ScreenStrong Families Is Your Child’s Brain Overstimulated? What Addiction Medicine Tells Us with Dr. Steven Klein (#255)
In today’s episode, host Mandee Hamann sits down with Dr. Steven Klein (Caron Treatment Center), a physician-scientist specializing in addiction medicine and brain health, for a vital conversation every parent needs to hear.
In a world of constant digital stimulation, many kids’ brains are under relentless pressure—often without parents realizing what’s really happening beneath the surface. Dr. Klein explains how chronic overstimulation affects the developing brain, why behavioral addictions like screens and gaming mirror substance addiction neurologically, and why “moderation” is often far more difficult than it sounds.
Together, Mandee and Dr. Klein explore:
- What true brain health looks like from a medical perspective
- How dopamine and reward pathways are impacted by constant stimulation
- Why children and teens are especially vulnerable to addiction
- The warning signs families shouldn’t ignore—sleep disruption, emotional dysregulation, rising anxiety, and loss of interest in real life
- Why this is not a failure of willpower or parenting—but a brain-based issue
Most importantly, this episode offers hope. Dr. Klein shares how the brain can heal, what actually restores healthy regulation, and simple, practical steps families can take right now to reduce stimulation and support resilience, connection, and emotional well-being.
If you’re concerned about your child’s screen use—or simply want to protect their brain in a hyper-stimulating culture—this conversation will equip you with clarity, confidence, and encouragement. Protecting the brain may be one of the greatest gifts a parent can give.
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Production Team:
- Host: Melanie Hempe
- Producer & Audio Editor: Olivia Kernekin