Next Step Blog
We’re committed to delivering outstanding mental healthcare. Period.
Here at Next Step, we’re extremely passionate about helping you live a better life! Mental health is important for every person at every stage of life.
That’s why we work hard to create courses, videos, books, and other resources to encourage you to take the Next Step toward positive mental health. But if you’re struggling or going through a crisis, asking for professional help is a great idea – and you can do it now! In the meantime, if you read through our blog, you might be pleasantly surprised by the guidance, tips, and strategies from our providers. After all, one step in the right direction is a step in the right direction.
Stress and Mental Health: How Is Your Brain Affected?
Stress is frequently linked to physical issues (like headaches, muscle tension, or heart troubles), but chronic, unmanaged stress impacts your mental well-being too. Here’s what you need to know about the connection between stress and mental health, plus 6 ways to tame stress.
First, What Is Stress?
Stress seems like such an abstract concept. What stresses out one person might not stress out...
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What Is the Difference Between Psychiatrists and Psychologists?
If you have mental health concerns — whether that’s anxiety, depression, or turmoil in your relationship — you should seek help. But who do you need to see? How do you know what type of mental health care provider you should talk to? Do you need a psychiatrist or psychologist? The answer might be: both.
Part of what makes Next Step unique is that we are a multidisciplinary team. In our...
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13 Ways to Help Children Cope with Back-to-School Anxiety
An upset stomach. Nightmares. Unrelenting desire to avoid school. Difficulty sleeping. Temper tantrums and crying outbursts. These are all examples of how anxiety can manifest in children. Sometimes, these signs of anxiety are attributed to other causes i.e., a stomachache from eating a rich meal before bed. Anxiety can be hidden in plain sight, but as we enter back-to-school season, you might...
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OCD During the Pandemic: What You Need to Know
Mental health experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are noting “historic rises” in anxiety and depression cases, but anxiety and depression aren’t the only two mental health conditions impacted by the pandemic. Individuals with OCD may be particularly triggered. One of the more prominent obsessions associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is...
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Do Warm-Colored Lights Help Sleep?
Perhaps you’ve noticed that e-readers, smartphones, and other tablets have an option called “night mode” — have you ever wondered what “night mode” is and why the screen turns orange? What’s up with these warm-colored lights?
There’s a lot of discussion about warm-colored lights and how they affect your ability to get a good night of sleep. Getting a...
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5 Rules for Fighting Fair in Marriage
Fair fighting?! It might seem like an oxymoron, but the reality is that there are rules to fighting fairly. At some point, all couples experience a blip in the road of marital bliss. Whether you’re fighting about the division of chores or finances, the reality is that disagreements occur in all marriages. The key is to arm yourself with problem solving skills and conflict resolution...
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How to Tell If You Have a Social Anxiety Disorder
It’s normal to experience occasional nervousness in social situations. For example, you might feel butterflies if you’re going on a first date, or if you have to give an important presentation at work. However, occasional nervousness isn’t the same thing as social anxiety disorder. With social anxiety disorder, everyday social situations can create stress and anxiety that...
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6 Uncommonly Thought Of Depression Symptoms That Shouldn’t Go Unnoticed
When people think of depression, they commonly think of someone who feels sad, lonely, has a bleak outlook on the future, and experiences thoughts of death, dying, or killing themselves. However, depression is a complex mental illness and, while these symptoms are valid and true, there are a host of other ways that you or someone you love may present that also indicates a potential problem...
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5 Easy Ways to Prepare Your Child for a Telehealth Visit
Is your child new to telemedicine?
Here at Next Step 2 Mental Health, we are proud to offer a variety of services through telehealth – and not just for adults. Children don’t have to miss their sessions due to social isolation.
If your child is already familiar with apps like FaceTime or Skype, he or she already has a good idea of what a telehealth session is like. Still, the idea of a virtual...
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What is Bipolar Disorder?
One of the most dangerous aspects is that multiple untreated manic or hypomanic episodes can be very harmful to the brain. They can sometimes even lead to cognitive impairment and/or decreasing IQ over time. (This can happen because leaving mania untreated is a lot like running a car eighty miles an hour all day, every day. Eventually the motor—the brain—will break down.)
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