Blog

Welcome to our blog

COLLEGE BOUND STUDENTS AND MENTAL HEALTH     

It’s that time of the year when one can sense a buzz coming from many high school seniors as they are preparing to transition to college life. Most of them experience the excitement of starting a new phase in their lives away from home with a higher level of independent living while also having mixed…

by Shrink Box

Is A Scroll Really Just A Scroll?

An article for a non-profit organization on”The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health”by Sarah Batakanwa, MS3 Let’s talk about something we probably use more than we’d like to admit: social media! You’re probably thinking, “Yeah, I know, I spend too much time on my phone.” Honestly, you’re not alone. As a matter of…

by Shrink Box

The effect of increased Screen Time on Children’s Mental Health

With tablets, phones, TVs, computers-kids today live in a sea of technology. While these tools can be quite useful and a lot of fun, sometimes too much of a “good thing” is a problem-especially when it comes down to mental health. In this article, we will take a closer look at what happens when kids…

by Shrink Box

Burnout—An Exhaustive Pursuit

After completing a lengthy medical and specialty training process, I suddenly felt like I had caught a second wind and was feeling enthusiastic and energetic. As a young physician starting to practice in the Rio Grande Valley during those years, I considered the extensive needs and gaps in services in this area as well as…

by Shrink Box

From La Casita to the Super Bowl: A Puerto Rican Story

I write this piece from a dual perspective that I carry with me every day: as both a Puerto Rican and an American, and as a psychiatrist who has spent years listening closely to how identity, culture, pride, and pain live inside people. There is no doubt that seeing a Puerto Rican man, Benito Antonio…

by Shrink Box

Happy Mommy, Happy Baby

Many women across the U.S. battle depression on a daily basis. Depressive and anxiety disorders affect 7.1% and 19.1%, respectively, of the US adult populations annually and disproportionately affect reproductive-aged women.  Treatment of depression may include psychotherapy (talk therapy), antidepressant medications, or a combination of both. Approximately 7% of US reproductive-aged women report being prescribed…

by Shrink Box

STRANGER THINGS and TRAUMA

In my work with children and adolescents, I frequently inquire about their current interests and activities capturing their attention. Over the last ten years, I was frequently told by many of them, that they were watching the popular TV series, “Stranger Things”. This and recommendations by several adolescent family members motivated me to check it…

by Shrink Box

SEASON’S GREETINGS or “Good Grief”

Many of us grew up watching the yearly Holiday TV special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (Charles M. Schulz 1965) which has become a tradition, and many have enjoyed watching this program in the last 60 years. This short film emphasizes that not everyone is geared up for the holiday’s uplifting experience. Some people can relate…

by Shrink Box

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IN MENTAL HEALTH

We live in a world where risk taking is commonplace and often encouraged. A common saying is “play now and pay later”. Most individuals count on the fact that there is always a fix for those situations where something goes wrong. Many children nowadays spend a great amount of time on their tablets playing exciting video games for hours that provide an explosion of stimuli and entertainment. Oftentimes, this limits participation in other activities…

by Shrink Box

Breaking the Silence: Mental Health Challenges and Support for Athletes

In the intense world of competitive sports, athletes often receive notoriety for their strength, physical fitness, and discipline. However, beneath that facade of strength, many struggle with significant mental health issues. Studies indicate that athletes are just as susceptible to mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, as anyone else. This blog…

by Shrink Box

Understanding The Relationship Between Mental Illness and Genetics

Have you ever noticed that certain medical conditions get passed down along generations. Usually, we just associate physical traits with inheritance but in recent years the relationship between genetics and mental illness has sparked more attention. Scientific advances have allowed us to better predict the risk of developing a mental health condition based on insight…

by Shrink Box

🧡 September is Suicide Prevention Month

🧡 September is Suicide Prevention Month — a time to come together, raise awareness, and take action. In this video, Dr. German Corso shares why suicide prevention matters to all of us and how we can each play a role in breaking the stigma, supporting one another, and creating hope in our community. At Shrink…

by Shrink Box

CONTINGENCY PLANS DURING TURBULENT TIMES

I remember that throughout my elementary school, during the “Cold War” years, children were told to prepare in case of a nuclear attack. We “trained” diligently, participating in frequent drills that consisted in hiding under our desks and clasping our hands over our heads. Fortunately, we were spared from this horrible event. Frequently, threatening situations…

