxiety and depression.
9 Things to Do After Receiving a Diagnosis
Receiving a health diagnosis can come with a number of emotions — maybe you feel relieved, shocked, overwhelmed… or some combination of the three. There’s no right way to receive news about your health. But taking steps to 1) process how you’re feeling and 2) plan for how your life may change can drastically lighten the burden that is a chronic health condition. Having served patients from all walks of life, all undergoing unique treatment journeys, our team has compiled 9 tips for what to do after receiving a diagnosis.
The Relationship Between Food & How You Feel
It’s no question that food has a significant impact on your health and wellbeing, in both the short and long term. With food and wellbeing being so closely intertwined, it is essential to be intentional with your dietary choices to ensure that you’re using food to your advantage, and not your disadvantage. Just like how food can have many positive impacts on your health and wellbeing, it can also have negative effects. In this post, we’re discussing the positive and negative impacts of food along with some easy tips to achieving a healthy, balanced diet.
Preparing for Doctor’s Visits as a Caregiver
Doctor’s visits are a crucial part of the treatment experience. But without preparation and good communication on both sides, many doctor’s visits turn out to be inefficient and ineffective. In these types of care settings, caregivers play an important role in collecting and sharing information from both the patient and the provider. And their presence is often essential for the wellbeing of the patient. In this post, we’re discussing a few ways caregivers can best prepare for their patient’s doctor’s visits.
Finding an Online Support Community
It’s widely known that having a sense of community — in any facet of your life — can have great benefits for your physical, mental, and psychological state. People are inherently social creatures who crave relationships with others. Camaraderie is essential to our well-being, especially when coping with a difficult cancer or chronic illness diagnosis. Here are some of the benefits of being a part of an online community for your illness.
New Beginnings: How to Make the Most of the New Year
Studies have shown that about two-thirds of people who set New Year's resolutions end up giving up on them. Setting goals and resolutions for yourself can be overwhelming. It's hard to anticipate how your life will change in a year and what obstacles you will face, especially when it comes to your health journey. In this blog post, we will discuss tips to help you reach your goals and maintain your progress.
The Holidays When Someone you Love has Cancer
When a loved one has cancer, it is exceptionally difficult to move on with life as usual. The holidays that used to be joyous and exciting can now feel impossible to get through. Cancer puts an enormous strain on the individual patient, their close relationships, and the family dynamic as a whole. The hardship you and your loved ones are experiencing will inevitably impact the ability to enjoy these times of celebration. Today we will discuss navigating the holidays when a loved one has cancer and how you can offer them additional support.
Eating Disorders and the Holidays
The holidays are a time when many indulge in all their favorite comfort meals, beverages, and festive sweets. However, if you are struggling with an eating disorder, the holidays can mean facing potential triggers, anxieties, and challenges around food. Instead of feeling excitement and anticipation, an eating disorder can leave you riddled with fear, constantly evaluating how much you consume compared to others. This season can magnify your inner struggles and make it difficult to ignore unsettling thoughts and feelings. In this blog post, we will discuss ways you can cope with an eating disorder and prioritize your physical and psychological health this holiday season.
Managing Adult ADHD in the Workplace
It is estimated that around 11 million adults in the United States have Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Research suggests that ADHD is inherited; it’s a genetic disorder that can significantly impair one’s ability to function in everyday life, particularly at work. Taking steps to properly manage your ADHD can significantly improve your work performance, relationships, and feelings of self-efficacy.
8 Maintainable Sleep Hygiene Habits
Getting enough sleep is essential to living a happy and healthy life. Sleep allows us to function properly and gives our bodies and minds the chance to rest and recharge. We cannot understate the importance of sleep to your mind, body, and life, especially while facing a chronic condition.
5 Tips for Staying Well This Fall
When we think of fall we usually picture the changing leaves, cozy sweaters, and pumpkin flavored everything. With the holidays quickly approaching, it is a time of excitement and celebration… However, it is essential to note that for many this can be an isolating time. With the changing of seasons also comes busier schedules. People are returning back to work and school, and as summer fades away, people become more susceptible to the “fall blues.” In this blog post, we’re sharing how to make the most of the autumn season while also staying on top of your physical and mental well-being.
The Hard Truth: Therapy Is Too Expensive For Most Americans
A Verywell Mind survey recently revealed the harsh reality that cost remains a significant barrier to accessing therapy, despite its acceptance in mainstream mental health care. Alongside medication and lifestyle changes, therapy is one of the most beneficial treatments for individuals with conditions like depression, anxiety, addiction, and more — conditions that can be life-threatening if left untreated. In this blog post, we’re discussing the multi-faceted cost burdens of therapy and what’s needed to increase access to this care.
The Psychiatric Impact of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain and mental health disorders often occur together. One explanation is that experiencing pain can exacerbate mental health risk factors, such as stress and sleep problems. But brain imaging research also shows that the two types of conditions can share biological mechanisms that contribute to one another. In this blog post, we’re taking a deeper look at some of the established connections between psychiatric and chronic pain disorders.
Staying Safe With Supplements
Many people believe that vitamins and supplements products are regulated in a way that’s similar to medications and other drugs. However, the FDA regulates dietary supplements as food, not drugs. Because of this, the risks of these products are often unknown and unpredictable. In this post, we’re discussing smart supplement use and resources to help educate and equip individuals to make healthier decisions when it comes to supplements.
All About the New 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline
Every 11 minutes, someone dies by suicide in the US, making suicide one of the leading causes of death among adolescents and young adults. On July 16th, a 3-digit shortcut will be implemented: Individuals can dial the number 988 to automatically be connected to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In this blog post, we’re discussing everything we know about this change as well as a few common concerns as its implementation date approaches.
Mindful Eating: Benefits for Both the Mind and Body
You’re probably familiar with the term “mindfulness” - the mental state of being present and accepting of one’s thoughts and feelings. Mindfulness can be applied to just about any activity to bring meaningful benefits in different areas of a person’s life. Today, we’re taking a look at mindful eating and how this mindfulness intervention impacts both the mind and body.
Taking Care of the Caregiver: Ways to Combat Caregiver Burden
Dealing with chronic illness poses burdens directly to the patient — but what about their loved ones who consistently provide them with emotional and physical support? Today, we’re highlighting the impact that being a caregiver can have on one’s psychological health, and a few ways caregivers can help themselves.
Mental Illness and Chronic Conditions: How to Keep Moving Forward
Almost half of all Americans are living with a chronic disease. Once a medical condition is diagnosed, it can become the primary lens through which a patient is treated. Recognizing the link between chronic conditions and mental illness is critical to helping patients move forward in a positive way. As we near the end of Mental Health Awareness Month, we aim to shine a light on the value of a collaborative care approach when it comes to mental and physical health.
Honor Her Health: National Women’s Health Week
This week is National Women’s Health Week, and it’s a great opportunity for family, friends, and the greater community to take action and empower women to advocate for their health.
Ride the Wave: In-the-Moment Ways to Manage Your Anxiety
This May is Mental Health Month, and we wanted to spotlight the most common mental illness in the United States: anxiety. While there are numerous tools to bring down your overall anxiety, what do you do in the moments when your anxiety levels are off-the-charts?