Amen Clinics attracts some very successful people—superstar musicians, athletes, actors, and CEOs—who want to get their brain scanned. Their hope is that seeing what’s happening inside their head will help them find a path to decreasing symptoms, whether they’re experiencing depression, anxiety, obsessiveness, trouble with focus and attention, PTSD, addictions, eating disorders, or other issues. They all want to feel happier, but many of them have a common concern.
If they enhance their brain health, will it take away the unique or quirky part of their personality that makes them special and that helped them achieve so much success in the first place? Will it dull their creativity? Will it make them less likely to take the necessary risks to reach greatness? Will it make them boring?
That’s what stand-up comedian and host of the Sharp Tongue and Highlarious podcasts, Jessimae Peluso, wanted to know when she came to Amen Clinics for a brain scan and evaluation as part of an influencer series called “Scan My Brain.” She asked psychiatrist and neuroscientist Daniel G. Amen, MD, the founder of Amen Clinics: “What if my broken brain is the thing that makes me funny?”
Comedian Jessimae Peluso asked psychiatrist and neuroscientist Daniel G. Amen, MD, the founder of Amen Clinics: “What if my broken brain is the thing that makes me funny?”
Peluso has spent a lifetime struggling with attention issues. In school, she was smart, but she caused problems. “I had a permanent desk in the hallway,” she admitted, “because I drove the teacher so nuts because I was more focused on entertaining and just saying whatever came to my brain.”
As an adult, she wants to be able to follow through on projects without a million interruptions. “Without first Swiffering the kitchen, eating half a sandwich, going back and checking my text messages, walking out to the front to rake the yard,” she said. In her everyday life, it’s like “I’ve done 1000 things, but I never finished the thing that I set off to do.”
The comedian had never really thought much about the health of her brain until her dad developed Alzheimer’s disease and died from it in 2018. That prompted her to invite Dr. Amen as a guest on her Sharpe Tongue podcast. The conversation about brain health and its relationship to psychiatric issues piqued her curiosity, and she decided to visit Amen Clinics for a brain SPECT scan. SPECT is a sophisticated brain mapping tool that measures blood flow and activity in the brain. It shows 3 things:
Areas of the brain with healthy activity
Areas of the brain with low activity
Areas of the brain with too much activity
Peluso was hoping she could learn more about her brain so she could improve her attention and focus and help prevent dementia, which has a genetic component. When one or both parents have Alzheimer’s disease it increases the likelihood that their offspring will develop it someday. “I would not like that house guest up here whatsoever,” Peluso said with a laugh.
What Jessimae Peluso Saw in Her Brain Scan
When Dr. Amen revealed Peluso’s brain scan to her, she asked “Why does it look like a smiley face?” She was referring to what looked like two big holes near the top of the scan. As Dr. Amen explained, the holes aren’t really holes, rather they indicate areas of low blood flow. Here’s a closer look at two areas of concern in Peluso’s brain.
Underactivity in the prefrontal cortex: In Peluso’s scan, the two big holes she noticed were in the front part of the brain in an area called the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The PFC is involved in attention, focus, planning, organization, follow-through, impulse control, judgment, empathy, and more. When blood flow and activity are low in this brain region, it is associated with problems with these functions. It is a brain pattern that is commonly seen in people with ADD/ADHD. Considering the issues Peluso described, in addition to the results of sophisticated assessments she completed at Amen Clinics, the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD fit.
Scalloping: On SPECT, the surface of a healthy brain looks smooth, with full, even, symmetrical blood flow and activity. That’s not what Peluso’s looked like. The comedian’s brain had a bumpy or scalloped appearance that signals overall decreased activity and blood flow.
“It looks like an aerial view of Arizona,” Peluso quipped.
Dr. Amen explained that scalloping is often a sign of toxicity, such as alcohol or drug use. It can also be associated with environmental toxins, chemotherapy, carbon monoxide poisoning, infections, hypothyroidism, severe anemia, or anoxia (a lack of oxygen to the brain, such as from a near-drowning incident or a heart attack).
As the host of the “Highlarious” podcast, Peluso is admittedly an avid pot smoker. She didn’t like learning that an Amen Clinics study with 65,424 brain SPECT scans found that marijuana use prematurely ages the brain.
A Better Brain and a Better, Funnier Life
Peluso’s brain, according to Dr. Amen, was not on a healthy path. He showed her a progression of what her brain could look like 10 years from now if she didn’t make any changes to her lifestyle. It wasn’t pretty.
