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No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, you may be feeling stressed, anxious, and perhaps even traumatized. Are you still obsessively scrolling through your social media feeds searching for items that confirm your beliefs that the other side is WRONG? Are you arguing with loved ones who don’t share your views? Do you have a queasy feeling about the future? You may be struggling with post-election stress trauma (PEST), a real “pest” that is affecting people of all political persuasions all across America. The brain SPECT imaging work at Amen Clinics—over 160,000 functional brain scans and growing—shows how your brain type plays a role in your vulnerability for PEST and offers valuable clues to the best ways to get past it. First, it’s important to understand how harmful PEST can be.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF POST-ELECTION STRESS TRAUMA

Similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), PEST can take a toll on your mental health as well as your physical health too. A 2020 study in PNAS found that in the 2 days following the 2016 presidential elections, hospitalizations for acute cardiovascular disease were 1.62 times higher than the same 2-day period the previous week. At Amen Clinics locations nationwide, there has been a steep rise in patients who are suffering from this phenomenon. PEST is causing heightened anxiety, panic attacks, fears about the future, uncontrollable anger, and negative thoughts that loop endlessly. It’s also giving people brain fog, making it hard to concentrate, keeping them up at night, and causing relationship troubles. For some people, it’s ruining their life. Post-election stress trauma (PEST) is causing heightened anxiety, panic attacks, fears about the future, uncontrollable anger, and negative thoughts that loop endlessly.
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Is PEST interfering with your life?

KNOW YOUR BRAIN TYPE TO COPE WITH POST-ELECTION STRESS TRAUMA

To overcome PEST, you need to know your brain type.

The Spontaneous Brain Type (conflict seeking).

Don’t agree with some of your friends and family? If you know that talking about certain issues will upset others and you impulsively do it anyway, you may have this brain type. People with this brain type tend to be drama driven; they’re the ones who like to “poke the bear” to get a reaction. Brain SPECT imaging shows that this is associated with low activity in the brain’s frontal lobes, and people create conflict as a way to stimulate their sleepy brain. This type is common in those with ADD/ADHD. The Spontaneous Brain Fix: Set boundaries for discussion topics when you get together whether it’s in person or virtually. For example, you may want to say that talking about politics is off the table. Instead, focus on what you have in common to keep relationships alive. To boost frontal lobe activity, eat a higher-protein diet, engage in daily aerobic activity, and consider nutritional supplements that stimulate the brain (including green tea, rhodiola, and ginseng).

The Persistent Brain Type (rigid thinking).

When you argue with reality, welcome to hell. If you’re stuck in rigid thinking patterns, such as “It’s my way or the highway,” you’re likely to feel extreme stress when elections don’t go your way or when others don’t agree with you. This can keep you locked into PEST, filling you with anger, depression, or relationship issues. SPECT scans show that cognitive inflexibility is often related to overactivity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (the brain’s gear shifter that helps you go from thought to thought or from behavior to behavior), along with low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. This is often seen in people with obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and other types of anxiety disorders. When you argue with reality, welcome to hell.
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The Persistent Brain Fix: To calm an overactive ACG and enhance flexible thinking, boost serotonin in the brain by eating “smart carbs” (such as sweet potatoes and hummus), salmon, turkey, eggs, nuts, and seeds; taking supplements like 5-HTP and saffron; and doing activities like burst training.

The Sensitive Brain Type (overwhelmed by negative thinking).

People with this brain type struggle with moods, can feel overwhelmed, and are likely to have lots of automatic negative thoughts (ANTs). When you focus on what’s wrong in your life, it can make you feel depressed and gloomy. This type is associated with too much activity in the deep limbic system, the emotional centers of the brain. It is common in people with mood disorders, such as depression. The Sensitive Brain Fix: Whenever you have a sad, anxious, or negative thought, write it down and ask yourself if it is true. Questioning your thoughts can help you clean up the mental mayhem. In addition, calm the emotional centers of the brain with healthy fats, such as avocado, almonds, and salmon; take omega-3 fatty acids, s-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), and vitamin D; and do physical activities like dancing or team sports.

The Cautious Brain Type (fearful about the future).

Your brain is always listening and reacting to the inputs you’re feeding it. For people with this brain type, watching the news and scrolling through social media can fire up your brain’s anxiety center (basal ganglia) and trigger nervousness, panic, and fear. It is common in people with anxiety, panic disorder, and phobias. The Cautious Brain Fix: One of the first steps to harnessing PEST is to pay attention to your news and social media consumption. Limit your daily diet of distressing news and inflammatory posts. Soothe the brain’s anxiety centers by avoiding caffeine, booze, and sugary sweets; supplement your diet with GABA, magnesium, and B6; and try calming activities like yoga. PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Face it, everyone’s stressed and anxious these days. With the election, the pandemic, job losses, distance learning, and relationship issues, it’s no wonder we’re feeling stretched to the limit…or beyond. You may be experiencing headaches, a pit in your stomach, muscle tension, and trouble sleeping. These symptoms are all associated with stress, but they’re also linked to anxiety. How can you tell if you’re just feeling the effects of stacked stresses, or if you’re struggling with an anxiety disorder?

