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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...