by Shrink Box

Setting healthy limits for screen time in pre-school children

The topic of technology and school-aged children and teens is a growing concern for parents and health care professionals, including here at ShrinkBox.org, where you can find evidence-based tips for parents with school-aged children struggling with how to control screen time and when to give a child a phone. However, parents of younger children are…

by Shrink Box

Hikikomori: The Silent Epidemic of Social Withdrawal

I recently came across the Japanese term Hikikomori, which means withdrawal and specifically refers to an extreme avoidance of social contact. This phenomenon was brought to the attention of the Japanese public by psychiatrist Saito Tamaki MD after the publication of his book, “Hikikomori, Adolescence without End,” which describes this social withdrawal phenomenon in a…

by Shrink Box

The Science Behind Stress-Induced Hair Loss

You might have heard that stress can cause hair to fall out, but understanding the underlying mechanism can be enlightening. When the body encounters stress, it triggers a “fight or flight” response, a survival mechanism that has evolved over millions of years. This response prompts the release of stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, and…

by Shrink Box

      THE ULYSSES SYNDOME

Migration and Mental Health Several years ago, I had written a Shrink Box blog on “Immigration and its impact on Hispanic families” (see Shrink Box blog). The focus of that article was that many immigrant families face significant hardships and challenges that impact their mental health. This article addresses an associated syndrome frequently identified in…

by Shrink Box

Tranquility Within: Intersection of Stress, Well-being and Meditation

Understanding our body’s response to life’s stressors is crucial. Whether these stressors originate from work, home, or personal circumstances, they can leave us feeling overwhelmed, triggering a cascade of emotions such as anxiety, sadness, or frustration. These emotional responses, in turn, set off a series of physiological reactions orchestrated by our Autonomic Nervous System (ANS),…

by Shrink Box

Addressing Loneliness and Social Isolation: Tips from a Child Psychiatrist

Recently the US Surgeon General, Vice Admiral, Dr Vivek H. Murthy, issued a national advisory on loneliness, social isolation and lack of connectedness in our country. The advisory pointed out that collectively we are experiencing an epidemic of emptiness and isolation as a nation. The report from the US Surgeon General highlights statistics that are…

by Shrink Box

The Effects of Cyberbullying on Social Media and How to Prevent It

What is cyberbullying? Cyberbullying is defined as the willful and repeated harm inflicted using computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices. For example, a person can send a cruel text message or spread rumors using smartphones or tablets. Some have also targeted others through hurtful content on social media and livestreaming platforms. The negative effects…

by Shrink Box

Healthy Eating For Young People

We are living in a time when there are more overweight children than ever before, yet many are malnourished. How can that be? The average family is very busy, working two jobs just to pay the bills or maybe there is only one parent assuming the responsibility for the family.  We are always on the…

by Shrink Box

Breaking Boundaries: The Rise of Neuro-Psychiatry in the Era of Generation Z

A transformative shift is underway in the vast expanse of mental health. As we stand on the brink of a new era, the once-rigid boundaries between disciplines such as Psychiatry, Neurology, Psychology, and Counseling are beginning to blur, ushering in an era of integrated and interdisciplinary care. Neuropsychiatry is at the forefront of this evolution,…

by Shrink Box

Emerging Adulthood: An Extended Journey

Parents frequently ask themselves, when will our kids finally grow up? The concept of adolescence has been around since the beginning of the 20th century, during which improved socioeconomic conditions and mandatory schooling placed adolescence through age 18. In the second half of the 20th century, more teenagers were attending college, extending the adolescence phase…

by Shrink Box

Trouble Sleeping? Tips for Restful Sleep

Sleep is one of the most essential activities of life, accounting for approximately one-third of our lives. The quality and amount of sleep we get is directly related to our physical and mental health. Sleep hygiene refers to behaviors that positively influence our sleep experience. Good sleep hygiene is associated with feeling well rested, alert,…

by Shrink Box

Ghostbusters: Transpiration of Intergenerational Trauma

When I began my training in child psychiatry, my program had a focus on psychiatric issues of children 5 years of age and older. Shortly thereafter, I became aware of clinicians and researchers who were focusing on the mental health of infants. These very young children were being evaluated and treated as part of an…

by Shrink Box

Role of Bullying in School Shootings: Is there a Congruence or a Myth?