Here’s how to put your symptoms to the test to tell the difference.

1. KNOW IF IT’S EXTERNAL STRESS

Stress is rampant. According to the American Institute of Stress, 77% of people feel the physical effects of stress, and 73% experience psychological symptoms. Approximately one-third of all Americans say they’re dealing with extreme stress (and these numbers are pre-pandemic). Stress occurs when a person perceives excessive demands on his or her emotional or physical resources. It typically represents a response to external forces—a pressured deadline at work, a fight with your spouse, or a fender bender, for example. Once the situation has been resolved the stressful feelings subside, and you feel like you can relax again. In some cases, however, the pressure is relentless and leads to chronic stress. It reaches toxic levels when we feel things are out of control.

2. KNOW IF IT’S INTERNAL ANXIETY

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in the U.S., typically affecting approximately 40 million Americans each year. Since the pandemic, however, those numbers have skyrocketed, with 31% of Americans reporting symptoms of anxiety/depression, according to the CDC. Anxiety’s origin is internal. It plays a role in how you respond to stress, but it can also be present when there are no external stressors. People with anxiety can be filled with dread, panic, or a feeling that something bad is going to happen in any situation, even ones that should be fun or joyous. Anxious people can feel nervous and uncomfortable in their own skin at the beach while on vacation, at an amusement park, or even while sitting on the couch in the comfort of their own home. People with anxiety can be filled with dread, panic, or a feeling that something bad is going to happen in any situation.
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There are multiple types of anxiety disorders, including:

3. RECOGNIZE HOW STRESS CONTRIBUTES TO ANXIETY

What makes it more difficult to distinguish everyday stress from anxiety is that the two are often intertwined. Dealing with difficult life circumstances—such as a stressful election, pandemic, divorce, job change, or the death of a close family member—elevates stress hormone levels, which makes us more vulnerable to mental health issues, such as anxiety disorders, depression, and more. In 1967, U.S. psychiatrists Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe studied the effects of stress on health, surveying more than 5,000 medical patients. They asked them to say whether they had any of a series of life events in the previous 2 years. Their study showed that the more events someone had the more likely they were to become physically or emotionally sick. In addition, today’s society is waging social warfare on our brains. Negative news cycles create an us-versus-them mentality, pitting political, racial, and other groups against each other. A 2017 survey from the American Psychological Association found that 56% of adults said following the news causes them stress. And research in the British Journal of Psychology shows that just 14 minutes of negative news has been found to increase both anxious and sad moods. Take account of the stressors in your life to see if they’re stacking up and contributing to anxiety that’s out of control.

4. CHECK IF YOU’RE INCREASING OR DECREASING YOUR BRAIN RESERVE

There’s something else at work with stress and anxiety—the amount of “brain reserve” you have. Brain reserve is the extra cushion of brain function you have to help you deal with the stresses life throws at you. In general, the more brain reserve you have, the more resilient you are and the better your brain can handle stacked stresses to keep anxiety and other mental health disorders at bay. When brain reserve falls too low, that’s when anxiousness, depression, or other issues are more likely to develop. The decisions you make on a daily basis and the habits you engage in are either boosting your brain’s reserve or stealing it and are either protecting you from mental health issues like anxiety or depression or making you more vulnerable to them. Take stock of your daily habits and ask yourself if they’re hurting your brain reserve or helping it. Things that lower brain reserve include: Things that increase brain reserve include:

5. LOOK AT YOUR BRAIN

Your brain is also key to determining if you’re experiencing temporary stress or lasting anxiety. Brain SPECT imaging, which measures blood flow and activity in the brain, can be helpful in determining if your brain is “stressed” or if you’re suffering from anxiety. And it can be especially useful in identifying your anxiety type. Amen Clinics, which has built the world’s largest database of functional brain scans—over 160,000 scans and growing—has found 7 different brain patterns associated with anxiety (and depression). Knowing your type is critical to getting the right treatment.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT CHRONIC STRESS AND ANXIETY

