Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple

* Want the visuals to go with the talk? Watch this special episode on YouTube *

Why on earth are two child psychiatrists talking about the 2019 Academy Awards? It’s not just for fun, even though it’s fun, too. But, rather, because there is so much in this year’s nominated films – from Black Panther to Bohemian Rhapsody – that relates to coming of age in today’s America. We live in a time of cultural turmoil and a search to rediscover identity as a country and as individuals. Many of these films are opportunities to help us reflect on these issues, in addition to enjoying the actors, action, and great entertainment.

Tune in to this special episode of Shrinking It Down as Gene and Steve discuss the Oscar-nominated films and how movies can help us to feel connected and make sense of the world.

Media List

• @JuddApatow: "On a plane. I will be answering all of your questions..." (Twitter)
• Michael B Jordan Says He Went to Therapy After Filming Black Panther: It Was Tough for Me’ (People)
• ‘BlacKkKlansman’: A Sobering Reminder That America’s Past Is Indicative of the Present (Essence)
• The Complicated Nature of Freddie Mercury’s Sexuality (Biography)
• Lady Gaga’s 2019 Grammys Acceptance Speech Focused on Supporting Each Other Through Mental Health Struggles - VIDEO (Bustle)

Episode filmed and edited by Michael Dillon, PILOT FIELD

Music by Gene Beresin

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

Almost every parent has been there. Whether your child is age two or twenty-two, we’re all familiar with the “T” word. Out-of-control meltdowns on the way to school, embarrassing moments in the supermarket. Tantrums can feel like a nightmare. But understanding what’s going on in your toddler’s mind – in addition to what you may bring to these interactions from your own personal experience – can be a really helpful starting point in honing survival strategies.

In this episode of Shrinking It Down, our co-director Ellen Braaten is joined by special guest Rebecca Schrag Hershberg, PhD, author of the new book The Tantrum Survival Guide. Tune into the show for some great advice on “tuning into your child’s mind to calm the craziness and make family fun again.”

Media List

·     The Tantrum Survival Guide (Rebecca Schrag Hershberg | The Guildford Press)

·     Tantrums: Parenting Reset (Good Day New York, Fox5)

·     How to Survive Your Child’s Epic Tantrum (Greater Good Magazine)

·     What if My Child Has Tantrums? (MGH Clay Center)

·     The Crying Toddler (MGH Clay Center)

·     What is Separation Anxiety? (MGH Clay Center)

Episode hosted by Ellen Braaten

Episode edited by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

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

Intimacy. Is there anything else in the teenage brain? It’s a wonder they make it through school after adolescence hits! We’ll be honest, we didn’t know what direction this conversation would take, but it turned out a great example of how talking helps us to process some of the trickier issues in life.

In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Dr. Ellen Braaten joins Gene and Steve to pick apart what goes on inside the adolescent mind, developmentally, when it comes to attraction, relationships, and delayed gratification. Don’t forget to check out our media list for this one!

Media List

·     Woman’s hair freezes in Iowa (YouTube)

·     The Intense Power of Love on Our Kids (MGH Clay Center)

·     8 Tips for Parents on the Modern Tween and Teen’s Culture of Hooking Up and Hanging Out (MGH Clay Center)

·     Cognitive and attentional mechanisms in delay of gratification. (Mischel, Ebbesen, Raskoff Zeiss, 1972)

·     Marshmallow Test (Flood San Diego, YouTube)

·     Rotary Dial (Wikipedia)

·     “Telephone Hour” Bye Bye Birdie (YouTube)

·     Rules for Dating in a Non-Dating World (MGH Clay Center)

·     Sexual Consent: Teaching Our Teens About the Gray Areas (MGH Clay Center)

·     Sexually Transmitted Diseases – Adolescents and Young Adults (CDC)

·     Baker Unveils $42.7B Budget With Education Funding Overhaul (US News & World Report) 

Episode edited by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

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

Did you know that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most evidence-based psychosocial treatments we have for mental health issues? Today, its use goes beyond treatment for anxiety disorders and depression to application for a wide range of challenges including psychosis, body dysmorphic disorder, ADHD, and even for coping with aspects of medical illnesses.

Simply put, CBT is about giving people skills or tools to cope with challenges they’re having in their lives. And if you’re willing to put in the time, it can be incredibly effective. In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Steve are joined by special guest Susan Sprich, Ph.D., Director of the CBT Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. Tune in to learn more about CBT as they discuss how it works, and what practice actually looks like, in clinical sessions and on your own.

Media List

• What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? (MGH Clay Center)
• Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program (Massachusetts General Hospital | vidscrip)
• Mastering Your Adult ADHD: A Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Program, Client Workbook (Oxford University Press)
• Pink Freud & the Transitional Objects – The Weight (YouTube)

Episode edited by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

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

What’s the difference between a “resolution” and an “evolution”? In the context of New Year’s, even though they begin with the best intentions, resolutions often come with a lot of pressure to follow through. But an evolution allows you to grow and adapt within your personal environment – including the various people in your life, as well as non-negotiable life demands that may come from home or from work. In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Steve try to move beyond resolutions to something that will have a more meaningful impact in our lives. That, and—have you watched the new interactive episode of Black Mirror??

Do you have any new year's evolutions you'd like to share? Send us your thoughts and questions! We may read them on the air.

