Guided imagery means closing your eyes and picturing a place that feels calm and safe: a favorite trail, a beach, your living room. No app needed. Take a few deep breaths and notice what you see, hear, and feel there. Even 30 seconds helps. A huge thanks to our volunteer Nate for making this post!

Breathing slower when you're anxious tells your body it's safe to calm down. But it can be hard to do, especially for kids. That's why combining breathing with movement can help. Butterfly breathing is a great way to do this. buff.ly/C0J17WA A huge thank you to our volunteer Nate for making this!

Did you know that noticing the world around you can help you feel calm? One fun way to do it is rainbow grounding: look around and name something for each color. More quick calming tools: buff.ly/TIbk0Cn A huge thanks to our volunteer Nate for making this post!

Slowing down your breathing tells your body it's safe to relax even if you feel anxious. But this can be hard for kids to learn. Try this calming tool: Imagine blowing bubbles. Put each worry into a bubble and watch them float away. 🙏🏽 Big thanks to LaTanya for making this post! buff.ly/m5m5CHn

This grounding exercise brings you back to the present moment. It can help you feel calmer when you're anxious or overwhelmed. It's hard to learn something new when you're upset, so practice it before you need it. 🧵 🙏🏽 A big thank you to our volunteer Nate for making this post!

Was something called abnormal on your medical chart? Abnormal just means different from most people. Sometimes that difference matters. Sometimes it doesn't. Any illness is abnormal, since most people are healthy. But not everything abnormal is an illness. 🔗 Learn more: buff.ly/vGHfwsH

Ever go blank when the nurse asks what medications you take? Try one of these easy ways to remember: - Bring your pill bottles - Take photos of the labels - Write it down Don't forget vitamins & supplements! More tips: buff.ly/51BZhxw 🙏🏽 A big thank you to our volunteer LaTanya for making this!

The wait in the ER can be long. It can feel even longer when you don't know what's happening. It's okay to ask for an update. You could say something like, "Can you help me understand what's happening in my care?" 🙏🏽 A big thank you to our volunteer Nicholas for making this post!

3 ways someone can support you at your next medical appointment: 1. Bring them with you 2. Have them join by phone (just tell staff) 3. Record the appointment (ask first) You don't have to do it alone. More here: buff.ly/51BZhxw 🙏🏽 A big thank you to our volunteer LaTanya for making this post!

healthed4everyone.org/blood-pressu... #HealthEducation #HealthEd4Everyone #PatientEducation #HealthLiteracy #Risk

Meet Our Team! We're a group of physicians, researchers, educators, designers, and artists working together to make health topics easier to understand and act on. What brings us together is a shared passion for health literacy. Interested in joining us? DM us or email info@HealthEd4Everyone.org

Heading to a doctor's appointment? Here's a quick checklist of what to bring. Let us know if we should add anything! More on preparing for your appointment: buff.ly/Iw5Ir8M 🙏🏽 A big thank you to our volunteer Angie for making this post!

It's getting harder to find health information you can trust. Social media platforms are doing less fact-checking, AI is making false claims easier to spread, and most health websites still come with ads, tracking, or language that's hard to understand. 🧵 on what we're doing and how you can help

Feeling unheard in the ER can be scary, but you're allowed to speak up. Try "Can you help me understand why....?" Or "I'm concerned about this symptom, because..." This can help them focus on your concern and explain their thinking. 🙏🏽 A big thank you to our volunteer Raul for making this post!

⚕️We're HealthEd 4 Everyone, a nonprofit that makes it easier to understand and manage your health. 🔗 Learn more and check out our guides at HealthEd4Everyone.org A big thank you to our volunteer Jazmin for making this post! #healthed4everyone #healthliteracy #nonprofit #healthawareness

If you've noticed the images for our posts have improved, Raul Garcia Jr the one to thank. Raul recently graduated from the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a BBA focusing on marketing. In his free time you can find him on the golf course or playing his guitar.

You know the movie scene where someone is anxious, so they splash water on their face? They're using temperature change to bring attention back to their body. This can help anytime you feel nervous or anxious. If you want something warm, use a heating pad or hand warmer instead.

Welcome to the team, Kristal! Kristal Vardaman joins our board with 20+ years of experience in healthcare policy. She's spent her career working to improve how healthcare systems serve people, especially older adults and people with disabilities. We're so glad to have her with us!

The ER is overstimulating for everyone, and even more so when you're autistic. There are accommodations you can ask for that can help: 🔇 Some ERs have earplugs. You can ask staff for some. 😎 You can wear sunglasses. Just let them know so they don't think something else is wrong.

Scared by your blood pressure reading? Don't recheck right away. Small things like a full bladder or how you're sitting can throw off your numbers. Learn more about what to do after a high reading: buff.ly/KBwMG2K Thank you to our amazing volunteer Raul for making this post!

Talking during a BP reading can raise it by 19 points. Crossing your legs? Up to 14. One high reading doesn't mean you have hypertension. We explain the difference in our new post. healthed4everyone.org/high-blood-pressure-vs-hypertension/

The ER is scary. It's loud and you're already not feeling well. Then you have to explain what's wrong and make decisions about your care. That's hard for anyone. Our free guide gives you concrete tips to help you navigate the ER buff.ly/FATgmvi *Thanks to our volunteer Shijian for this post!

You can leave the ER, but talk to your care team first. They can tell you what's happening with your care, so you can make an informed decision. If you do leave, ask them to document your reason in your chart. This helps if you need to come back. Read more: buff.ly/FATgmvi

A pain number doesn't always tell the full story. Try describing: → How it's impacting you → What it feels like → When it started Find more help communicating int the ER at healthed4everyone.org/emergency-ro... *A big thanks to our volunteer Raul for making this post!

Before you leave the ER, find out: ☐ What they checked for ☐ What medicines to take ☐ When to follow up with your regular doctor ☐ What symptoms would mean you should come back ☐ Where your discharge paperwork is buff.ly/FATgmvi *A big thanks to our volunteer Shijian for making this image!

Have you used ChatGPT to figure out if you need a doctor? A new study found it told almost half of ER-level cases to just see a doctor soon. And for the highest risk suicide cases, the crisis helpline didn't show up 7 out of 10 times. Full breakdown: healthed4everyone.org/chatgpt-heal...

It's hard to know what to do when you're standing in the room during your child's ultrasound. That's why our free guide for families and caregivers covers suggestions from doctors. Here are a few things that can help 👇🏼 Free illustrated book & family guide: buff.ly/PEcFlCO

We're excited to welcome Brittany Zackery to our Board of Directors! Learn more about our work at HealthEd4Everyone.org #HealthLiteracy #HealthEducation #NonprofitLife #VolunteerSpotlight #PatientEducation #HealthAdvocacy #NonprofitBoard

A lot of the ways you can help your child through an ultrasound happen before the procedure starts. 📖 Free illustrated book and family guide: buff.ly/PEcFlCO #UltrasoundPrep #PediatricUltrasound #ChildLife #Autism #SensoryNeeds #HospitalPrep #ParentTips #HealthLiteracy #Pediatric

What happens during an ultrasound, step by step. These images are from "I Can Get an Ultrasound," a free illustrated book that walks kids through each step. Two versions: one for ages 4-11, one for ages 12+. Written by a pediatric ER physician and a doctor with autism. buff.ly/PEcFlCO