Whether you’re having trouble coping with unrelenting stress or you’re struggling with anxiety, you need to address it. And the earlier you seek help for chronic stress, anxiety, or panic attacks, the better. There are several natural strategies that can reduce symptoms associated with these conditions, including the following: Anxiety, panic attacks, chronic stress, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Depression is not a single or simple disorder. The sadness or emptiness you experience may be very different than the hopelessness or helplessness someone else feels. But traditional psychiatry doesn’t typically recognize these differences and often gives everyone who is depressed the same diagnosis and the same treatment plan. This will never work because depression is a symptom of many different causes. You need to find the root cause.   Depression is a symptom with many different causes. You need to find the root cause.
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Giving someone the diagnosis of depression is exactly like giving them the diagnosis of chest pain. Why don’t doctors give people the diagnosis of chest pain? Because it doesn’t tell you what’s causing it or what to do about it. It could be from a blocked artery, grief, or heartburn from the pepperoni pizza you ate. There are many biological issues that contribute to depression that psychiatrists, psychologists, and other healthcare providers may miss. Based on the brain SPECT imaging work at Amen Clinics, which has the world’s largest database of functional brain scans related to behavior (over 160,000 scans from 155 countries), as well as clinical experience with tens of thousands of patients over more than 30 years of practice, it has become evident that there are not only multiple causes of depression but also multiple types of depression. Specifically, the neuropsychiatrists at Amen Clinics have identified 7 types of depression and anxiety, which occur together 75% of the time. This blog series will explore each type, including the common symptoms, brain SPECT findings, and effective interventions.

TYPE 2: PURE DEPRESSION

Type 2: Pure Depression results from excessive activity in the brain’s emotional center, the deep limbic system. This type is associated with primary depressive symptoms that range from chronic mild sadness (dysthymia) to the devastating illness of major depression. If you’re struggling with these feelings, you may be one of those people who tries to smile through your depression, or you may be among those who can barely get out of bed. Some of the most famous, creative individuals we’ve scanned, including musical artists, actors, and writers, have overactivity in the deep limbic center. People with this brain pattern tend to be sensitive, deeply feeling, and empathic, which can be channeled in their art.

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF TYPE 2: PURE DEPRESSION

Some of the most common symptoms seen in people with Pure Depression include: Although these are the most typical problems associated with Pure Depression, they are not the only ones. At Amen Clinics, patients complain of myriad other depressive symptoms that many people aren’t often aware of.

TYPE 2: PURE DEPRESSION IN THE BRAIN

The SPECT findings that correlate with Pure Depression are markedly increased activity in the deep limbic area at rest and during concentration and decreased prefrontal activity at rest that improves with concentration. Deactivation of the prefrontal cortex at rest and improvement with concentration is a finding that is very common but not always present. In a study of more than 15,000 patients at Amen Clinics, we saw a significant correlation between increased activity in the limbic system and self-reporting of being negative or feeling chronic guilt, having crying spells, and experiencing feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. The limbic system is one of the most interesting and critical parts of being human and is power-packed with functions, all of which are critical for human behavior and survival. The limbic system typically includes the:

INTERVENTIONS FOR TYPE 2: PURE DEPRESSION

In traditional medicine, antidepressants are often prescribed as the first line of defense for depression, but these drugs are not the cure-all many people expect. A 2014 study found that in over 50% of depressed patients, taking antidepressants failed to provide full remission of their symptoms. Unfortunately, treatment-resistant depression is far too common. At Amen Clinics, relying solely on medication for mental health issues (which are really “brain health” issues) is never the solution. Rather, taking a brain-body approach that addresses all the contributing factors of depression is the best way to feel better fast and make it last. There are many alternatives to antidepressants that can help, such as: Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk. You’ve probably heard of “detox diets” intended to cleanse your body and jumpstart better health and weight loss. But what about a brain detox? Your brain is the most metabolically active organ in your body. As such, it can be damaged from environmental toxins. It is also vulnerable to toxic relationships, toxic habits, and toxic thinking patterns. In fact, it’s your brain that carries the heaviest toxic load in your entire body. And for many of us, that load has never been greater. With the pandemic, rampant anxiety, and other stressors, now is the best time ever to do a brain detox. With the pandemic, rampant anxiety, and other stressors, now is the best time ever to do a brain detox.
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Rather than increasing your brain’s toxic load with junk food, bad habits, and negative thoughts, it’s time to rid yourself of biological, psychological, and social toxicity. This will cleanse your brain for more optimal function, which will lead to a clearer mind, more stable emotions, happier relationships, and a better life.

Start your brain detox with these 7 strategies.

1. Detox Your Home and Life

Every single day, we are exposed to a host of chemicals, fumes, and products—such as household cleaning supplies, personal care products, and gasoline fumes—that poison the human brain. Common toxins in the air we breathe and the products we rub on our skin are absorbed into our bodies via our lungs and pores and can eventually impact the brain. The more exposure you have to these everyday toxins, the more you’re putting your brain at risk and increasing your chances of cognitive and mental health issues. Brain Detox Solution: Toss household cleaners and personal care products that are filled with harmful chemicals and opt for chemical-free, scent-free options whenever possible.

2. Detox Your Refrigerator

The Standard American Diet (SAD) is filled with pro-inflammatory, allergenic foods laced with artificial chemicals that will damage and prematurely age your brain and increase your risk for depression, ADD/ADHD, anxiety disorders, and dementia. The real weapons of mass destruction are foods that are: Brain Detox Solution: To reduce anxiousness, depressed moods, inattention, and memory issues, it’s time to do a clean sweep of your refrigerator (and your entire kitchen) and toss all of the foods that don’t serve you. Not having junk food in the house helps prevent impulsive, mindless eating. It’s easier to make 1 decision to get rid of it instead of 30 decisions over time not to eat it in a weak moment!