“That looks like a horror movie set,” said Peluso, cringing.
When Dr. Amen showed her a SPECT scan of the brain of someone with Alzheimer’s disease, it really hit home for the comedian. “That gives me so much anxiety,” she said of the scan that looked like it was full of giant holes indicating a lack of activity.
Seeing a different progression of how much healthier and younger her brain could look in 10 years if she adopted better brain habits and eliminated toxins from her life sparked hope. But it also made her wonder, “How will this affect me as a comedian?”
Dr. Amen assured her that having a healthier brain will make her better—a more consistent performer, more adept with the business side of things, and happier overall. “You’ll still be able to look at things in an unusual way. Right? That’s what makes you funny,” he said. “But you’ll be able to follow through.”
ADD/ADHD, anxiety, 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. When YouTube star Jeff Wittek suffered a head injury after a filmed stunt went terribly wrong, he started experiencing depression, anxiety, and extreme emotional stress. His mental health had sunk so low, he visited Amen Clinics to get his brain scanned (read about Wittek’s initial brain scan evaluation here) and find out what he could do to improve his symptoms. In true YouTuber fashion, he did his evaluation with Daniel G. Amen, MD—a renowned psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and founder of Amen Clinics—in front of a camera.
In the initial aftermath of his accident, Wittek tried to hide what happened to him from his fans and followers. “I covered it up, and I put on prosthetic makeup, and I’ve played up the injuries as a joke like it was fake because I was so embarrassed about what happened,” he admitted to Dr. Amen.
Wittek has made a name for himself with a YouTube talk show that features him in a barbershop giving his guests a haircut. Wittek is a trained barber, but many of his guests aren’t aware of that fact and are put on edge wondering if he’s going to butcher their hair. It makes for some hilarious interactions. In the show, Wittek comes off as an arrogant, narcissistic New Yorker, but that’s simply a character he’s created. He’s never wanted to reveal his true self. “I don’t want to do that, because I don’t want to open myself up to criticism from people,” he said.
But now, faced with head trauma and mental health issues, Wittek has decided he’s ready to be more vulnerable and wants to share his journey. “It got really dark at times,” he said, but “I can document my healing over time.” He hopes his story can help others who might be suffering.
The Link Between Head Injuries and Psychiatric Issues
In his evaluation at Amen Clinics, Wittek learned something that few people—even doctors and psychiatrists—know. Mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a major cause of psychiatric disorders. This remains a little-known fact because the field of psychiatry typically never looks at the organ it treats—the brain. Amen Clinics is different and uses brain SPECT imaging as one of a suite of evaluation tools. SPECT is a sophisticated brain mapping tool that measures blood flow and activity in the brain. It shows 3 things:
Areas of the brain with healthy activity
Areas of the brain with low activity
Areas of the brain with too much activity
A wealth of research shows that concussions and other head injuries increase the risk of depression, anxiety and panic disorders, ADD/ADHD, PTSD, drug and alcohol abuse, personality disorders, psychosis, suicide, and more.
Many people never make the connection between their mental health issues and a head injury they experienced. In part, this is because symptoms may not appear for weeks or months after the head trauma occurred. This means people may eventually seek treatment for their psychiatric symptoms, but if they never heal their brain from the underlying trauma, traditional treatments may not be effective.
Wittek is one of the lucky ones in that respect. He noticed that his mental health symptoms arose following his head injury and suspected that his brain had been damaged and was affecting his emotional well-being. He was right. The YouTuber underwent brain SPECT imaging so he could see how the injury was impacting the way his brain functions. Seeing his brain helped him make a commitment to follow Dr. Amen’s recommendations for healing.
YouTuber Jeff Wittek noticed that his mental health symptoms arose following his head injury and suspected that his brain had been damaged and was affecting his emotional well-being. He was right.
In Wittek’s evaluation, he learned about several strategies to help heal the brain after experiencing head trauma. In addition, he discovered ways he can change negative thinking patterns that contribute to depression. Here are just some of the recommendations he and Dr. Amen discussed:
Avoid alcohol.
Amen informed Wittek that brain imaging clearly shows that alcohol can damage the brain. Wittek admits he used to consume alcohol, but he gave up drinking several years ago. “With alcohol, I was numbing my brain and there were so many parts of it that I didn’t unlock because I was hungover,” he said, adding that drinking “would give me confidence, and make me funnier, and more charismatic, and likable, the life of the party. But in turn, that would just make me worse the next day, when I had to film videos for millions of people.”
