BeWell Blog

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Self-Love Isn't Selfish: A Chronic Illness Guide to Valentine's Day—With or Without a Partner

But in reality, the day of Valentine's may turn out to be pretty tricky once one has been dealing with some chronic illness. Perhaps on social media, one goes through all these couples all cute and stuff, while you are...

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Coping with a Serious Diagnosis: How to Take It In and Stay Positive

Written by: Amanda Phillips Receiving a serious diagnosis can be one of life's most overwhelming moments. An autoimmune disease, a chronic illness, even cancer—whatever it is you hear from your doctor may make the world stop spinning for that one...

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From Strength to Vulnerability: How to Open Up About Chronic Illness as a Man

Written by: Benjamin Ruehrdanz Society tells men to be stoic, to push aside pain and not to talk about their problems. Ultimately, regardless of gender, difficulties in talking about your condition come down to a practice in vulnerability. Hiding your...

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How to Cope with Seasonal Affective Disorder: Keeping Your Mind Well When Days are Dark

Written by: Amanda Phillips Living with a chronic illness is never easy, but the shorter, darker days of winter can make it especially challenging. A lack of sunlight can leave many people feeling sad, listless, and lethargic—all symptoms of a...

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Mental Health and Chronic Illness: How to Cope with Anxiety and Depression

Written by: Amanda Phillips To me, living with chronic illness is not just symptom management. I really feel emotional turmoil weighs just as heavy, if heavier. I know the ride that chronic illness can take: anxiety and depression love to...

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My Normal - Growing Up with Symptoms and Guilt

Written by: Amanda Phillips As long as I can remember, I was always some form of sick. My stomach would always ache, and I had symptoms no one could ever explain. I thought something was wrong with me, but the...

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Grieving the Loss of Myself: Life with Chronic Illness

Written by: Ashley The Pain of Losing Who I Once Was One of my biggest struggles with IBD has been grief. And I’m not grieving the loss of a family member, a friend, or a loved one—I’m grieving the loss...

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Dear Healthy Friend,

Written by: Amanda Phillips I know I say no a lot. I know that sometimes, when I actually do show up, I seem exhausted or distant. But when you stop inviting me, it hurts more than you could ever know....

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Understanding PTSD from Medical Trauma: Overcoming the Triggers

Written by: Amanda Phillips While many people immediately associate PTSD with veterans or survivors of harrowing events, it is also connected to medical trauma. Many patients with chronic illnesses, cancer, or those who have undergone extensive medical treatments can develop...

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Managing the Emotional Impact of a Diagnosis of Chronic Disease

A diagnosis for a chronic illness can be overwhelming, confusing, and sometimes life-altering. It is not only a question of physical symptoms but an emotional journey. Most any event can be just as important to your current emotional well-being as...