Since Columbine on April 20th, 1999 where two twelfth graders murdered 12 of their fellow students and a school teacher, the incidence of school shootings across the United States have been occurring at a higher frequency with increasing fatalities for the past 20 years. Recent shooting incidences in Virginia Tech, Parkland high school in Florida…

by Shrink Box

Non-Suicidal Self Injury: A silent cry for help

Self-harm behavior, or non-suicidal self-injury, is a complex and often misunderstood behavior referred to as deliberate injury to one’s body without an intent to die. According to the American Society of Child and adolescent psychiatry, it is a deliberate act at times to change a way of feeling or a way to relieve build-up pressure…

by Shrink Box

Natural Disasters and Mental Health: A psychiatrist’s perspective

Natural disasters have a profound impact on the mental health of individuals and communities. The emotional toll of witnessing the devastation, losing homes, loved ones, and facing an uncertain future can be overwhelming. As a psychiatrist born and raised in Puerto Rico, I have firsthand experience about emotions that are experienced before, during and after…

by Shrink Box

BACK TO SCHOOL, BACK TO THE FUTURE

During my adolescence, I was sent to a boarding school abroad. I remember being flooded by all sort of emotions, including fear and excitement, during the first few days of school. My parents were reassuring and, perhaps as a way of supporting me, kept most of their worried feelings to themselves. Despite repeating this experience…

by Shrink Box

Do you struggle to take the tablet away from your child?

Put that tablet down! Go outside! No, you can’t have your iPad back! Take a break, do something else for a change. Do these phrases sound familiar? We have all said the very same thing or something quite similar at one time or another to our children. Why are our children always on their tablets?…

by Shrink Box

This is like totally normal, right? 

I hope this article will illuminate that different emotional and mental well-being states look different for everyone. I also hope that everyone can take time to remember that your lived experiences are unique to you and should not be used as a point of comparison to others. Most of us think about self-harming, overdosing, crying, and…

by Shrink Box

YOUTH PARTNERSHIP IN MENTAL HEALTH

A few weeks ago, I attended a national conference on mental health. I was impacted by a young man in his early twenties who gave a TED talk on his views about mental health status in the adolescent population. “Javier” delivered his presentation in a calm, non-pretentious manner and with a focus on his own…

by Shrink Box

Can Robots care for our Mental Health?

Since I was a little kid, I remember watching the Terminator movies and fantasizing about the possibility of the “machines” acquiring consciousness and realizing humans are no longer needed. Every time a significant advance in artificial intelligence occurs, I hear my friends whispering, “Skynet.” Data computing is advancing at levels we could only dream of…

by Shrink Box

When is the right time for your Child to get a phone?

Vicky spent two weeks in the ICU at a local hospital after an intentional overdose in an attempt to end her life. Being 14 years old, Vicky never thought about the possible consequences of sharing an intimate picture with a friend and the situation she faced at school after being mocked and bullied. A week…

by Shrink Box

Hi, Welcome To Your Life. How May I Help You? 

We can all agree that we live in a world with many opinions, right? I mean, that’s what makes our world great; we are all different and have different views. However, I have been wondering lately, have we as a society moved from being opinionated to being thoughtless of others? Are we repeatedly giving our…

by Shrink Box

The Different Flavors of OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that affects many people. OCD has a genetic predisposition and frequently has a familial presentation. It is a neuropsychiatric condition affecting certain connections between the frontal brain and the deeper midbrain. The neurotransmitter serotonin plays a crucial role in not only its pathology but also in treatment…

by Shrink Box

Putting together our Life Puzzle

Likely, you have ever put together a puzzle. You may be familiar with looking first for the corner pieces to complete the frame. Then start to classify the rest of the pieces according to other features, such as color or shape, to complete the inside part. Like a puzzle made of many pieces, mental health…

by Shrink Box

The Need for Electroconvulsive Therapy in the Valley

ECT, electroconvulsive therapy, is a first-line treatment for major depression with psychotic features. It is appropriate for severely depressed elderly patients who are not eating or drinking and require rapid intervention. It is also used to treat unipolar and bipolar depression, catatonia, bipolar mania, schizophrenia, and acute suicidality. If antipsychotics are insufficient in postpartum psychosis,…

by Shrink Box

Regaining Mental Health: A Success Story

We talk about regaining physical health, but is it possible to regain mental health too? “Regaining health” and “recovering from sickness” are phrases often used in the circumstances related to physical ailments such as the common cold, the flu, and even normalizing blood sugar in people with diabetes. We may hear or say such phrases…

