Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple

Many parents of kids struggling with a mental health issue have concerns – even fears – about medication as a part of treatment. Will it help? Will it hurt? What are the side effects? Today, Dr. Tim Wilens, chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, joins Gene and Ellen to talk about prescribed medications, and other substances used recreationally to ease symptoms: How they can help, how they can harm, and how to know when medication should be considered for your child or teen. Plus, a closer look at medications for treating ADHD. 

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Have a question or comment about medications and mental health? Write to us!

Media List

• Tim Wilens, MD, Chief, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (Massachusetts General Hospital) 
• George Floyd: protests take place around the world (The Guardian) 
• Today, Explained - “The Talk” (Vox) 
• COVID-19 and College Students, featuring Khadijah Booth Watkins, MD 
•  (MGH Clay Center) 
• When Medicines Affect a Child’s Mind and Behavior (The New York Times) 
• Listen to “ADHD and Substance Use Disorders: How to Recongize and Manage Addiction” with Timothy Wilens, M.D. (ADDitude) 
• A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effects of ADHD Medications on Functional Outcomes (Journal of Psychiatric Research) 
• The Complicated Relationship Between Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Substance Use Disorders (Current Psychiatry Reports) 
• Further Evidence for Smoking and Substance Use Disorders in Youth with Bipolar Disorder (Journal of Clinical Psychiatry) 
• Familial Influences on Adolescent Substance Use (Psychiatric Times) 
• Q+A: Once You Have Discovered Your Teen is Using Pot, What’s the Next Step? (MGH Clay Center) 
• Recommended Alcohol Guidelines – Moderate (Social) Drinking Plan (Addictions and Recovery) 
• Drug Prevention Tips for Every Age (Partnership for Drug-Free Kids) 
• Dr. John A. Renner Jr. honored by MMS with Special Award for Excellence in Medical Service (Massachusetts Medical Society)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These past months and weeks have put tremendous stress on families across the country, on top of the daily challenges we were already navigating. And under tremendous stress, it can become even harder to regulate our emotions, leaving our kids – and even us – struggling with challenging behavior. 

In today’s episode, Dr. Stuart Ablon, Director of Think:Kids at Massachusetts General Hospital, joins Gene to talk through strategies to help you and your kids do the best you can right now. A huge part of this is changing our mindset to remember that challenging behavior is about skill, not will – none of us act out on purpose. Kids behave well if they can, and so do parents. Tune in for ways to focus your energy on building new coping skills for the whole family. 

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Have questions or comments about addressing kids' climate anxiety? Write to us!

Media List

• THINK:Kids (Massachusetts General Hospital)
• Helping Kids with Challenging Behavior, featuring Stuart Ablon, PhD – Shrinking It Down (MGH Clay Center)
• Guide to Mental Health Resources for COVID-19 (Massachusetts General Hospital)
• George Floyd: What happened in the final moments of his life (BBC News)
• Calling out racism isn't political. It's our moral imperative. (The Week)
• The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health (American Academy of Pediatrics)
• How Racism Harms Children (Harvard Health Blog)
• Rethinking Challenging Kids - Where There's A Skill, There's A Way (TEDx Talks)
• Getting It Right: Collaborative Problem Solving for Criminal Justice (National Institute of Corrections)
• Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators Toolkit: Reducing the Use of Isolation (National Institute of Corrections)
• The Importance of Sleep for Kids' Emotional Well-being (MGH Clay Center)
• Calming Your Anxious Mind Through Rhythmic Movement (ACES Connection)
• Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In (Wikipedia)
• Collaborative Problem Solving Trainings (Think:Kids)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan 

Episode edited by Joshua Eng

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many kids and teens are growing more worried about climate change. Scary predictions about the future and lack of government action can make them feel the crisis is out of their control. How can parents help their kids cope with climate anxiety?

On today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Elizabeth Pinsky, a pediatrician and child psychiatrist at Mass General Hospital for Children, and mom of two young kids, joins Gene to discuss how parents can talk about climate change to kids of different ages, and ways to empower them to take action in their daily lives. Tune in for more! 

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Have questions or comments about helping kids with climate anxiety? Write to us!