Media List:

• Growing Together in the New Year (MGH Clay Center)
• January Newsletter: New Year’s Evolutions (MGH Clay Center)
• JOMO: Joy Of Missing Out (@christinaelmoussa via @scarymommy)

Episode edited by Sara Rattigan

Special music by Gene Beresin and Jim Mayer

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

Here we are, in the peak of the holiday season. Do you feel joyful? Do you feel down? Are you simply overwhelmed? Whatever it is you’re feeling, it’s okay, and we guarantee you’re not alone. The holidays mean different things for different folks and families. But if you want to make the most of this season, let Gene and Steve talk you through a few strategies to mix in some moderation and self-care. 

What do you love or hate about the holidays? We'd love to hear from you. Write to us!

Media List

• How to Survive the Holidays With Teens (MGH Clay Center)
• Mending a House Divided: Bringing Peace and Good Will to the Holidays (MGH Clay Center)
• What if My Family Doesn't Celebrate the Holidays? (MGH Clay Center)
• 22 Simple Habits That Relieve Holiday Stress and Anxiety (Reader's Digest)
• 10 Tips for Dealing With Family Estrangement During the Holidays (SELF Magazine)
• 8 Holiday Survival Tips for Adults With Divorced Parents (BuzzFeed)

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

It’s cold. It’s gray. It’s dark. This time of year, a lot of folks feel pretty blah. And not just those with depression or other mental health disorders. It can affect anyone. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real thing. But if you don’t like the way it makes you feel, there are real things you can do about it.

In this episode of Shrinking It Down, Gene and Steve talk about the signs and symptoms of SAD, and ways to help you and your family cope.

Have a question about SAD that we didn’t cover? Write to us!

Media List

·     Baby, It’s Gray Outside: Coping With Seasonal Affective Disorder (MGH Clay Center)

·     Spring Suicide: An (Un)Likely Combination? (MGH Clay Center)

·     Somewhere over the Rainbow – Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole (Mountain Apple Company Inc.)

·     Resources – American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

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

Rewards. Punishments. Incentives. What parent hasn’t used one or all of these when trying to navigate challenging behavior in their kids? These might be great strategies when the root of the problem is a lack of motivation. But in reality, that’s not often the case. The truth is, for most kids – and even adults – “bad behavior” isn’t about a lack of will, but rather a lack of skills like flexibility, tolerance, and problem solving.

The great thing about skills is that we can practice and acquire new ones! In this episode of Shrinking It Down, co-hosts Gene and Steve welcome Dr. Stuart Ablon of Think:Kids at Massachusetts General Hospital to talk about his new book, Changeable, and how parents can help their kids to overcome challenging behavior.

Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question or comment about this episode, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us here.

Media List

·      Changeable (J. Stuart Ablon, Ph.D.)

·      Think: Kids, Collaborative Problem Solving (Massachusetts General Hospital)

·      Justin Trudeau’s son throws hilarious tantrums on state visit (Yahoo! Lifestyle) -

·      Help Anyone Change Their Behavior – Even Yourself! (Psychology Today) 

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

“I couldn’t get off the computer ‘cause I was about to kill that final thing in ‘Call of Duty’ and if I didn’t kill it I’d have to fight it all over again and it just isn’t worth my time!”

Who doesn’t love a good video game? Whether it’s Fortnite or Candy Crush Saga, it’s pretty easy to get sucked in, sometimes for hours. But is there such a thing as Gaming Disorder? The World Health Organization says yes, but the American Psychiatric Association is still considering. Regardless of if it technically qualifies as a mental health disorder, what parents really want to know for their kids is: When does it cross the line from casual pastime to problem territory? In this episode of Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple, Gene and Steve tackle the issue of gaming disorder, including how much is too much – of anything.

Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question or comment about gaming that we didn’t cover, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us here.

Media List

·     Gaming Disorder (World Health Organization)

·     Internet Gaming (American Psychiatric Association)

·     Gaming Disorder: Is It a Real Illness? (Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds)

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The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds is a free, practical, online educational resource dedicated to helping parents and other caregivers support the mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being of children, teens, and young adults.

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

At the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, we think a lot about helping kids as they’re growing up with all sorts of challenges. Most families will experience some kind of challenge along the road of life, whether behavioral, psychiatric, chronic, or living with a disability. Dr. Ellen Braaten's family is no different, and in this episode of Shrinking It Down she joins. Dr. Steve Schlozman as a co-host to welcome a very special guest: her brother, Robert.

Robert, who has Down Syndrome, joins today's conversation to help other families and children understand: "Don't worry about anything." With family and community support, we all can thrive. Tune in as Steve, Ellen, and Robert talk about life. They look back to what it was like for him as a child facing bullies and learning in school, then focus on all he's doing today, from playing sports to working and living on his own.

Thank you for joining in this journey and conversation. If you have a question or comment about growing up with a disability that we didn't cover, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us.

View the transcript for this episode.

Media List

• Shrinking It Down, Season Finale: Our Greatest Strengths (Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds)
• Greatest Strength: Challenges Met With Courage (Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds)
• Growing Up With a Sibling With a Disability (Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds)
• DSWORKS Success Stories (National Down Syndrome Society)

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The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds is a free, practical, online educational resource dedicated to helping parents and other caregivers support the mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being of children, teens, and young adults.

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