Pardon the Mess with Courtney DeFeo - Christian Motherhood, Biblical Parenting, Raising Christian Kids

Devices, Dopamine and how to help our families with Niro Feliciano

Jan 16, 2025

Niro Feliciano, a psychotherapist and mom of four, brings her expertise in dopamine deficit to discuss its effects on family dynamics. She shares insights on the impact of technology on children's emotional health and offers practical strategies for managing screen time. Niro emphasizes grace in parenting, encouraging parents to avoid guilt and instead focus on making positive changes. Her discussions on recognizing symptoms of dopamine deficit and fostering healthy tech habits are particularly vital for parents navigating their teens' mental well-being.

35:43

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Episode guests

Niro Feliciano

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Understanding the impact of dopamine deficits from technology can help parents recognize and address anxiety and depression in their children.

Implementing device-free time and encouraging offline activities can significantly improve family interactions and emotional well-being.

Deep dives

Understanding Dopamine and Its Impact

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a significant role in pleasure, reward, and the brain's response to new information. As individuals engage with technology, particularly social media, they experience spikes in dopamine levels that can lead to a cycle of addiction. This pattern can result in heightened irritability, anxiety, and depression when the stimulation is removed, prompting users to seek out the immediate gratification of social media again. By recognizing this cycle, individuals can begin to understand how their technology habits affect their overall well-being.

Intro

3min

Weathering Life's Challenges

7min

Understanding Dopamine Deficit and Digital Addiction

8min

Navigating Digital Dopamine: Identifying and Addressing Mental Health Challenges

4min

Tech and Teen Mental Health

10min

Navigating Parenting Challenges with Grace and Understanding

4min

I took a break from social media in December, and I could not believe the difference in my mood and clarity. This episode is not here to guilt us as parents - but to equip us! My guest, Niro Feliciano, is a psychotherapist, mom of four kids and regular contributor on The Today Show. She speaks in a language we can understand. She shares about brain science and how the dopamine high/low pattern is really impacting the moods and wellbeing of our children (and us).

I saw Niro’s reel on the “dopamine deficit” weeks ago and reached out to her immediately to continue that conversation on this podcast. Her reel is one that you can share with your teens. If you are seeing signs of depression and anxiety in your teens - do not miss this episode.

My favorite part is when she gives grace at the end. Don’t go straight to condemnation of your parenting. If you feel you have failed your kids with technology. It’s not too late to make changes and help them through the reality of living in a digital world.

Who is ready to try a quick 24-hour or weekend reset and report back?

Enjoy!

Courtney