Bipolar disorder affects 4.4% of all adults at some point throughout their life, and about 2.8% of adults have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the last year, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health. Out of the adults diagnosed with bipolar disorder, nearly 83% experience extreme disruptions to their daily routines. Bipolar disorder is a mental health illness characterized...

Holidays can be a time of joy and togetherness, but sometimes holidays can be stressful or even sad. Spending the holiday alone may be the result of conflicting schedules, familial issues, or the financial strain of traveling. This year, however, the COVID-19 pandemic has halted Thanksgiving plans across the globe.  Regardless of what’s having you feel a little blue this Thanksgiving,...

A new study followed 62,354 patients who contracted COVID-19 between January and August  New research published on November 9, 2020 in The Lancet Psychiatry journal shows 20% of people who contracted and recovered from the coronavirus were diagnosed with a mental illness within 14-90 days after testing positive. Researchers followed 6.8 million patients (62,354  of those patients were...

Whether you’re dealing with seasonal affective disorder, major depressive disorder, postpartum depression, or bipolar depression… it can be hard to motivate yourself to work out. Yet…exercise is one of the best things you can do to support your health — and that includes your mental health too! But just knowing that exercise is good for you isn’t always enough to...

Even though Thanksgiving is regarded as a time of togetherness, gratitude, and joy, there are many reasons why the holidays may be anything but bliss. This year in particular may look a little different than previous Thanksgivings, especially if quarantines and travel restrictions prevent you from gathering as you normally would. In addition to the unique challenges of 2020, holidays can be...

If a family member or loved one has depression, you might wonder what you can do to help them feel better. You might even feel confused or worried for your loved one. At Next Step 2 Mental Health, our team of caring providers wants you to know that depression is treatable. In this article, we’ll explore 11 ways you can help someone in your family with depression. 11 Ideas to Help a Loved One...

Winter blues. Winter funk. The Blues. Whichever name you use, the reality is that seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is common during the darker winter months, and it can be debilitating. If you’re experiencing any symptoms of depression or SAD, we encourage you to give us a call. Whether you’re struggling with major depressive disorder or seasonal affective disorder, we can help you feel...