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.

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 success of your treatment as a chronic illness or cancer patient often relies on day-to-day adherence to your treatment or medication protocol. With all of the complexities and moving parts involved in managing your condition, it can be difficult to stay on top of your treatment. That’s where medication tracking apps come into play. By automating reminders and keeping track of side effects, medication apps can be a major aid in sticking to treatments and feeling better.

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.

A personal health journal is a record of an individual’s important health and wellness information. These journals can vary from patient to patient, but they often contain information on one’s medical history, symptoms, medications, treatment progress, and other relevant notes. Keeping a personal health journal has numerous benefits for those facing a chronic illness or treatment plan — ranging from staying organized to being able to learn more about your health. Keep reading to find out how to create your own!

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.

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.

When you think of the month of November, you may be excitedly anticipating your Thanksgiving dinner, making the most of the fall season, or gearing up for the holidays and New Year. However, the start of November also signals an important movement to raise awareness for male health issues.

There is a long standing idea that the use of technology, and smartphones in particular, are damaging to one’s mental health. This idea has become increasingly popular with the rise of the internet and social media. However, if implemented and utilized correctly, technology has the power to change the face of healthcare.

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.

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.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is essential for us to acknowledge how surviving breast cancer can take a toll on one’s mental state. A breast cancer diagnosis leads to an inevitable shift in both your physical and psychological health. Even long after the cancer has gone into remission, many still report symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and have trouble returning to everyday life. In this post, we will honor those who have fought breast cancer and acknowledge the psychological side of this disease that often goes unspoken.

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.

A new study published in the Lancet looked at all 2019 cancer deaths worldwide, and found that 44.4% — or nearly half — were attributable to modifiable, behavioral risk factors. The leading risk factors were smoking, alcohol consumption, and high BMI. In this blog post, we’re taking a deeper look into the findings of this first-of-its-kind study and what they mean for the future of cancer prevention.

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.

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.

The COVID-19 pandemic had many implications on the ability to receive health care, one of them being the widespread cancelling and postponing of annual physical exams. What once may have been routine was derailed due to mass closures and reduced availability. Missing a few physicals may seem negligible, but these wellness visits actually have a major impact on you and your future health. In this blog post, we’re discussing why it’s so important to get back on track and a few ways to get the most out of your next physical.

You’ve probably heard people with cancer refer to “chemo brain,” a cognitive change people experience when facing cancer and undergoing certain treatments. While the exact mechanism that causes these mental changes remains unclear, the phenomenon is nonetheless very real. In this blog post, we define chemo brain and discuss possible treatments and coping mechanisms that can make day-to-day living a little easier.

Heart disease has remained the leading cause of death in the U.S. for nearly a century now. Over time, we’ve accumulated a great amount of knowledge on the main risk factors and behaviors that contribute to poor heart health — from inactivity and diet to smoking and stress. But these aren’t the only causes of heart disease. In this blog post, we’re highlighting three lesser-known contributing factors of cardiovascular disease and tips for using them to promote heart health.

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.