Mary Catherine Liscinski on Breaking Digital Addiction Now

Licensed mental health counselor and certified digital addiction specialist Mary Catherine Liscinski joins Rich to unpack how excessive screen time rewires our brains, fuels anxiety and depression, and strains families—and what we can do to reverse it. She breaks down the neuroscience (limbic system vs. prefrontal cortex), the dopamine loop in gaming and social media, and a practical path back to focus, sleep, and strong relationships. A must-listen for parents, professionals, and anyone feeling foggy, fried, or pulled into the scroll. Sponsored by Living Well Healthcare Guest Bio:  Mary Catherine Liscinski is a licensed mental health counselor (14+ years), certified to treat digital addiction, and a life coach working with parents and adults nationwide. She’s known for translating complex brain science into practical steps that help families set boundaries, rebuild attention, and heal from screen overuse; her upcoming book pairs the latest research with a blueprint for reversing digital damage. She’s appeared on platforms including The Dave Elswick Show. Main Topics: ·         What “digital addiction” means; emerging diagnoses for gaming/social media. ·         Symptoms across ages: withdrawal, meltdowns when asked to log off, sleep issues, motivation loss. ·         Dopamine dynamics of gaming/social platforms; “addictive by design.” ·         Brain science: limbic system vs. prefrontal cortex; delayed maturation to ~age 26. ·         Social media, anxiety/depression trends in youth; bullying and “keyboard warriors.” ·         Gaming + online strangers; “virtual sleepovers” and safety risks. ·         Practical reversal keys: nature, face-to-face time, sleep, movement, mindfulness/faith, community. ·         Work-life tactics: blue-light blockers, after-hours boundaries, app limits. ·         Physical fallout: tech-neck, carpal issues, metabolic risk, chronic stress/cortisol. ·         Parenting culture shift: delay social media, consider non-internet phones, lead by example.  Resources mentioned: ·         Mary’s Website: https://lifewalkcoaching.com/screen-addiction-book/·         Episode Sponsor: Living Well Healthcare·         Supporter: Real Life Prosthetics·         Supporter: Full Circle Boards·         Supporter: Sincerely Sawyer Photography ·         CDC youth mental health/suicide rate reference. ·         Politico article surveying mental-health counselors on social media’s impact. ·         American Academy of Pediatrics (screen-time guidance referenced). ·         The Dave Elswick Show (guest appearance). ·         AOL chat rooms (historical context re: online predators). ·         Blue-light blocking glasses. ·         “Call of Duty” (desensitization discussion). Send us Fan MailCelebrate the Magic of Words in Bel Air, Maryland!https://bookfairatbelair.org/Living Well HealthcareGet Your Lifestyle BackDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTokSponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCastSubscribe by Email