3. Detox Your Bad Habits

Alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs (including legal toxins like nicotine) are addictive and pollute the brain. On brain SPECT imaging, which measures blood flow and activity in the brain, the worst-looking brains belong to people with substance abuse. Some of the negative consequences of addiction include decreased brain volume, reduced blood flow, reduced generation of new brain cells, atrophy of the hippocampus (involved in memory and learning), and increased risk of dementia. People with addictions are likely to have co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADD/ADHD, or traumatic brain injury (TBI). It’s just as important to stop engaging in bad habits that increase your risk of a head injury. For example, riding a bike without a helmet, playing tackle football, or hitting soccer balls with your head increases the risk of TBI, which elevates the likelihood of developing symptoms of mental illness and cognitive impairment. Brain Detox Solution: Eliminate your toxic habits and replace them with habits that protect and enhance the brain.

4. Detox Your Social Circle

Toxic relationships, a lack of support from family and friends, or tension among colleagues and coworkers elevates stress hormone levels and makes us more vulnerable to many illnesses, including depression, anxiety disorders, and more. In addition, spending time with people who have bad habits increases the likelihood that you will pick up their habits. When we have great relationships, our brains tend to do much better. Brain Detox Solution: Make a list of the people in your life and indicate if they are “accomplices” (people who keep you chained to your bad habits or negativity) or “friends, mentors, and coaches” (people who support you in your efforts to boost brain health). Limit the amount of time you spend with accomplices.

5. Detox from Technology

Are you constantly checking your phone for new messages, scrolling through your social media feed, or streaming the latest Netflix series? Technology is taking over our lives and leading to tech addiction, anxiety, mood problems, inattention, self-esteem issues, forgetfulness, impulsivity, relationship woes, and more. If you’re struggling with the adverse effects of digital obsession, it’s time to try intermittent internet fasting. The same way intermittent fasting has become a popular and effective way to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, the same concept can be used to develop a more blissful relationship with your gadgets. Brain Detox Solution: Here are 6 ways to detox from tech:

6. Detox Your Brain at Night

While you’re sleeping, your brain is hard at work performing some very critical functions necessary to keep it operating at optimal levels. For example, during sleep, your brain cleans or washes itself by eliminating cellular debris and toxins that build up during the day (basically taking out the neural trash), consolidates learning and memory, and prepares for the following day. The brain processes that occur during sleep are also important for the health of your immune system, appetite control, and neurotransmitter production. When you skimp on sleep or experience sleep disturbances, you don’t get the brain benefits. Brain Detox Solution: To help your brain take out the nightly neural trash, try these tips:

7. Detox Your Thoughts

How you think and talk to yourself, as well as the running dialogue in your mind either helps or hurts your brain and mental well-being. Did you know that your thoughts lie? They lie a lot. And it’s the lies you tell yourself that hold you back and keep you down. When your mind is filled with ANTs (automatic negative thoughts), it reduces your brain’s ability to think clearly, form memories, and problem-solve. Brain Detox Solution: Kill the ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) that cloud your brain and steal your happiness. Whenever you have a sad, mad, anxious, or negative thought, write it down. Then ask yourself if it’s true. This can help you develop a more positive and hopeful outlook. If your brain has been assaulted by toxic substances, toxic people, or toxic thinking, it puts you at risk for cognitive and mental health problems. Functional brain imaging with SPECT can help you see the health of your brain and understand areas that need optimization. A troubled brain can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your emotional and cognitive well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk. What happens when you pop a couple of pain relievers for that headache? According to a new study, it could induce risky behavior. Yes, that everyday over-the-counter acetaminophen (aka Tylenol and Panadol) could make you act uncharacteristically risky. That’s concerning considering this analgesic is used in over 600 medications and is one of the most commonly consumed substances in the U.S. In this 2020 study, which appeared in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, over 500 participants engaged in an experiment that involved pumping up a balloon on a computer screen. With each and every pump, they earned imaginary money. The overall goal? Earn as much money as possible without popping the balloon, which would cause them to lose all the money. One group of the participants took a single 1,000 mg dose of acetaminophen, while the other group took a placebo. The group that took the pain reliever took more risks, giving their balloons more pumps and ultimately popping their balloons more often. The group that didn’t take acetaminophen was more conservative in the number of pumps, opting to cash out earlier rather than risk losing the money. This task, known as the Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART) is commonly used in scientific studies, and performance on it is predictive of alcohol and drug use, risky sexual behavior, and other types of delinquent behavior. The two groups were also asked to rate how risky they viewed a variety of hypothetical activities on a scale from 1-7 (1 being not at all risky, 7 being extremely risky), such as passing off somebody else’s work as your own, bungee jumping off a tall bridge, driving a car without a seat belt, or betting a day’s wages on a high-stakes poker game. The results on this appeared to be mixed, but the research team concluded that there’s a significant association between taking acetaminophen and taking greater risks. They suggest that the common drug reduces negative emotions associated with taking risks, ultimately making people feel less scared. These findings build on a body of research that shows acetaminophen also reduces hurt feelings and decreases empathy, among other psychological factors. It’s unclear how acetaminophen works in the brain, but brain SPECT imaging offers clues to risky behavior.