by Shrink Box

You can’t sit with us 

First and foremost, if you haven’t seen the movie Mean Girls, stop whatever you are doing and go watch it. It’s a classic. It came out in 2004 and essentially showed the world, comedically, how adolescent bullying had become more than just making fun of someone’s outfit or stealing their lunch money. It showed bullying…

by Shrink Box

WE DON’T TALK ABOUT… Suicide

Most people value life over everything else and, in most cases, will do anything to preserve it, therefore when we hear that someone commits suicide, it is very difficult to fathom. Frequently it brings up feelings of shock, rage, or sadness. It is challenging for most people to grasp why someone would voluntarily end their…

by Shrink Box

Parents and Teachers: The Unfair Burden

School shootings and gun violence are painful crises that are out of control in America. These incidents seem to happen more often than not. Every parent should be able to send their children to school with the expectation that their child will be in safe hands. They shouldn’t worry about anyone coming to the school…

by Shrink Box

Equality for Mental Health!

School shootings in the U.S. are a significant problem nationwide. However, in my opinion, the more substantial issue is the mental health crisis and lack of access to mental health resources nationwide.  The problem persists mainly because mental health in the U.S. is often viewed as a disability, stigmatized, and surrounded by prejudice and discrimination.…

by Shrink Box

STORYTELLING, MEDICAL EDUCATION, AND LEADERSHIP (painting the fence)

Storytelling is the most frequently used form of communicating information or experiences with others and has been around for about 100,000 years. We continue using it because it has become embedded in our genetic experience as an effective and efficient way to connect and communicate with others. I come from a long tradition of storytellers,…

by Shrink Box

Growing Pains: School Shootings in America

School shootings have steadily increased in the U.S. since the 1980s. Born in 1995, I grew up in an America that has experienced the trauma of school shootings time and time again. This re-trauma has gradually made the public numb to the repetitive anguish these events entail. Access to technology and the internet has been…

by Shrink Box

American School Shootings in 3, 2, 1…

The final part of this issue is the individual himself. Julia Villela School shootings have become a thought to fear in this era. With the increasing amount of mental health issues comes the fear of harm, to self or community. School shootings are among the many detrimental effects of untreated mental health. There is a…

by Shrink Box

It Wasn’t Me: A Millennial’s Perspective on School Shootings

Reflecting on my youth, I can recall many of my previous classmates who had absent parents, less-than-ideal home lives, access to guns, and were enrolled in a non-policed and under-funded public school. Haley Gallaher I would never have thought to bring a gun to school when I was that age; my kid would never do…

by Shrink Box

Thoughts on the Parkland Shooter’s Sentencing

Today the fight against school shootings is marked by the recent judgment and sentencing of the Parkland School Shooter. Whatever our idea of justice is put to the test today. Should justice be life in prison, or should justice be capital punishment? The jury, representing our justice system, decided on a life in prison. Most…

by Shrink Box

How to deal with anxiety related to mass shootings?

“With fear and anxiety, I dropped my children at school that next morning, having to convince myself repeatedly during the day that what I imagined in my head was only a product of fear and anxiety.” German The high frequency of mass shootings experienced in the past two decades has depleted our sense of safety,…

by Shrink Box

Collective Trauma and Response

These repeated mass school shootings over the last 20 years have left our society in a sort of paralysis. Many wonder how we can move forward, especially when we don’t see a concerted effort on behalf of the states or at a national level. Daniel We live in a time when school and community mass…

by Shrink Box

When School Violence is a Cancer

We believe that if we treat school shootings as cancer in our society, we may be able to mirror the medical model of disease prevention. We can prevent them. Rick School Violence has always existed at different levels. Throughout history, there has always been violence in society expressed in physical, psychological, verbal, sexual, and socio-economic…

by Shrink Box

Is every school’s violent threat the same?

We live in a time of uncertainty due to the ongoing gun violence. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been over 468 mass shootings in the United States in 2022. Ten years have gone since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting killed twenty innocent children between the ages of six and seven. Ten…

by Shrink Box

THE DREAD OF CHANGE

Separation Anxiety When I was fourteen, I was sent to study abroad; suddenly, leaving my close-knit family and the familiar environment felt like a cataclysmic event. Of course, with time, I have become more adept at dealing with changes and new situations. We are born defenseless and unable to survive on our own. Fortunately, our…

