Why Teen and Young Adults Need Real Mental Health Support with Dr. Rachel Hyman

Why Teen and Young Adults Need Real Mental Health Support with Dr. Rachel Hyman

Why are so many older teens and young adults silently struggling? Why does anxiety feel louder than ever in this generation? And why do so many young people fall through the cracks during one of the most formative stages of life? In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli sits down with Dr. Rachel Hyman, a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with teens, young adults, and families. Emerging adulthood is a season of exploration, transition, and identity formation — but it can also be a time of intense uncertainty. Academic pressure. Social comparison. Relationship challenges. Chronic health conditions. A rapidly changing world. It’s no surprise that anxiety, depression, trauma, and self-esteem struggles are increasingly common. Dr. Hyman shares why anxiety — especially social anxiety — is one of the most prevalent concerns she sees today, and how social media has amplified the pressure young people feel. At the same time, she highlights a hopeful shift: the stigma around mental health is decreasing, and more young adults are seeking support. We also explore: • What therapy actually looks like (and why it’s not a quick fix) • Why readiness and willingness matter in the therapeutic process • How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help • The emotional toll of managing chronic health conditions at a young age • Why mental health support is a critical piece of medical advocacy • The benefits and accessibility of tele-mental health services If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity. For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395. Connect with Rachel Hyman https://www.drrachelhyman.com/ [https://www.drrachelhyman.com/] https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/08/02/diabetes-colorblindness-genetic-testing/ [https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/08/02/diabetes-colorblindness-genetic-testing/] Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli: Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates [https://www.instagram.com/pathwaypadvocates/] Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.facebook.com/PathwayPatientAdvocates] Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.youtube.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates9311] Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.tiktok.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates] LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pathway-patient-advocates/] pathwaypa.com [http://pathwaypa.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Help! Is Anyone Listening? Feeling Stuck With Your Condition

Have you ever left a medical appointment wondering if anyone truly heard what you said? Have you explained your symptoms again and again, only to feel like progress isn’t happening? Or quietly ask yourself: Is anyone actually listening? In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli and Christine explore a deeply important and often unspoken experience in healthcare: the feeling of not being heard. Modern healthcare is incredibly complex. Specialists focus on specific areas, appointment times are often limited, and communication gaps can easily occur. When care becomes fragmented, patients often find themselves carrying the responsibility of connecting the dots between providers, tests, and treatment plans — all while managing their own health challenges. Over time, this can lead to frustration, exhaustion, and even self-doubt. In this thoughtful conversation, Dr. Borrelli discusses: • Why so many patients feel “stuck” in the healthcare system • How fragmented care can make progress feel slow or unclear • Why patients often blame themselves when answers don’t come • The emotional impact of repeatedly feeling dismissed or misunderstood • Why being heard is critical for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity. For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395 Take control of your healthcare journey with confidence. ✨ Enroll today in our Patient Advocacy Course and learn how to speak up, stay organized, and make informed decisions about your care or your loved one’s. 👉 Visit https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/ [https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/] to get started. Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli: Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates [https://www.instagram.com/pathwaypadvocates/] Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.facebook.com/PathwayPatientAdvocates] Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.youtube.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates9311] Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.tiktok.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates] LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pathway-patient-advocates/] pathwaypa.com [http://pathwaypa.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

How Am I Still Struggling With My Chronic Condition?

Have you done everything your doctors recommended… yet you’re still struggling with your chronic condition? Do you ever wonder why progress feels so slow — or why you still feel overwhelmed despite trying so hard? Have you asked yourself, “Why am I still dealing with this?” If these questions sound familiar, you’re not alone. In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli and Christine tackle a deeply relatable and often unspoken reality for people living with chronic illness: the frustration of doing everything “right” and still feeling stuck. Managing a chronic condition is rarely simple. It often involves multiple specialists, changing medications, evolving symptoms, and a healthcare system that tends to focus on individual problems rather than the full picture. Over time, patients can find themselves juggling appointments, tracking symptoms, managing records, and advocating for themselves — all while trying to function in daily life. That level of responsibility can become exhausting. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why chronic conditions rarely improve in a straight line • Why patients can feel “stuck” even when they are following treatment plans carefully • The emotional toll of long-term illness and uncertainty • How fragmented care between multiple specialists can make progress harder • Why coordination and communication are critical in chronic disease management If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity. For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395 Take control of your healthcare journey with confidence. ✨ Enroll today in our Patient Advocacy Course and learn how to speak up, stay organized, and make informed decisions about your care or your loved one’s. 👉 Visit https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/ [https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/] to get started. Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli: Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates [https://www.instagram.com/pathwaypadvocates/] Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.facebook.com/PathwayPatientAdvocates] Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.youtube.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates9311] Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.tiktok.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates] LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pathway-patient-advocates/] pathwaypa.com [http://pathwaypa.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Survivorship Starts Day One: Why Nutrition Matters with Sammy Peterson

