Benchmark Mind & Health

10/07/2026

Always Connected…Still Lonely

A teenager can have hundreds of followers and still feel like nobody truly knows them. Digital contact and emotional closeness are not interchangeable.

Social media can offer friendship and belonging. But counting screen hours alone misses the bigger question: Is online activity supporting relationships or becoming difficult to control?

A 2026 meta-analysis of 59 studies found that problematic social media use was more strongly associated with loneliness than time spent online. The findings do not prove that social media causes loneliness. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov⁠)

For parents, start with curiosity: “Do you feel supported by the people you interact with online?” Make room for regular meals together, shared activities, and friendships beyond the screen.

For young people, notice how you feel after logging off. Consider reaching out to someone you trust when loneliness persists. The goal is connection that helps you feel understood, valued, and included.

Reference: “Exploring the relationship between social media use and loneliness in adolescents and young adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.” Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology (2026).

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09/17/2026

09/15/2026

Postpartum Psychosis: When The Postpartum Period Becomes A Psychiatric Emergency

Having a baby brings enormous physical, hormonal, emotional and sleep-related changes. Some mood changes after delivery are common. Postpartum psychosis is not.

Postpartum psychosis is a rare but serious psychiatric condition that typically develops rapidly after childbirth, often within the first two weeks. Symptoms may include severe insomnia, confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, rapidly changing moods, unusual behavior or symptoms of mania. A mother may appear dramatically different from her usual self and may have difficulty distinguishing what is real.

Postpartum psychosis is considered a psychiatric emergency because it can place both the mother and infant at risk. It is strongly associated with bipolar-spectrum illness, although it can occur in someone without a previously diagnosed psychiatric disorder. (PubMed⁠)

The important message is that postpartum psychosis is treatable. Rapid psychiatric evaluation, medication, stabilization of sleep, family involvement and frequently hospitalization can lead to significant recovery.

If a new mother suddenly becomes confused, paranoid, severely agitated, unusually energized or begins seeing or hearing things others do not — do not wait for it to pass. Seek emergency psychiatric care immediately.

Reference:
Bergink V, Rasgon N, Wisner KL. Postpartum Psychosis: Madness, Mania, and Melancholia in Motherhood. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2016;173(12):1179–1188. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.16040454. (PubMed⁠)

NEW ILLINOIS ADDRESS:
1938 E. Lincoln Highway
Suite 207B
New Lenox, IL 60451

Make An Appointment:
800.461.9533
[email protected]

✅Psychiatry: Medication Evaluation &
Management
✅Genetic Testing For Ideal Medication
Management
✅Individual Psychotherapy
✅EsKetamine Nasal Spray & Tabs For Treatment Resistant Depression
✅Mental Skills Training For Athletes
✅GLP-1s & Other Peptides For Health &
Wellness
✅PMHNP Preceptorships For Exceptional
Candidates
✅The Highest Quality Nutritional
Supplements For Brain Health —>
https://www.thorne.com/u/BenchmarkPsych

benchmarkpsychservices.com

Outpatient Offices For In-Person Appointments:
Orland Park, Illinois
Boca Raton, Florida
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Telehealth:
📍ILLINOIS•FLORIDA
📍SOUTH DAKOTA•WASHINGTON
📍IDAHO•ARIZONA