by Shrink Box

Children’s Grief after COVID

We have been swamped fighting a virus that has threatened our usual way of living. COVID-19 has made us feel vulnerable and evidenced the fragility of our health care systems. Until now, the most critical efforts have focused on mitigating a virus that seemed to prefer attacking adults over children. The reality is that despite…

by Shrink Box

The Adolescent Rebel, a lifelong quest

Recently, I listened to a father tell me how disappointed he was in his teenage daughter, who until one year ago was an all “A” student, loved piano, and was very active in family and church activities. Suddenly, she was spending most of her time locked up in her room and staying up late at…

by Shrink Box

IMMIGRATION AND ITS IMPACT ON HISPANIC FAMILIES

The topic of immigration can sometimes become a polarizing subject, even though migration has been a part of the human experience since our species realized that we have the capacity to deal with unsuitable living environments by searching alternative opportunities elsewhere. This carries opportunities, but also risks and hardships for those that choose to take…

by Shrink Box

JAZZ, GROWTH AND MENTAL HEALTH

I once came across an interesting fictional story about the great jazz player, Charlie ‘Bird” Parker “, that takes place late in his life where he is dealing with paranoia and aggressive fantasies, possibly due to his substance use. This story reminded me of many other Jazz musicians that also succumbed to addictions and experienced…

by Shrink Box

SPANISH: Guia para Regreso a la Escuela de Shrink Box (Versión Pandemia)

“Nunca en la historia ha sido tan difícil decidir qué hacer con la educación de nuestros hijos como lo es ahora” El coronavirus llegó repentinamente, inesperadamente, amenazando e intimidando nuestras vidas como si no tuviéramos otras cosas de qué preocuparnos. Antes de darnos cuenta, el miedo a una amenaza desconocida invadió nuestras rutinas y los…

by Shrink Box

Shrink Box Back-2-School Guide (Pandemic Version)

“Never in history has it been so hard to decide what to do with our children’s education as it is right now.” Coronavirus came suddenly, unexpectedly and threatened and intimidated our lives as if we had no other things to worry about. Before we knew it, the fear of an unknown menace invaded our routines…

by Shrink Box

Yo, Mi Máscara y Yo

Nunca en un millón de años pude imaginarme  una vida con la boca cubierta. Hijo de la salsa y primo de la rebelión,  adoptado por la Señora Libertad… ¿Cubierto? ¡Cómo podría alguna vez! Oprimido genéticamente, la historia me dice,  pero de una mente insurgente, ¡mejor! Ninguna institución, en el pasado o en el presente,  pudo…

by Shrink Box

Respuesta de Shrink Box a la Academia Americana de Pediatría

La pandemia global del COVID19 ha afectado a nuestras comunidades y hogares. Cada día aprendemos más de este virus, es importante recordar que estamos enfrentando a un virus nuevo y desconocido, incluyendo sus consecuencias a corto y largo plazo. Una de las implicaciones del covid19 es su impacto en la Educación a todos sus niveles,…

by Shrink Box

Shrink Box Response to American Academy of Pediatrics

The COVID 19 global pandemic has affected our communities and homes. Although we are learning more about this virus every day, it is important to understand that it is a new virus and there are many unknowns, including all its immediate and long term consequences. One of the many implications of COVID 19 is the…

by Shrink Box

SPANISH: ¿Porque estamos perdiendo la batalla con el COVID-19?

Ha sido un largo viaje para muchos de nosotros. A pesar de que solo han pasado tres meses de nuestras vidas, sin duda sentimos que ha pasado una eternidad desde que éramos “libres”. El Coronavirus vino inesperadamente, amenazando nuestro modo de vida y causando cambios en la forma como percibimos este maravilloso mundo. Parece ha…

by Shrink Box

Me, My Mask and I

Never in a million years could I Imagine, a life with my mouth concealed. Son of the salsa and cousin of rebellion, adopted by the Lady Libertas… Concealed? How could I ever! Oppressed genetically, history tells me,  but of an insurgent mind, you better! No institution, in the past or present, could suppress the urge…

by Shrink Box

Why are we failing the fight against COVID19?

It has been a very long journey for many of us. Even though it has only been three months of our lives, it sure feels like it’s been an eternity since we were “free”. Coronavirus came unexpectedly, threatening our normal way of living and causing long term changes to the way we perceive this wonderful…

by Shrink Box

Categories

  4. As parents we hold responsibility with god given authority to help our own. As a community we pay the gift…

  5. I happen to think talking and discussing in the study of sociology and psychology the main ingredient that provokes depression…