Risk-Taking in the Brain

What makes some people want to engage in high-risk activities, such as drug and alcohol use, gambling, extramarital affairs, free climbing (mountain climbing without any safety ropes), and skydiving? SPECT scans of people who are daredevils typically show reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The PFC is considered the executive part of the brain. It is the most evolved part of the human brain and is involved with focus, forethought, judgment, organization, planning, impulse control, empathy, and learning from mistakes. The PFC helps you think about what you say or do before you say or do it. For example, if you’re having a disagreement with your spouse and you have good PFC function, you’re more likely to give a thoughtful response that helps the situation. If you have poor PFC function, you’re more likely to blurt out something that will make the situation worse. The PFC helps you problem-solve, see ahead of a situation, and through experience, choose among the most helpful alternatives. This is also the part of the brain that helps you learn from your mistakes. Good PFC function doesn’t mean that you won’t make mistakes. Rather, it generally means that you won’t make the same mistake over and over. You’re able to learn from the past and apply its lessons. Impulse control is also heavily influenced by the PFC. The ability to think through the consequences of your behavior and put the brakes on things that are too high risk is essential for effective living. Without proper PFC function, it’s difficult to rein in your impulses, and you’re more likely to give in to unhealthy urges.

Problems with Low PFC Activity

At Amen Clinics, underactivity in the PFC is often seen in people with:

Strategies to Strengthen the PFC

You can strengthen your PFC if it is underactive. Engage in the following strategies to enhance activity in the PFC. Unhealthy risk-taking that negatively impacts your relationships, job or finances, or health can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.

By Mark Filidei, DO
Director of Integrative/Functional Medicine at Amen Clinics

In the past year or so, I’ve been fielding so many questions from my patients about using CBD for psychiatric symptoms and other health issues. You may be getting these same questions. In this article, I provide an overview of CBD in neuropsychiatry. To begin, let’s take with a closer look at the endocannabinoid system and how it works.

Endocannabinoid System Basics

The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is involved in modulating a wide range of processes and functions throughout the body, including cognition, pain, mood, fertility, bone metabolism, and immune function.

Experts are still exploring the intricacies of how the system works, but basically, eCBs—also called endogenous cannabinoids—are molecules produced in the human body that are similar to cannabinoids. There are 2 key eCBs in the body—anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglyerol (2AG).

In order to activate the system, AEA and A2G bind to endocannabinoid receptors located throughout the body. These cannabinoid receptors are similar to the body’s opioid receptors and nicotinic receptors, which also bind to natural substances. Experts have identified 2 types of eCB receptors—CB1 receptors in the central nervous system (brain, lungs, muscles, GI tract, reproductive organs, immune system, liver, bone marrow, and pancreas) and CB2 receptors in the peripheral nervous system (spleen, bones, skin, immune system, liver, bone marrow, and pancreas).

After eCBs have performed their function, they are degraded by the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH).

eCBs and Psychiatric Health

Emerging research is showing that the eCB system plays an important role in certain areas of the brain and in various aspects of mental health. For example, CB1 is highly expressed in the brain’s limbic system (involved in setting emotional tone), basal ganglia (involved in setting the body’s anxiety level), and cerebellum (involved in thought processing).

Research shows the eCB system plays an important role in stress-related psychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety, and major depressive disorder. The evidence suggests it is involved in gating and buffering the stress response, dampening anxiety, and regulating mood. This appears to be due to action within the amygdala (the brain’s fear center) and the prefrontal cortex (involved in regulating inhibition of the stress response). Specifically, CBD’s mechanisms of action include the agonism of certain calming serotonin receptors and the inhibition of others.

Cannabinoids for Psychosis and Schizophrenia

A 2018 study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that CBD has beneficial effects for people with schizophrenia and the researchers concluded that CBD “may represent a new class of treatment for the disorder.” Other research has found that CBD significantly alleviates psychotic symptoms in people with schizophrenia.

CBD and Depression

A growing body of research shows that CBD has antidepressant properties. A 2019 study found that CBD interacts with multiple neurotransmitter systems, including the serotonergic, glutamatergic, and endocannabinoid systems. Plus, it induces cellular and molecular changes in regions of the brain related to depression.

CBD and Anxiety

Current evidence, including a 2015 review of existing research in Neurotherapeutics, strongly supports CBD as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and PTSD.

CBD and Neuroprotection

Among the evidence on CBD and neuroprotection, a 2016 study found that CBD attenuates brain damage associated with neurodegenerative and/or ischemic conditions. In addition, the researchers noted that CBD affects synaptic plasticity and facilitates neurogenesis.