Why does nutrition suddenly feel so overwhelming the moment you need it most? Why are patients told “just eat whatever you want” during cancer treatment — when clearly, it’s not that simple? And what if wellness didn’t have to feel restrictive, rigid, or exhausting… but instead supportive and sustainable? In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli sits down with Sammy Peterson, RD, founder and CEO of Simply Wellness and a former clinical oncology dietitian, to unpack one of the most misunderstood pillars of healthcare: nutrition. Sammy began her career in a rare hospital setting where conventional oncology care and complementary wellness lived under one roof — even operating as a farm-to-table hospital. That experience reshaped her philosophy entirely. She saw firsthand that when patients were supported emotionally, nutritionally, physically, and mentally — not just medically — they didn’t just survive treatment… they felt stronger moving through it. In this episode, we explore: • Why wellness feels so complicated — and how to simplify it • The problem with one-size-fits-all health advice • Why nutrition should be integrated into cancer care from day one • Practical strategies for managing nausea, taste changes, fatigue, and appetite loss • The power of small, consistent habits over perfection • Why survivorship truly starts at diagnosis • How to support both the patient and the family during treatment If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity. For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395. Connect with Sammy Peterson, RD, CSO: https://simplywellnessllc.com/ [https://simplywellnessllc.com/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-peterson-825899358/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-peterson-825899358/] https://www.instagram.com/sammypetersonrd/ [https://www.instagram.com/sammypetersonrd/] https://www.facebook.com/SimplyWellnessllc [https://www.facebook.com/SimplyWellnessllc] Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli: Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates [https://www.instagram.com/pathwaypadvocates/] Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.facebook.com/PathwayPatientAdvocates] Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.youtube.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates9311] Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.tiktok.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates] LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pathway-patient-advocates/] pathwaypa.com [http://pathwaypa.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

How to Prepare for Medical Travel: A Patient’s Checklist for Out-of-State or International Care

Are you considering traveling for medical care? Have you wondered what you should prepare before seeing a specialist in another state or country? Or worried that without the right planning, medical travel could quickly become overwhelming? Traveling for healthcare can open the door to new expertise, advanced treatments, and valuable second opinions. For many patients facing complex diagnoses, rare conditions, or unanswered questions, out-of-state or international care can provide new possibilities and fresh perspectives. But without careful preparation, medical travel can also become stressful, confusing, and logistically complicated. In this episode of Ask the Patient Advocate Podcast, Dr. Elena Borrelli and Christine walk listeners through an essential patient checklist for preparing for medical travel—helping you approach the process with organization, clarity, and confidence. Building on a previous episode about when it may be time to seek care farther away, this conversation focuses on the practical steps patients should take before, during, and after traveling for medical care. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why preparation is one of the most important factors in successful medical travel • What medical records and documentation you should gather before leaving • How to clarify your goals before meeting with a new specialist • What to research about providers, hospitals, and treatment programs • The critical logistical details patients often overlook, including travel timing, lodging, and recovery support • Why planning for follow-up care at home is just as important as the trip itself If you have questions or topics you'd like us to explore, don't hesitate to reach out to us at advocate@pathwaypa.com. Remember, with the right advocate by your side, managing your health becomes a journey of empowerment and clarity. For personalized assistance and support, reach out to us and discover how we can help you navigate your path to better health. Call us at (947) 517-8395 Take control of your healthcare journey with confidence. ✨ Enroll today in our Patient Advocacy Course and learn how to speak up, stay organized, and make informed decisions about your care or your loved one’s. 👉 Visit https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/ [https://pathwaypa.com/pathwaycourses/] to get started. Connect with Dr. Elena Borrelli: Instagram: @pathwaypadvocates [https://www.instagram.com/pathwaypadvocates/] Facebook: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.facebook.com/PathwayPatientAdvocates] Youtube: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.youtube.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates9311] Tiktok: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.tiktok.com/@pathwaypatientadvocates] LinkedIn: Pathway Patient Advocates [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pathway-patient-advocates/] pathwaypa.com [http://pathwaypa.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.