Media List 

• Elizabeth Pinsky, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital for Children)  
• Working from home with kids feels unsustainable. Here’s how to ease the burden. (Vox) 
• How One Boston Doctor And Her Family Confront Climate Change (WBUR) 
• Mass General Remains Safe, Ready for Expectant Families During COVID-19 (MGH Obstetrics & Gynecology) 
• How does climate change affect disease? (Stanford University) 
• Carbon Emissions Are Falling, But Still Not Enough, Scientists Say (NPR) 
• Anxiety to Agency: Empowering Kids to Address Climate Change (MGH Clay Center) 
• Exclusive Poll: 80% of Young Voters Think 'Global Warming is a Major Threat to Life as We Know It' (VICE)
• Climate Change Is Scaring Kids. Here’s How to Talk to Them (The New York Times) 
• NASA Climate Kids (NASA)
• Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (YouTube) 
• Children, Climate Change, and Mental Health (The Family Dinner Project)  
• Climate Change: A Call to Action for the Psychiatric Profession (Academic Psychiatry) 
• PAW Patrol Theme Song | Nick Jr. | Music (YouTube) 

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan 

Episode edited by Joshua Eng

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When teens leave home for college, it’s natural for both parents and young adults to adjust to new lifestyles and living apart. But many college students unexpectedly returned home due to the coronavirus pandemic, and this can pose challenges for families as they reestablish norms and expectations for living together. How can parents and young adults find the right balance between respect and independence during this time of uncertainty?  

On today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Khadijah Booth Watkins, Associate Director of MGH's Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Training Program and parent to a college freshman, joins Gene to discuss what this transition means for college students, and how parents can help them process their feelings and concerns. Tune in for more!  

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Have questions or comments about supporting college students during this pandemic? Write to us! 

Media List  

• Khadijah Watkins, MD, MPH (MGH Psychiatry Academy) 
• When Kids Leave Home: Part 1 (MGH Clay Center)  
• Tips to Help College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic (McLean’s College Mental Health Program) 
• Supporting College Students During the Covid-19 Crisis (MGH Psychiatry Academy)
• How To Help Kids Cope With Situational Anxiety (MGH Clay Center) 
• Why Are Teens So Lonely and What Can They Do to Combat Loneliness? (MGH Clay Center) 
• Self-Care in College (MGH Clay Center) 
• I’m concerned about someone who may have an alcohol or substance use problem (JED Foundation) 
• Q+A: Once You Have Discovered Your Teen is Using Pot, What’s the Next Step? (MGH Clay Center)  
• That Discomfort You’re Feeling is Grief (Harvard Business Review) 
• I Gotta Wash My Hands! (YouTube) 
• Coronavirus and Family Mental Health (MGH Clay Center) 
• Boston University Coronavirus Plan Includes Possible January 2021 Reopening (WBUR) 
• Where To Turn (MGH Clay Center)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you do an online search for the words “parenting” and “autism,” most of the results will be about parents who don’t have autism raising children who do. But what if you’re a parent on the autism spectrum, or have a partner or co-parent who is? In today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene welcomes special guest Dr. Hillary Hurst Bush to share her story of growing up with a Dad with autism – both from the perspective of her younger self and her professional experience as a neuropsychologist with the Learning and Emotional Assessment Program at Mass General Hospital. Even with challenges along the way, Hillary’s dad offered unique parenting strengths that stemmed from his differences, including dependability, reliability, and loyalty. Tune in for more. 

Have a question for Dr. Bush, or want to share your own story about growing up with a parent on the autism spectrum? Write to us! 

Media List 

• Hillary Hurst Bush, PhD (Massachusetts General Hospital) 
• Learning and Emotional Assessment Program (Massachusetts General Hospital) 
• AsperDad: Growing Up With a Parent on the Autism Spectrum (Maybe) (MGH Clay Center) 
• What Is Autism Spectrum? (MGH Clay Center) 
• The Stone Poneys – Different Drum (YouTube) 
• A comparative study of autistic and non-autistic women’s experience of motherhood (Molecular Autism) 
• Greatest Strength: Challenges Met With Courage (YouTube) 
• A Parent’s Journey Through Autism: “I have to admit it’s getting better, a little better all the time…” (MGH Clay Center)  

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life as we know it has changed since our last episode. Disruptions, anxiety, and uncertainty surrounding the new coronavirus disease have affected us all. While we can’t immediately change this public health crisis – though we can do our part by staying home if we’re able! - we do have the power to change how we think about our individual situations, and help our children and teens to do the same.

In today’s short episode, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Ellen Braaten take a mental health break to check in with all of you, to check in with each other, and to brainstorm ways for us all to seek out positive aspects of the challenges we're facing, and to take things one day at a time. We’re in this together. In fact, the whole world. And we can manage this.

Also, it gives us such hope to hear your stories! Please write to us at [email protected] about how you’ve been managing during this time with your family.

