SHANE​ WARREN

A strange thing happens when a country starts arguing with itself: we forget who benefits. We trade side-eye with the person down the street who votes differently, while those who profit from chaos quietly toast another bumper quarter. We rage at each other online, and the engagement metrics purr. We are, as the saying goes, taking the bait.

Apparently, the left is destroying society, undermining values, and eroding freedoms. And yet, here’s the inconvenient truth, much of what we call freedoms and values today were delivered precisely because the left fought tooth and nail for them.

What fascinates me and frankly disturbs me, is not whether guns are deadly. That is obvious. The real question is: why are guns clutched so tightly in the American psyche? Why, even after classrooms are turned into morgues, does the national conversation erupt in rage instead of reason? Why do so many cling to the “right to bear arms” as if it is the last thread of dignity they have left?

Suicide is preventable. Together, we can build a world where fewer families know this grief. A world where people don’t wait until it’s “too late” to ask for help. A world where, instead of silence, there is solidarity.

Multiculturalism does not scare me. In fact, it excites me. It inspires me. It challenges me to be a better version of myself. Because history shows us something very clearly: diverse societies don’t collapse - they thrive. They build richer cultures, stronger economies, and deeper opportunities for all of us to become our better selves.

As a therapist, I hate to break it to you, but… if your nervous system is stuck in survival mode, no amount of journaling, meditation apps, or positive affirmations are going to “fix” it. Don’t get me wrong, I love journaling and I’ve seen meditation change lives; that is why I prescribe and teach both in my work. But if your body is still running like it’s being chased by a sabre-toothed tiger, you can’t “mindset” your way out of it.

Here’s the psychological quirk: the longer it’s been since we’ve done something joyful, the more likely we are to delay doing it again. Yes, you read that right. The more starved we are for joy, the more we tell ourselves: “Not yet. I’ll wait until it’s extra special.”

There are moments in men’s sexual health where confusion speaks louder than pain. One of them is this: “I climaxed… but nothing came out.”

Painful ejaculation isn’t talked about much, particularly in gay men’s spaces where sex is often framed as performance, stamina, confidence, and intensity. But when orgasm is followed by burning, aching, sharp discomfort, or deep pelvic pain, it can trigger anxiety very quickly.

Sexual Aversion Disorder (often now understood under broader frameworks of sexual interest/arousal difficulties and trauma-informed models) describes a persistent fear, disgust, or anxiety response toward sexual contact. It is not simply a quiet libido. It is a protective response. And protection is always meaningful.