CBD vs. Psychiatric Medications

When it comes to treating mental health disorders, medications often come with a host of unpleasant and potentially unhealthy side effects. CBD, however, is associated with a wide range of additional health benefits, such as reducing sugar levels, decreasing inflammation, and reducing arterial blockages.

If you’re considering recommending CBD to the people you serve, it’s important to be aware of the most up-to-date research and the latest legal status of CBD products in your state. It’s also critical to keep in mind that since it has only recently been legalized in some states, we don’t have a lot of information yet about its long-term effects on brain health. As always, make the most informed decision for your patients.

About the Author: Mark Filidei, DO, Amen Clinics Orange County, CA

Dr. Mark Filidei is an Internal Medicine physician and is the Director of Integrative/Functional Medicine for Amen Clinics. Functional Medicine incorporates the latest developments in systems biology, genetics, and a deep understanding of human physiology to address complex medical and mental health issues. Dr. Filidei’s approach is to find the root cause of a person’s health problems including metabolic, genetic, and environmental factors, and to treat those problems in as natural a way as possible by using targeted nutritional supplements, correcting hormone and metabolic imbalances, improving lifestyle and diet, and detecting and treating toxin exposure and infections like mold and Lyme disease.

 

If you’re someone who’s been following Amen Clinics for a while, you may consider yourself a Brain Warrior. Brain Warriors are in a fight for the health of their body, mind, and spirit. As a Brain Warrior, you’re equipped with a toolkit of techniques and strategies to combat stress and promote calm and relaxation. But with the avalanche of stress upon us now—COVID-19, economic uncertainty, homeschooling, isolation, loneliness, frustration—that toolkit may not be enough. Too many people are suffering from “pandemic stress disorder” and need next-level coping mechanisms. Have your stress-management techniques failed you recently? If so, it’s time to bring in the Brain Warrior Special Forces Unit. Have your stress-management techniques failed you recently? If so, it’s time to bring in the Brain Warrior Special Forces Unit.
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THE DANGERS OF UNBRIDLED STRESS

Most people are aware that chronic stress can be harmful to your physical health, increasing the risk of heart disease, hypertension, and stroke. You may even know that ongoing stress can also wreak havoc on your mental health, leading to issues like depression, anxiety, or personality disorders. But few people are aware that uncontrolled stress is also associated with cognitive problems, such as having trouble thinking clearly or memory loss/dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common form of dementia). Chronic exposure to stress chemicals, including cortisol, can damage the brain’s memory centers. Research shows that overexposure to cortisol shrinks the size of the hippocampus, an important brain region involved in forming memories. Chronic stress in midlife has been associated with memory problems later on, as evidenced in a 2014 study in BMJ Open. Experiencing stress is considered a normal part of life when it is occasional and temporary, such as feeling anxious and stressed before an exam or a job interview, but when it becomes frequent or chronic, as in a prolonged pandemic, you need to take action.

THE BRAIN WARRIOR’S WAY OF COPING WITH ANYTHING

If pandemic stress is taking a weighty toll on you, it’s time to get serious and rise to the ranks of the Brain Warrior’s Special Forces Unit. This involves pulling out all the stops and attacking stress from every angle. Here are 12 research-proven tips that work to lower stress and boost your level of happiness and overall mental health. Try them all to combat PSD. Chronic stress, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk. If your child fell down and hurt their arm badly, you’d take them to the ER or an urgent care facility for an X-ray. The images would help the physician diagnose whether or not the arm is broken and would guide the treatment plan. Broken bone? That’ll be at least 6 weeks in a cast. Just a sprain? That’s more likely the “RICE” protocol—rest, ice, compression, elevation. Without imaging, your doctor wouldn’t know whether or not the bone was broken, and if they made the wrong guess, it could lead to prolonged pain for your child or a bone that doesn’t heal correctly and could cause problems for a lifetime. Why are mental health and behavioral health problems treated differently? In traditional psychiatry, mental health professionals typically never look at the organ they treat—the brain. This means psychiatrists and psychologists must guess when making a diagnosis based solely on symptoms. This results in many children being misdiagnosed and treated with the wrong plan. And that leads to unnecessary suffering. At Amen Clinics, which uses brain SPECT imaging as part of a complete evaluation, we see many children who have been previously misdiagnosed. Based on tens of thousands of patients, here are some of the most common misdiagnoses in children.

