EP 8: TikTok Diagnosis
Dr. Tayeba Shaikh and Ankur Varma, LCPC explore the "TikTok diagnosis epidemic," highlighting how Gen Z increasingly arrives at therapy with potentially inaccurate self-diagnoses driven by unverified and often misleading social media algorithms.
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Therapists Ankur Varma and Dr. Tayeba Shaikh use the HBO medical drama The Pitt as a lens to examine the psychological toll of high-pressure careers, focusing on burnout, secondary trauma, and the systemic barriers that prevent frontline caregivers from seeking mental health support.
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Hosts Dr. Tayeba Shaikh and Ankur Varma, LCPC review Bill Burr’s latest standup special to discuss the evolution of men's mental health, exploring how humor can bridge the gap between societal pressures on masculinity and the therapeutic need for emotional vulnerability.
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Ankur Varma, LCPC and Dr. Tayeba Shaikh examine the high psychological and physical stakes of the NFL, discussing the culture of toxic masculinity, the emotional burden of sports fandom, and the devastating long-term impact of traumatic brain injuries and CTE.
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Dr. Tayeba Shaikh and Ankur Varma, LCPC, explore the principles of positive psychology through Martin Seligman’s PERMA model, discussing how a shift from a deficit-based mindset to a strength-based approach can foster "learned optimism" and long-term well-being.
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Dr. Tayeba Shaikh and Ankur Varma, LCPC, critique the Apple TV+ series Shrinking, using the protagonist's "psychological vigilante" methods to discuss real-world therapeutic ethics, the humanization of clinicians through self-disclosure, and the show's role in normalizing mental health support.
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Dr. Tayeba Shaikh and Ankur Varma, LCPC, examine the mechanics of airplane anxiety, contrasting sensationalized media coverage with actual safety statistics while offering practical coping strategies such as breathwork, sensory rituals, and cognitive reframing.
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Dr. Tayeba Shaikh and Ankur Varma, LCPC, analyze the second season of Severance to unpack the psychological complexities of grief, trauma, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding the surgical separation of work and personal identities.
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