Stress is the human body’s natural response to life’s challenges. Stress can even be productive in short bursts when it helps you stay alert and focused. But when stress is too frequent, intense, or long lasting, it affects brain chemistry in a way that makes daily activities more difficult. Three basic human functions commonly affected by stress are sleep, mood, and focus. Poor sleep, changes in mood, and the inability to focus and concentrate can have an impact on every aspect of life, including work and school performance, communication, relationships, and decision making. Effectively managing stress begins with understanding how stress can take a toll on your well-being. Let’s take a closer look at the impact of stress on [...]

Stress and anxiety are closely related. They may feel the same and have overlapping symptoms, like feeling overwhelmed, irritability, and difficulty sleeping or concentrating. But the underlying causes of stress and anxiety are different. If you treat anxiety like stress or vice versa, the root cause might not be addressed, which makes it more difficult to address the issue and move forward. Let’s take a look at where stress and anxiety come from, how long they typically last, and the path forward. The Origin Stress is your body’s natural response to an external trigger or pressure. Stress is focused on something specific that’s happening now, like a heavy workload, a big deadline, financial pressure, or life change. Stress in [...]

If you suspect a loved one is struggling with their mental health, or they open up to you about thoughts and feelings that are causing them pain or stress, you want to help. But saying the right thing might not be easy. The good news is that you don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be a trained clinician. or “fix” the situation. You just need to be present and patient, listen to what they say, validate what they’re feeling, and show that you truly care for them. What to Say to Someone Who’s Struggling That must be hard. I’m sorry you’re going through this. It’s okay to feel that way. This validates what your loved one [...]

Social Work Month was first celebrated in March of 1963 to support social workers and their mission – “to enhance human well-being, meet the basic human needs of all people, and put special attention on the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed and living in poverty.” The ability of social workers to uplift, defend, and transform lives is needed more than ever. Demand for support from social workers has never been higher, with rising costs, social injustice, and lack of access to care and essential resources in many communities. At Oaks Integrated Care, we’re grateful for social workers who provide a safe space for people to speak openly without judgment. And we’ve seen the life-changing impact [...]

Misconceptions, false assumptions, and misunderstandings about developmental disabilities often lead to stigma and barriers for individuals and families. This can keep people from receiving the support they need and living happy, fulfilling lives. To build truly inclusive communities, we need to understand the experiences of people living with disabilities and separate myth from truth. As we recognize Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, let’s take a moment to address some of the common misconceptions that still exist. Myth: People living with developmental disabilities have limited learning potential and low IQs. Developmental disabilities can affect how a person moves, processes information, or their pace of learning. However, many people living with developmental disabilities have above-average intelligence or have unique talents or strengths. [...]

Generational trauma can affect how people think, feel, approach relationships, and respond to stress. Even if they’ve only learned about traumatic events from relatives, books, or videos, they could be more vulnerable to mental health challenges that affect their quality of life. This is especially true during Black History Month. The resilience and achievement celebrated throughout the month are often rooted in historical injustices and chronic trauma, from discrimination in housing and education to police violence and slavery. What Is Generational Trauma? Generational trauma refers to the emotional, psychological, and even biological effects of trauma that are passed down through generations. In other words, children and grandchildren can feel stress, anxiety, fear, guilt, and other mental health conditions and [...]

While instinct may tell you to put the needs of others before your own, you can’t care for others if you don’t take care of yourself. Self-care helps you recharge your batteries, reduce stress, and avoid burnout. It keeps you grounded, mentally and emotionally, and helps you regain balance after a tough day. It can even boost your confidence and productivity so you feel better about yourself! This February and throughout the year, you deserve to love yourself as much as you love others. Here’s a simple self-care checklist to improve and maintain your mental health and emotional well-being. Good Morning Self-Check Before you start your day, make it a good morning by thinking about how you’re feeling. Pause [...]

Throughout Black History Month, we honor the achievements and resilience of Black people, past and present. By learning and sharing the truth about Black history, we create a deeper understanding of social justice and equality, the progress that has been made, and the challenges that remain. Unfortunately, Black communities continue to face obstacles that prevent people from getting the mental health support they need. Although progress has been made, more work needs to be done to remove these barriers to quality care and qualified providers. Here are several barriers to mental health support in Black communities, why these barriers exist, and their real-world impact. Mistrust of the Medical System A history of systemic discrimination, unethical medical practices, and generational [...]

What most people could use as the calendar flips to a new year is a simple reset, not a resolution. Resolutions tend to focus on the wrong things. They come from a place of self-criticism. They imply that something about you needs to be fixed. They focus on black-and-white outcomes (going to the gym 3 days a week, losing 20 pounds, etc.). Most resolutions aren’t realistic or sustainable, but a broken resolution is still considered failure. Pressure to stick with the resolution leads to anxiety, and failure leads to disappointment, which can take a real toll on your mental health. The purpose of a reset is to feel better. You practice self-care and self-compassion on your terms. A reset [...]

Signs of mental illness can be difficult to recognize. Many are dismissed as temporary stress associated with a rough patch, a bad week, not sleeping well, or struggling with loss. If symptoms subside within a couple weeks, they could very well just be a temporary result of difficult circumstances. If they remain persistent for more than two weeks or become worse, they could be signs of stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. And that’s okay. You might just need a little support to understand the causes and learn coping skills to start feeling like yourself again. Here are some early signs your mental health may need attention. Mood Swings and Extreme Emotional Changes: If you find yourself [...]