Imagine if an Evil Ruler was in charge of our society and their top priority was to create and perpetuate mental illness as a way to diminish and control their subjects. How would they do it?
Quite simply, the Evil Ruler would create policies and promote behaviors guaranteed to contribute to brain health issues and mental health problems. Sadly, our society is largely fostering habits that are doing just that, as the rates of mental illness have skyrocketed in recent years.
On the flip side, imagine a Benevolent Ruler, who is passionate about ending mental illness in order to create more effective, happier humans. What would they do to end mental illness? They would encourage people to enhance their brain health and advocate policies to reduce their risk factors.
In this blog, you’ll discover how the Evil Ruler is fueling the mental health epidemic, how the Benevolent Ruler would help minimize suffering, and what you can do personally to overrule the Evil Ruler.
10 REASONS WHY MENTAL ILLNESS IS RISING
Here are 10 ways the imaginary Evil Ruler is driving up the rates of
anxiety disorders, clinical
depression, and other mental health issues. Plus see how the Benevolent Ruler would reduce mental illness, and what you can do on an individual level to overrule the Evil Ruler.
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Perpetuate the biological warfare in America.
The Evil Ruler promotes foods that are high glycemic, ultra-processed, and high in sodium, which leads to overconsumption, food addiction, medical conditions, and mental health disorders. According to one
study, only 12% of the population meets the criteria for optimal physical health.
The Benevolent Ruler would counteract the biological warfare waged on society by creating a nationwide program for people to fall in love with their brains. It would start in schools and go into churches, businesses, and senior centers.
How to overrule the Evil Ruler: Don’t let advertisers fool you into eating foods that poison you.
To win the war for your physical and mental health, you need to focus on eating nutrient-dense foods that fuel your brain, mind, and body.
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Use psychological warfare to hurt their subjects.
This includes ignoring past emotional trauma created by
alcoholic or drug-abusing parents, and not addressing current or past traumas from earthquakes, fires, floods, immigration, and criminal behaviors.
The Benevolent Ruler would teach subjects how to deal with current or past emotional traumas and make psychotherapy readily available for those who want or need it.
How to overrule the Evil Ruler: Seek treatment from mental health professionals to help you overcome
adverse childhood experiences and other forms of trauma.
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Model undisciplined, negative thinking patterns.
The Evil Ruler will never teach their subjects how to eliminate the ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) that infest their minds.
The Benevolent Ruler would make rational thinking skills (eliminating the ANTs) part of the educational curriculum.
How to overrule the Evil Ruler: Learn how to challenge your negative thoughts and teach your children how to do so at a young age. Whenever you have a distressing thought, simply ask yourself, “Is it true?”
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Foster activities that cause head trauma.
The Evil Ruler would allow children to hit soccer balls with their heads, play tackle football, and engage in other high-risk behaviors that can cause concussions. The brain-imaging research and clinical experience at Amen Clinics shows that mild traumatic brain injuries are a major cause of psychiatric symptoms.
The Benevolent Ruler would encourage the population to love their brains and the brains of their children and protect them at all costs. Ban children and teenagers from hitting soccer balls with their head or engaging in high-risk activities.
How to overrule the Evil Ruler: Protect your brain and your child’s brain by avoiding risky behaviors, wearing your seat belt, holding the handrail while going down stairs, and more.
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Cause strife among their people.
Subjecting people to
chronic stress that separates them from each other allows the Evil Ruler to retain more power.
The Benevolent Ruler would make job training, healthcare, parent training, stress-management classes, and financial assistance readily available to those who need it. Plus, they would provide classes on decision-making skills, so we would make better life decisions and be less stressed.
How to overrule the Evil Ruler: Learn relaxation techniques to calm stress and notice what you like about other people more than what you don’t like.
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Bombard people with negative news cycles.
This creates an us-versus-them mentality and pits political, racial, and other groups against each other. Watching a constant stream of violence, disasters, and political discord can increase symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to
research.
The Benevolent Ruler would limit negative news and highlight more good news.
How to overrule the Evil Ruler: Reduce the amount of time you spend watching the news. Create a buffer against the negativity by watching some good news or comedy shows.
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Promote recreational marijuana and alcohol as healthy.
The Evil Ruler claims that marijuana is innocuous and alcohol is a health food. In examples of Evil Ruler entrepreneurial genius, Girl Scouts are now setting up outside marijuana dispensaries. In 2018, a 9-year-old
Girl Scout sold 300 boxes of cookies outside a San Diego pot dispensary in about 6 hours. Smarter still, inside the pot dispensaries they are offering Girl Scout THC Peanut Butter Cookies.
The Benevolent Ruler would highlight research that reveals how alcohol and marijuana damage brain health and lead to substance use disorders. In addition, they would discourage tweens and teens from smoking cannabis.
How to overrule the Evil Ruler: Know the facts about the
scary effects of alcohol on the brain, and how
cannabis drives brain aging. When you understand how these substances negatively affect the brain and contribute to mental health conditions, it’s easier to limit or eliminate them.
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Increase the social pressure to stay connected to your phone.
Our society has ramped up the concept that we must be connected to our phones at all times for work and relationships. This doesn’t allow enough time for
sleep or self-care, which ramps up mental health problems. Even more importantly, it can lead to
digital obsession or tech addiction.
The Benevolent Ruler would limit social media and educate people about the dangers of tech addiction, so you can go to sleep early and get the rest you need.
How to overrule the Evil Ruler: Set limits on your phone. Turn off digital devices at least a few hours before going to bed and make your bedroom a device-free zone.
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Lead people to live meaningless lives.
When your life is devoid of values, and you lack a connection to something greater than yourself, it can increase feelings of depression and emptiness.
The Benevolent Ruler would model a purposeful life and encourage everyone else to do the same. They would encourage spiritual beliefs and practices without dictating them, such as prayer, meditation, worship, and service. Fostering a deep connection to the past, the future, and the planet would also be a priority.
How to overrule the Evil Ruler: Find your purpose in life. Think about what you’re passionate about and how what you love to do can help others. It’s in helping others that life becomes more meaningful and fulfilling.
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Discourage brain scans in mental health care.
The Evil Ruler would discourage the population from getting brain scans or other diagnostic tests to see if their psychiatric symptoms are being caused by head trauma, exposure to toxins, chronic infections, inflammation, or other issues.
The Benevolent Ruler would encourage people to get brain scans or other diagnostic tests to determine the root of symptoms of mental illness.
How to overrule the Evil Ruler: If your mental health symptoms aren’t responding to traditional treatment, consider getting a functional brain scan, such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).
SPECT scans can help identify the root causes of your symptoms.
Ultimately, by overruling the Evil Ruler, you can take responsibility for your own life and be calmer, happier, and more goal-oriented. This leads to better mental health and greater success in every area of your life.
Anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.