1. Symptom: Inattention

Commonly diagnosed as: ADD/ADHD Inattention is one of the classic symptoms of ADD/ADHD. When a child has trouble focusing, is easily distracted, or frequently daydreams, parents and clinicians often suspect that it’s due to this common condition. But not all inattention is due to ADD/ADHD. Some of the other causes of inattention include:

2. Symptom: Sadness, negativity, fatigue

Commonly diagnosed as: Depression All kids go through periods where they feel blue or lethargic, but when sadness, negativity, or fatigue last for longer periods of time, it can be diagnosed as depression. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the accurate diagnosis. Some of the other causes of sadness, negativity, and fatigue include:

3. Symptom: Anxiousness, panic, fear

Commonly diagnosed as: Anxiety Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems seen in children, tweens, and teens. But having anxious thoughts, feeling panicky, or being especially fearful can be related to many other things. Some of the other causes of anxiousness, panic, and fear include:

4. Symptom: Anger, argumentative, disruptive behavior

Commonly diagnosed as: Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) or Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) Some kids never seem to outgrow the “terrible twos.” They remain oppositional, have a short temper, and can explode into a rage, which often leads to a diagnosis of ODD or IED. But there may be other underlying issues at play. Some of the other causes of anger, argumentative, and disruptive behavior include: Inattention, sadness, anxiousness, anger, and disruptive behavior in children can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk. Anxiety and depression are not single or simple disorders. The nervousness you feel may be very different than the panic or dread someone else experiences. But in traditional psychiatry and medicine, healthcare providers often lump people with these conditions into a single box with a cookie-cutter approach to treatment. But giving everyone who feels anxious or depressed the same treatment will never work. Based on the brain SPECT imaging work at Amen Clinics, which has the world’s largest database of functional brain scans related to behavior (over 160,000 scans from 155 countries), as well as clinical experience with tens of thousands of patients over more than 30 years of practice, it has become evident that there are multiple types of anxiety and depression. Specifically, the neuropsychiatrists at Amen Clinics have identified 7 types of anxiety and depression. This blog series will explore each type, including the common symptoms, brain SPECT findings, and effective interventions.

TYPE 1: PURE ANXIETY

Type 1: Pure Anxiety often results from overactivity in the basal ganglia, setting one’s “idle speed” on overdrive. Sufferers feel stirred up, anxious, or nervous. If you have Type 1: Pure Anxiety, you may feel uncomfortable in your own skin. Some Amen Clinics patients report feeling as though they could “climb the walls” or that they are “crawling out of their own skin.” You may be plagued by feelings of panic, fear, and self-doubt. It’s common to suffer from physical feelings of anxiety as well, such as muscle tension, nail-biting, headaches, abdominal pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and sore muscles. Amen Clinics has identified 7 types of anxiety and depression. Type 1: Pure Anxiety often results from overactivity in the basal ganglia.
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It’s as if you have an overload of tension and emotion. The symptoms may be a consistently disruptive presence in your life, or they may come in unexpected waves. Irrational fears and phobias may also be a burden. If you’re like most people with this type, you may have a tendency to avoid anything that makes you anxious or uncomfortable, such as places or people that might trigger panic attacks or interpersonal conflict. People with Type 1: Pure Anxiety tend to predict the worst and look to the future with fear. You may be excessively shy or startle easily, or you may freeze in emotionally charged situations.

12 COMMON SYMPTOMS OF TYPE 1: PURE ANXIETY

TYPE 1: PURE ANXIETY IN THE BRAIN

On SPECT scans, Pure Anxiety is associated with increased activity in the basal ganglia, seen on both concentration and resting studies. The basal ganglia are a set of large structures toward the center of the brain that surround the limbic system. They are involved with integrating feelings, thoughts, and movement, along with helping to shift and smooth motor behavior. Research suggests the basal ganglia are involved in forming habits. At Amen Clinics, we’ve noticed they are also involved with setting the body’s anxiety level. In addition, the basal ganglia help to modulate motivation and are involved with feelings of pleasure and ecstasy (which is why drugs like cocaine and methamphetamines work in this part of the brain). The integration of feelings, thoughts, and movement in the basal ganglia causes you to jump when you get excited, tremble when you’re nervous, freeze when you’re scared, or get tongue-tied when the boss is chewing you out. The basal ganglia allow for a smooth integration of emotions, thoughts, and physical movement, and when there is too much input, they tend to lock up.  When the basal ganglia are overactive (as we have seen in the case of people with anxiety tendencies or disorders), people are more likely to be overwhelmed by stressful situations and have a tendency to freeze or become immobile (in thoughts or actions). Interestingly, some of the most highly motivated individuals we’ve scanned, such as entrepreneurs and corporate CEOs, have significantly increased activity in this part of the brain. We theorize that some people can use this increased activity in the form of motivation to become “movers” in society. [INSERT HEALTHY AND ANXIETY SCANS – ACTIVE SCANS]

