Latest news with #selfadvocacy
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Wicked star Cynthia Erivo opens up about her 'treasured' friendship with Ariana Grande during heartfelt interview on The Project
Cynthia Erivo has opened up about her deep and meaningful friendship with pop superstar Ariana Grande during an emotional appearance on Australia's The Project on Wednesday night. The powerhouse performer, who stars alongside Grande in the highly-anticipated Wicked film, spoke candidly about the trust and creative connection they've built behind the scenes. 'I really appreciate and treasure her opinion,' Cynthia said when asked about her bond with Ariana. 'I trust her – like what she hears, I trust it. If I'm like, 'Oh, I'm not sure about this,' I'll send it to her and ask, 'Have a listen to this, what do you think?' Because not many people are made like her.' Erivo went on to say the two artists share a rare understanding of one another, especially when it comes to their creativity. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'She understands how I'm made. I understand how she's made musically and creatively. So to be able to share some of that work has been really, really wonderful actually. She's one of a kind,' Cynthia said. Their close friendship blossomed while filming the two-part movie adaptation of the Broadway hit Wicked, in which Cynthia plays Elphaba and Ariana portrays Glinda. Elsewhere in the interview, the Oscar-nominated actress reflected on self-growth and the importance of setting boundaries in both personal and professional life. 'Self-advocacy starts with knowing who you are – not in anyone else's eyes, but your own,' she shared. 'Then there's the scary thing of going, 'I think there are some relationships I need to let go of.' Becoming brave enough to make the changes you need in your life to get what you want – not just in your work or creativity, but also in the people you allow around you.' Cynthia's insight comes just months before Universal Pictures dropped the first trailer for Wicked: For Good. The sequel will hit cinemas on November 21, with a first look at the movie conclusion of the Broadway hit teasing the fate of the protagonists and a first look at new characters. The sequel follows Elphaba and Glinda's friendship after Elphaba was banished from Oz. Elphaba is living in exile in the forest while continuing her fight for the freedom of Oz's silenced Animals and desperately trying to expose the truth about The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) Elphaba is living in exile, hidden within the Ozian forest while continuing her fight for the freedom of Oz's silenced Animals and desperately trying to expose the truth about The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum). Glinda, meanwhile, has become the symbol of Goodness for all of Oz, living at the palace in Emerald City and reveling in the perks of fame and popularity as she prepares to tie the knot with Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). She is also working under the instruction of Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) to convince the citizens of Oz that they have nothing to fear when it comes to The Wizard. Yet behind the scenes, Glinda is attempting to reconcile Elphaba and The Wizard, which only results in her being drawn further apart from her friend. As a result Boq (Ethan Slater) and Fiyero are set to be changed forever, while the safety of Elphaba's sister, Nessarose (Marissa Bode) comes into question. Just as tensions in Oz reach an all time high, a girl from Kansas comes crashing into all their lives. Fans went wild at the first glimpse of Dorothy - who was seen walking along the yellow brick road with the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and Scarecrow.
Medical News Today
28-05-2025
- General
- Medical News Today
Advocating for yourself: Tips, support, and resources
A person can self-advocate by gaining knowledge about their healthcare rights and taking action to improve the level of care they receive. Learning to self-advocate can help people understand their rights and actively participate in and receive better care. Some people face challenges and barriers when seeking healthcare, such as discrimination or feeling that doctors dismiss their concerns. Certain groups, such as Black people, women, those with obesity, and LGBTQIA+ communities, may encounter additional healthcare barriers due to discrimination. Self-advocacy may be helpful to individuals who feel that healthcare professionals dismiss their concerns or fail to provide adequate or equitable care. This article offers tips for self-advocating at the doctor's office and discusses a person's rights. It also discusses a person's options when they feel a doctor is not listening to their healthcare concerns and offers support and resources. Maskot/Getty Images Gathering information about their condition, treatment options, and rights as patients may help them feel more confident in a healthcare setting. By learnin g as much as they can, they may feel more empowered to communicate with healthcare professionals and participate in decisions about their healthcare. Before making an appointment, a person may also want to do some research to determine whether a healthcare professional is the right fit for them. It may be helpful to visit the doctor's website and read online reviews. A person may find it helpful to prepare for an appointment by writing down or memorizing the questions they would like to ask a healthcare professional. Planning ahead may help an individual avoid feeling overwhelmed during the appointment. It may also help them feel more confident if they are worried that a healthcare professional might rush them or dismiss their concerns. It is important for a person to understand their health circumstances and healthcare plan as a self-advocate. One of an individual's rights as a patient is to be able to ask questions about their health and the treatments a healthcare professional