Media List

• 7 Ways to Support Kids and Teens Through the Coronavirus Pandemic (MGH Clay Center)
• 7 MANERAS DE APOYAR A NIÑOS Y ADOLESCENTES DURANTE LA PANDEMIA DEL CORONAVIRUS (MGH Clay Center)
• 帮助儿童和青少年过渡冠状病毒流行病的 7 种方法 (MGH Clay Center)
• How to Help Kids Cope With Situational Anxiety (MGH Clay Center)
• At Schools Closed for Coronavirus, Online Work Won’t Count (Wall Street Journal)
• Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource (National Association of School Psychologists)
• Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
• Self-Care for Resilience – Resources for the Whole Family (MGH Clay Center)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're taking a short break, but we've got a great line up of topics and guests for the spring. A sample of what's to come:

• Surviving a Screw Up
• Growing Up With a Parent With Autism
• Climate Change Anxiety
• Advocating for Your Child With Learning Differences In School (a follow up to our first Facebook Live Q+A, featuring Dr. Ellen Braaten)
• Going Off Medications

All this and more. We'll see you back March 25!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peers can be an excellent source of social support, and it’s great that more young people today talk to friends about their emotional challenges. But for every teen who shares, there’s another teen absorbing the info like an emotional sponge. And while it feels good to help a friend, it can also feel overwhelming - even scary - to be a friend's sole source of support, especially for serious issues.

On today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Ellen Braaten help parents to think about the pros and cons of being an emotional sponge, ways for teens to set boundaries around what they can do on their own, and strategies to bring in others to help a friend in need, when it needs to be part of a team effort.

Thanks for joining in this conversation. If you have a comment or question about being an emotional sponge, write to us!

Media List 

• Steve Martin and Chris Rock Welcome Everyone to Oscars 2020 (YouTube) 
• Movie Review: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Common Sense Media) 
• Being an Emotional Sponge: Supporting Young People Who Are Supporting Friends (MGH Clay Center)  
• Navigating A Mental Health Crisis (NAMI) 
• Self-Care for Resilience – Resources (MGH Clay Center) 
• Building Mental Wellness in Children – What Parents Can Do (MGH Clay Center) 
• Five Parenting Rules for Coping With the Current Political Climate (MGH Clay Center) 
• Tweet to us @mghclaycenter (Twitter) 

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan 

Music by Gene Beresin 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seasons change, and so do podcast co-hosts. Since the beginning, Shrinking It Down has been co-hosted by child psychiatrists Dr. Gene Beresin and Dr. Steven Schlozman. But alas, Steve is moving on to the next creative chapter in his life. It's been a long run, Steve, and a great one. Thank you for everything. We'll miss you so!

Media List

• It's Time for Saying Goodbye - Muppets Take Manhattan (YouTube)
• The Importance of Stories for Child Mental Health (MGH Clay Center)
• Nature Versus Nurture (Steve's last podcast episode) (Acast)
• Follow Steve @zombieautopsies (Twitter)
• Read stuff by Steve (Amazon)
• Read more stuff by Steve (Psychology Today)
• Watch stuff with Steve (IMDB)

Produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many parents worry that their own or a family member’s mental health disorder destine their children to struggle in the same way. But, while many psychiatric disorders do run in families to some extent, so do lots of things! Right down to food preferences and professions. So, how much do genes have to do with it? On today’s episode of Shrinking It Down, special guest Dr. Jordan Smoller, of MGH’s Center for Genomic Medicine, joins Gene and Steve to discuss how nature and nurture always work together. How much does our environment influence our lives and compete with our genes? What are the biggest protective factors against mental health issues, regardless of what we’re born with? Plus, how Sesame Street helps to support kids and families, everywhere. Tune in for more.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Have questions or comments about genes and mental health? Write to us! 

Media List 

• Jordan W. Smoller, MD, ScD (Center for Genomic Medicine) 
• Kansas City Fans Celebrate Chief’s Super Bowl Victory (NPR) 
• Echo In the Canyon | Official Trailer (YouTube) 
• Vinyl Is Bigger Than We Thought. Much Bigger. (Forbes) 
• Q+A: I Struggle with Anxiety and See It in My 7-Year Old. I’m Worried – What Should I Do? (MGH Clay Center) 
• Largest study of its kind reveals that many psychiatric disorders arise from common genes (Science Daily) 
• There Are Sorts of Ways of Making Things Better (MGH Clay Center) 
• To be good enough (Canadian Family Physician) 
• Development and vulnerability in close relationships (Gil Noam, Kurt Fischer) 
• The Rise of Oxygen Bars (WebMD) 
• Prospective study of polygenic risk, protective factors, and incident depression following combat deployment in US Army soldiers. (Psychological Medicine) 
• Lower risk of depression with elevated exercise (The Harvard Gazette) 
• Led Zeppelin - What Is and What Should Never Be (Official Music Video) (YouTube) 
• A new effort to help the youngest refugees (CBS News) 
• Sesame Street: Happy Furry Monsters Song with R.E.M (YouTube) 
• Mean Girls (On Broadway) 
• Bonus: Mary Tyler Moore Theme Song (YouTube) 

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.