Nitika Chopra, Chronicon
Talk of health and healthcare flood our timelines and news cycle everyday. Whether it’s pre-existing conditions or comorbidities, many Americans may not have been familiar with these terms prior to 2020. But for 133 million Americans with chronic illnesses these conversations have always been particularly poignant. Nitika Chopra is one of those people.
At the age of 10, Nitika Chopra was diagnosed with a severe case of the autoimmune disease psoriasis. Not knowing what this skin condition really was or how it would changed her life. Nitika embarked on a 30 year journey of devastating challenges, and tremendous isolation. A psoriatic arthritis diagnosis soon followed which only left her feeling that much more alone in her health struggles.
The thing that Nitika didn’t realize is that there were millions of people in the United State alone that also had psoriasis and millions more with other chronic conditions. For most of the years she dealt with her health, Nitika felt as though she was the only one. Even after she went on to host her own talk show on global television, Naturally Beautiful, and teach people around the world how to access self-love. That all changed recently and has grown into something that her 10 year old self would have only dreamed of.
In 2019 Chopra launched the first of its kind platform dedicated to elevating the lives of those living with chronic illness, Chronicon. Set out to break the cycle of isolation for the 133 million people who had been diagnosed as having a chronic condition in the United States. After nearly 30 years of dealing with her own health, it became overwhelmingly clear that she was not the only one feeling completely alone with her health and the challenges it came with. It also became more obvious than ever that those living with a chronic illness deserved to be talked about, marketed to and included in major media campaigns but they almost never were.
While the initial offering for Chronicon was a live conference that sold out and had thousands of people live streaming the event, Nitika has spent much of 2020 determining how to support this community virtually and in a way that keeps all of them safe while navigating the realities of COVID-19.
That’s why Chopra along with Chronicon is introducing The Chronicon Community to the world today on the one year anniversary of their very first gathering. This community is a place where people can access Chronicon right in their pocket, no matter what their abilities are, where they live in the world or how alone they might feel. Chronicon was made just for them and is the place where they can come and be truly seen, heard and held in their experience.
Every membership will include a curated monthly event that will feel like a mini-Chronicon experience every time. The first event is happening on November 19th with guest speakers Sahaj Kohli of Brown Girl Therapy, breathwork practitioner Regina Rocke of Wolf Medicine Magic, chef Alison Maras of Food By Mars and a musical performance with singer Meah Pace to close the evening.
In addition to the monthly gatherings, members will also get discounts on merchandise and partner offerings, exclusive invites to community gatherings and industry events that will help them on their health journey, as well a whole community of like-minded chronic illness warriors that will soon become their new friends.
While having a chronic illness is clearly not a unique experience, especially with the rising numbers of those who are diagnosed, it is clear that there is still so much work to be done when it comes to shining a light on this community and giving them the resources that they deserve to help them thrive. Chronicon is dedicated to being a leader with its platform, events and The Chronicon Community and hopes that feeling isolated while living with a chronic illness will soon be something of the past.