recommen ds. A person should feel comfortable asking their doctor for clarification until they fully understand their health status and healthcare plan. Self-advocacy involves actively participating in decision making about one's healthcare. This can include asserting certain healthcare preferences, including diagnostic methods and treatment options. requesting specific, relevant, evidence-based treatment options questioning the treatment options a doctor suggests to understand the potential risks and benefits, and enquiring about relevant alternatives asking the doctor to use diagnostic methods or treatment plans that accommodate certain preferences, such as preferring not to give an unnecessary weight measurement A person may want to ask a friend or family member to accompany them to a healthcare appointment. This can help them feel supported, confident, and less overwhelmed. A companion may support a person during the appointment by: taking notes asking clarifying questions helping to assert preferences voicing dissatisfaction Keeping detailed records of their medical history can help a person communicate with healthcare professionals more effectively. It may also help prevent a healthcare professional from dismissing concerns or making assumptions. A person may want to record: the dates and outcomes of previous appointments their ongoing symptoms or symptom progression other healthcare professionals and specialists they have met with medical tests they have undergone prior medications and other treatments A person's rights as a patient include the right to obtain a second opinion. An individual may want to contact another doctor for various reasons. These include: wanting to confirm their doctor's advice not clearly understanding their doctor's assessment or recommendations feeling uncomfortable with their doctor's methods or recommendations wanting to explore alternative treatment options wanting treatment from a healthcare professional who is more understanding of their needs Self-advocacy in a healthcare setting can help a person understand, communicate, and assert their patient rights. When individuals can communicate with healthcare professionals effectively and participate in making decisions, they may receive more satisfactory, equitable care. If a person is unaware of their patient rights, they may feel as if they're overstepping boundaries or causing an inconvenience by self-advocating. However, self-advocacy goals align closely with patient rights. ask questions about their health status and recommended treatment, and have their questions answered make decisions about the care that a doctor recommends, and have those decisions respected obtain copies or summaries of their medical records receive information from their doctor and have the opportunity to discuss the risks and benefits of appropriate treatment alternatives receive timely, responsive treatment for their needs be treated with courtesy, dignity, and respect obtain a second opinion If a person feels their doctor is dismissive of their health concerns, and self-advocacy techniques like asking for clarification and expressing preferences are not effective, they may want to switch to a different healthcare professional. Individuals can do some quick research online to try and find healthcare professionals and settings that may be able to better meet their needs. This can involve checking websites, reviews, and intake forms. They can also speak to trusted friends, family, or support groups and ask them to suggest doctors with whom they have had good experiences. A person may also want to contact a healthcare facility before making an appointment to discuss any concerns and ask questions about the care they provide. If a person has a negative experience with a healthcare professional, they can ask the medical office to record their concerns. They may also be able to help others decide whether to seek care from a health professional by submitting a review of their experience online. Some people may face additional challenges in healthcare due to discrimination. These include: people of color women LGBTQIA+ communities those with obesity The following resources may help people find support: The Association of Black Women Physicians (ABWP): The ABWP provides programs and information that support the mental health and well-being of Black people and support African American women in medicine. The ABWP provides programs and information that support the mental health and well-being of Black people and support African American women in medicine. White Coats for Black Lives (WC4BL): WC4BL provides information and various resources that aim to improve health equity for Black people and people of color. WC4BL provides information and various resources that aim to improve health equity for Black people and people of color. The NAACP: The NAACP is an advocacy organization that aims to end racial inequality. The organization aims to provide health funding for African American people and advocates for resources to reduce health disparities. The NAACP is an advocacy organization that aims to end racial inequality. The organization aims to provide health funding for African American people and advocates for resources to reduce health disparities. The OASH Office on Women's Health (OWH): The OWH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The organization provides information, support, and resources for women's health. The is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The organization provides information, support, and resources for women's health. The Alliance for Women's Health & Prevention (AWHP): The AWHP is an advocacy organization that aims to help women access healthcare and advance policy to drive equitable care. The AWHP is an advocacy organization that aims to help women access healthcare and advance policy to drive equitable care. Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA): The GLMA offers a directory of LGBTQIA+-friendly healthcare professionals. The GLMA offers a directory of LGBTQIA+-friendly healthcare professionals. Out2Enroll: Out2Enroll is an organization that offers various resources for LGBTQIA+ healthcare, including information about gender affirming care, help finding a doctor, and help managing discrimination. Out2Enroll is an organization that offers various resources for LGBTQIA+ healthcare, including information about gender affirming care, help finding a doctor, and help managing discrimination. HAES Health Sheets: This website provides several resources that may be helpful for people with obesity, including weight-friendly health professionals, self-advocacy information, and healthcare research. This website provides several resources that may be helpful for people with obesity, including weight-friendly health professionals, self-advocacy information, and healthcare research. The Obesity Action Coalition: This organization provides various resources for people with obesity. This organization provides various resources for people with obesity. Solace: This organization is covered by most Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. It can provide advocacy services and private practice advocates that a person can use and pay for out of pocket. Self-advocacy can help people experience more satisfactory healthcare. Advocating can involve gaining knowledge, preparing for appointments, asserting preferences, and participating in decision making. Self-advocacy aligns closely with people's patient rights, which include the right to clear information from healthcare professionals, the right to make healthcare decisions, and the right to be treated with courtesy, dignity, and respect. Some groups of people may face additional healthcare challenges due to bias and discrimination. Self-advocacy may help empower people to question healthcare professionals and practices and gain access to equitable care. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
WebMD
13-05-2025
- Health
- WebMD
Navigating Adult Eczema: What I Wish I'd Known in My 20s
As a writer, I often reflect on where I've been, where I am now, and what I've learned along the way. Living with eczema for more than three decades has shaped so much of who I am. While I can say with pride that I've navigated life to the best of my ability, I've also come to recognize the gaps in the things I wish I'd known or done differently, especially in my 20s. That decade was full of uncertainty, but also moments where I now see I could have advocated more for myself, prioritized my health sooner, or simply given myself more grace. If I could go back, here's what I would have told my younger self, and what I hope others might take away as they navigate their journeys. For starters, I'd tell myself to let go of the internal timeline I had built in my head. I used to believe, 'Once my skin clears, then I'll finally be able to travel more, because I won't have to worry about anything, as long as my skin is clear.' I convinced myself that everything I wanted in life was just on the other side of healed skin. But that belief couldn't have been further from the truth. I was able to travel; it just required preparation and a plan so that if a flare-up happened, I knew exactly how to manage it. I absorbed unrealistic expectations about what my life should look like. When the bigger obstacle wasn't my skin, it was the limiting belief I carried that delayed my self-acceptance. There's a famous line from Jerry Maguire, 'Show me the money,' that I've always found amusing, especially since I still haven't seen the movie. But honestly, it hits home. If I'd had a better grasp of financial literacy in my 20s, especially when it came to understanding my health care coverage, it would have made a huge difference. Back then, things like deductibles, FSAs, and maximizing my benefits felt confusing and overwhelming. I didn't realize how often insurance plans change or how quickly coverage could shift. I wasn't paying close attention, and that lack of knowledge ended up costing me financially and emotionally. Now that I'm older (and hopefully wiser), I make it a point to understand my benefits and stay informed. In my 20s, I struggled deeply with how I saw my body, and if I'm being honest, I downright loathed it. I didn't understand my triggers, and I certainly wasn't taking care of myself the way I needed to. I came of age in the era of airbrushed magazine covers, impossibly thin celebrities, and zero representation of anyone with a skin condition like mine. Eczema wasn't just misunderstood, it was invisible. I didn't know that building strength through movement, nourishing my gut to reduce inflammation, or consistently tending to my flare-ups could make such a difference. Instead, I hid. I buried myself in oversized long sleeves, numbed my emotions with junk food, and convinced myself that my skin would always be this way and that I was stuck. But thankfully, I didn't stay stuck. With time, I've come to learn that healing, both physically and emotionally, is layered. Today, I know that taking care of my body is an act of love, not punishment. I also know how powerful it is to see people who look like me thriving. That's why I turn to social media now not for validation, but for inspiration. I follow others living boldly with eczema, and I use it as a mirror to reflect a truth I now believe: a full, vibrant life with eczema is possible. And it starts with trusting myself enough to show up, inside and out. Eczema has taught me that life doesn't wait for perfect skin, perfect timing, or perfect circumstances. Now in my 30s, I know how to advocate for myself, how to care for my body with intention, and how to rewrite the narratives that once held me back. It unfolds when we choose to meet ourselves with compassion, preparedness, and a willingness to evolve. My journey is a reminder to others that it's never too late to shift course, embrace your truth, and step into the version of yourself you were always meant to become.
