Teen anxiety, depression, and even OCD-like symptoms are rising at staggering rates—and technology plus social media are playing a major role. In this second episode of our month-long series on TEENAGERS, I’m joined by therapists Sissy Goff and Niro Feliciano to unpack the connection between mental health struggles and the digital world our kids are growing up in.

We’ll explain: 

➡️ why girls are experiencing anxiety at twice the rate of boys

➡️ how social media hijacks the brain’s dopamine system

➡️ and the critical signs parents shouldn’t ignore

From early intervention to everyday tech boundaries, this conversation is a must-listen for every parent raising kids in a digital age.

Listen in to learn more:

(00:10) Gender Disparity in Mental Health Treatment 

(03:06) Teen Mental Health Crisis and Parenting

(07:53) Rise in Anxiety Symptoms Among Girls 

(11:16) Yoga Exercise for Mental Health 

(16:02) Social Media's Impact on Children's Brains 

(20:33) Effects of Grayscale Phone Display 

(24:05) Parenting and Technology Concerns 

(27:10) The Complexity of Social Media Decision 

(33:19) Effects of Social Media on Kids 

(39:41) Limiting Screen Time With Grayscale Mode

SUMMARY

In this episode, we are diving into the correlation between teen mental health issues and technology, what technology and social media are doing to teen brains, signs and symptoms of mental health concerns in teens, the research on dopamine and brain chemistry, navigating conversations around social media and phones with teens, making changes to how you handle phones and social media within your family, and healthy boundaries for social media and technology.

Connect with Sissy Goff

Connect with Niro Feliciano 

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Want to watch this episode? Watch on your Spotify app, or head on over to our YouTube Channel and be sure to like and subscribe! 

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