Shrinks In Sneakers

Tag: children

  • 🧠 Blog Post: The Dark Mirror—How Screen Time Drains Our Mental Health

    🧠 Blog Post: The Dark Mirror—How Screen Time Drains Our Mental Health

    It’s no secret that screen time affects our mental health—but we still underestimate just how deeply it cuts.

    As a psychiatrist, I find myself glued to my phone far more than I’d like. I’m not scrolling TikTok—I’m answering emails, responding to messages, and compulsively checking patient updates. Yet, even in this “productive” digital use, I feel drained. The compulsion to keep checking leaves me feeling hollow and anxious.

    Now imagine that same digital pull in the hands of a developing mind.

    A recent study in JAMA examined over 4285 adolescents and found a clear link: teens with high levels of addictive digital media use were significantly more likely to report depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.

    The connection isn’t surprising. Much of what’s consumed online isn’t educational or uplifting—it’s filtered perfection, highlight reels, and influencer fantasy. The more time spent scrolling, the easier it is to feel like you’re falling behind in life, socially or emotionally.

    It’s telling that Steve Jobs famously limited his own children’s access to screens, despite pioneering the very technology we now feel chained to.

    This isn’t about demonizing devices—it’s about reclaiming our attention and protecting mental space, especially for young people.

    We need digital hygiene just like we need physical hygiene. That means:

    • Setting screen-time boundaries
    • Promoting offline connection
    • Reframing how we compare ourselves to curated content

    Mental health isn’t just shaped in the therapy room—it’s shaped by the world we scroll through every day.

  • 🚨 Health Care is Under Attack

    🚨 Health Care is Under Attack

    Our patients are under attack. Our oath to do no harm is under attack. Health care is under attack.

    Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget resolution that could slash $880 billion from Medicaid—a devastating blow that would strip 15.9 million people of health coverage. That’s 1 in 5 of your friends, neighbors, and patients.

    📉 Who will suffer most?
    🔹 Children
    🔹 The elderly
    🔹 People with disabilities
    🔹 Those living in poverty

    These are the people we serve every day

    We cannot stand by as essential care is ripped away from the most vulnerable. This is not a red or blue issue —this is a people issue.

    đź©ş If you’re a healthcare professional, patient, or advocate, now is the time to speak up. Join us in the fight to protect Medicaid and ensure no one is left behind.

  • Shame and Stigma Caused by Male Infertility

    Shame and Stigma Caused by Male Infertility

    Infertility is a Real Problem Many Couples Face

    I had an interesting conversation the other day on the topic of male infertility. What’s most interesting, is we rarely discuss male causes of infertility in American Society. When infertility discussions occur, they are often focused on the female in the relationship. Recently there has been a focus on male causes of infertility. According to the centers for disease control (CDC) about 6 percent of married women age 15 to 44 are unable to get pregnant after 1 year of trying. About 12 percent of women aged 15 to 44 have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying to term. The CDC estimates that in a significant percent of infertile couples, male infertility is the cause. It’s clear from the CDC data, that not only is infertility common but there are both male and female factors at play. 

    Stigma and Shame

    As a psychiatrist, I’m no stranger to stigma and shame. It’s common and pervasive in the mental health community, although it’s improving slowly. It takes a lot for most men to make the decision to see a doctor and be tested in the first place. While gender roles are evolving in society many men balk at the idea that they may be the cause of the couple’s infertility. Most men will provide answers like “I’m doing great, I do not need to be tested” when the issue comes up. Now, imagine you are healthy young male in the prime of your life, and you are unable to conceive with your spouse after 1 year. You decide to get tested for male infertility and discover that you have a low sperm count. This can result in questions of masculinity, and profound shame for many men. This is especially relevant for males who see themselves as “alpha males” in other areas of life. The question becomes how can we have these conversations in a meaningful way while reducing stigma and shame in the process?

    Understanding as a way Forward

    Traditionally there has been more options for females seeking support while undergoing an infertility work up. Men simply did not talk about these issues in part because a structure and setting did not exist. This issue must be approached from an empathetic and nonjudgmental stance. A good place to begin any discussion on male infertility is with education about the topic. Once patients learn about how common these issues are, and the potential causes they can start seeing the problem like any other medical issue. Providing education during the evaluation as well as online resources that the patient can explore is a good start. I also like to explore how much the patient values having a biological child. We can explore the pros and cons of going through infertility treatments and decide how far the patient is wiling to go. It’s important to be clear about what the patient is willing or unwilling to do in this process. We want to emphasize throughout the discussion that receiving treatment does not make them any less of a man. Helping men to process their emotions and better understand their reaction to this information is essential.

    Hopefully, more awareness about this issue will lead to increased access to therapists and other support networks for male patients dealing with infertility.Â