INTERVENTIONS FOR TYPE 1: PURE ANXIETY

In too many instances, people with anxiety turn to anti-anxiety medication as the first and only thing they do to calm their nerves. Unfortunately, prescription drugs for anxiety, such as benzodiazepines (“benzos”), come with troublesome side effects. For example, benzos are associated with decreased overall brain activity, and they’re habit-forming. In addition, research in the Journal of Clinical Neurology shows that taking them for long periods of time raises the risk of dementia by over 50%. Medications aren’t the only answer. In fact, there are many natural alternatives to anti-anxiety pills, including: Anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever, and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk. You’ve heard of your body’s inner clock, but did you know that the brain has an internal clock too? Your brain’s ability to keep time is critical for the billions and billions of neurons in your head to be able to communicate effectively. And that’s the foundation for everything you do in your life—the way you think, the way you feel, the way you move. In some people, that inner clock gets out of sync and doesn’t work at the proper tempo. Think of it like when you’re watching a movie and you can see the actor’s lips moving, but they aren’t in sync with what you’re hearing. It kind of drives you crazy, right? When your brain’s internal timing mechanism isn’t working properly, it can impact myriad daily functions and cause problems with: Science shows that rhythm and timing is a baseline brain function. A unique therapy called Interactive Metronome training helps reset the timing in the brain at the millisecond level. “If you can straighten that out, then a lot of other brain functions start to follow in place,” says Mary Schlesinger, an Interactive Metronome trainer at Amen Clinics who has been using the therapy for 15 years.

What is Interactive Metronome® Training?

IM training is a non-invasive therapy that is used for many cognitive and neurological conditions, including: It is also used for other conditions, such as ALS, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, balance/gait disorders, and fine/gross motor problems. Some individuals go through IM training in order to enhance performance at work or school or in sports.

How Does Interactive Metronome® Work?

“If you were to watch me work with somebody, it wouldn’t really look like there’s that much going on,” says Schlesinger. Basically, people wear headphones and hold a sensor in one or both hands while they sit in front of a computer screen listening to a metronome. Each time they hear the metronome they tap the sensor and the computer measures their performance to 2/1000th of a second. On the screen, they see feedback that tells them if they’re a little bit off the beat and by how much so they can correct it. It may not seem like much, but inside the brain, there’s a lot going on. “With every tap, the brain has to take in the information and plan, sequence, and execute the muscle movement,” says Schlesinger. When you put the audio, visual, and movement all together, she says, “You’re creating neural connections, and you’re getting them to the point where they’re hard-wired.”

What are the Benefits of Interactive Metronome® Training?

“What I typically see is improved concentration, initiative, organization, self-regulation, working memory, and executive function,” says Schlesinger. “I’ve had patients say they feel less anxious and can fall asleep and stay asleep better. I see confidence improve, which makes sense once you nail down concentration, impulse control, organization, and so on.” Other benefits Schlesinger has noted in her patients include faster visual processing and auditory processing, as well as improved athletic performance. Schlesinger has seen IM training have remarkable results on adolescents, teens, and adults with ADD/ADHD. For example, she trained one sixth-grader diagnosed with ADHD named Emma. “She was making good grades, but it was thanks to sheer determination, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and medication,” says Schlesinger. Emma was on adult levels of ADHD medications and could barely get through the school day. By the time she got home, she had to take more medication to do her homework, and then every night she ended up taking melatonin to help her fall asleep. Then the cycle started all over again. Emma’s mom was getting worried about the unhealthy cycle, but the doctor said there was nothing else he could give Emma. At the end of 6th grade, Emma’s mother decided to take her daughter off of all her medications. “It’s summer. It doesn’t matter if she’s bouncy,” she thought. Over a 49-day period that summer, Emma engaged in IM training with Schlesinger and made great progress. When Emma started junior high at the end of the summer, her mother decided not to put her back on the meds and braced herself for a barrage of phone calls from the girl’s teachers. She was used to getting a lot of calls about Emma’s behavior. “But she didn’t get any calls,” says Schlesinger. “And when the mom met with the teachers to go over Emma’s IEP plan, the teachers said, ‘We don’t really know why she’s on an IEP. She doesn’t need to be on an IEP.’” Emma was able to get off her medications, no longer needed an IEP, and didn’t have to work so hard to do well in school.

Interactive Metronome® Training in the Brain

Multiple fMRI studies show that IM training leads to changes in several brain regions, including the cerebellum, prefrontal cortex (PFC), basal ganglia, and cingulate gyrus. The cerebellum (Latin for “little brain”), is involved with motor coordination and thought coordination and is essential for processing complex information. The PFC is responsible for impulse control, focus, and organization. The basal ganglia play an important role in integrating feeling and movement, as well as setting the body’s anxiety levels. The cingulate gyrus is involved in cognitive flexibility. Before-and-after brain SPECT imaging studies on a patient name Jerry show how powerful IM training can be. Jerry had ADHD, anxiety, depression, memory loss, and other issues. As he went through the IM training process, he kept a journal about his progress, noting better motivation, improved ability to complete tasks, and better moods. Jerry’s follow-up brain scans showed improved brain health in areas related to ADHD, anxiety, depression, and other issues. If you’re struggling with ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, memory problems, or other issues and are looking for alternatives or adjuncts to medication, it’s time to consider Interactive Metronome training at Amen Clinics with trainer Mary Schlesinger. IM training is available in-person or via IM-Home. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.