Episode 214: Mental Health & Social Media: How to Start a Digital Detox for the Soul

Feeling overwhelmed by endless scrolling? Discover how a faith-based digital detox can help you reclaim peace of mind. In today's hyperconnected world, our minds are constantly bombarded by notifications, newsfeeds, and endless scrolling. But is social media helping us—or hurting us? Dr. Greg Bottaro sits down with Darnell Miller of MAX Studios to explore the mental, emotional, and spiritual effects of digital overload. Together, they discuss why social media fuels anxiety and comparison, and how faith-based mindfulness can help us unplug and reconnect with real life. Key Topics:

• The hidden mental health costs of digital overload
• How dopamine addiction keeps us glued to our screens
• Why social media fuels anxiety, comparison, and loneliness
• How faith & mindfulness offer a Catholic alternative to secular digital detox trends
• Practical steps to set healthier tech boundaries—without missing out

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
07:30 – How Social Media Affects Mental Health
12:48 – Faith & Mental Well-being
14:25 - Helping Children with Anxiety
21:30 – Social Media Causing Loneliness
35:50 – A Catholic Digital Detox Plan Learn More:

• MAX Studios at the University of St. Thomas, Houston, creating innovative digital content.
• Duc In Altum Schools – Supporting Catholic educators and fostering faith-based education.
• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt – A book exploring the impact of social media and digital culture on mental health.
• Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier – A book examining modern therapy trends and their effects on mental well-being.
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk – A book on trauma, stress, and how the body holds psychological distress.
• Catholic Mindfulness Program – Dr. Greg Bottaro's mindfulness approach integrating Catholic faith and psychology.
• The Church and the Internet  – Vatican document on the internet and technology use.

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