The arrival of a newborn is often celebrated as a joyous occasion. For many new mothers, however, the postpartum period can be a time of unexpected emotional turmoil. Often overshadowed by the "baby blues," the more serious condition called peripartum depression can cast a long shadow on this supposedly happy time.

As a breast cancer survivor, I know firsthand that a cancer diagnosis is a life-altering event. It brings not only physical challenges but also significant emotional hurdles.

Here are five essential strategies for emotional wellness for cancer patients and survivors.

Today, I write to you not just as a physician but also as someone who has walked the tightrope of illness and recovery, buoyed by modern medicine and integrative therapies alike.

When I first learned that my son was in jail, I cheered.

It was five days after I’d seen him, wild-eyed, head shaved, emaciated. He was 23 years old.

We’d just had a cup of coffee at Starbucks where he’d been contrite about the latest brush with the police. Just five minutes later, he was sitting in my car on the passenger side, no longer sorry.

Just as there is a strong connection between physical and mental health, mental wellness is a key component in the addiction recovery process. Although dual-diagnosis treatment is a relatively new treatment approach in addiction treatment, substance use and dependence is very often driven by an underlying mental health issues.