Stop smoking marijuana.
Wittek admitted that he switched from drinking to smoking marijuana, which he said helps him temporarily disconnect from the stresses of the real world. He also thinks it heightens his creativity and helps him come up with ideas. “Sometimes, a little weed gives me a million-dollar idea,” the YouTuber said. Dr. Amen explained to Wittek that he needs to stop smoking marijuana because Amen Clinics studies show that cannabis prematurely ages the brain and lowers blood flow to the brain. Other research has found that smoking pot can trigger psychosis. When the brain is damaged, it’s imperative to eliminate things that hurt the brain.
Be careful with over-the-counter medications.
Many people don’t realize that some everyday medications you can buy off the shelf at the drug store can actually be harmful to the brain. Take sleep aids, for example. Wittek had been taking Ambien to help calm his busy mind at night so he could sleep, but Dr. Amen said there are healthier ways to do so. He recommends natural supplements that promote rest and relaxation, including magnesium, melatonin, GABA, 5-HTP, vitamin B6, and L-theanine.
Change your thinking patterns.
As Dr. Amen explained to Wittek, your thoughts influence your brain function. Every time you have a negative thought, your brain releases chemicals that make you feel bad. Think a happy thought, and it triggers the release of chemicals that make you feel good. Learning to question your automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) is a powerful technique to enhance brain function and help you feel better on a more consistent basis.
Seeing is Believing
By showing Wittek his damaged brain and explaining how his brain function impacts his mental and emotional well-being, it helped the YouTuber in many ways. Seeing his brain scan helped Wittek understand that the damage to his brain is real, his issues are medical, not moral, and there is hope for healing.
Head injuries, depression, anxiety, 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. School programs in science, technology, engineering, and math—otherwise known as STEM—aim to prepare students for a future in the workforce that keeps pace with the constant advances being made in these fields. What is unique about this type of program is that rather than students learning each of these subjects separately, STEM integrates these four disciplines into a model that teaches the myriad ways the scientific method applies to many aspects of our lives.
To be successful in STEM, it’s necessary to be technologically literate and develop a unique combination of skills that include:
While they tend to have an incredible ability to concentrate on topics of interest, all people with ASD do not process information in the same way. Generally speaking, there are 3 types of “thinkers” in ASD, which reflect how an individual’s brain processes information. Usually, one type of thinking will predominate, although it’s quite possible for a person to be influenced by one or both of the other types:
Verbal thinkers tend to be very logical, have strong vocabularies, learn languages easily, like to make lists, and have a great memory for facts. These qualities help them to be very good at analyzing data and critical thinking.
Visual thinkers process information by seeing images in their mind or in the environment and make associations from them to form ideas or conclusions. Dr. Temple Grandin, the well-known author, and professor described her visual thinking process as similar to “a virtual reality computer program.” Visual thinking can be very innovative and help solve problems.
Pattern thinkers are more abstract and can find links or arrangements between certain things like numbers, concepts, and other objects or ideas from which they can create meaningful connections. This type of predominant thinking can help a person excel at mathematics and/or art and lead to creative discoveries.
More Ways ASD and STEM Fit Well Together
In addition to the unique types of thinking in ASD, their ability to focus on details is advantageous for the complex subject matter covered in STEM programs. They can synthesize details into a greater whole or idea by incorporating “bottom-up thinking” whereby associations between even the most minute details become the starting points that lead to the development of new concepts. Conversely, neurotypical thinking usually starts at the top and works down in a manner that is influenced by existing knowledge to analyze details, which can then limit innovation and novel ideas.
Another distinctive quality in ASD is that with their inherent social processing deficits, they are less concerned about the status quo or what others might think, which frees them to be more creative. They aren’t inclined to worry about their ideas being considered weird or odd. In addition, their naturally logical minds along with the diminished capacity for social influence allow people with ASD to use logic to form concepts and reach conclusions, without the interference of emotional thinking or bias.
Getting an Early Start
Increasingly, schools across the country are incorporating STEM programs into the curriculum. Therefore, paying attention to the preferential thinking style demonstrated by a child on the autism spectrum can be a great way to foster early interest in these subject areas. This can help to provide them with an avenue for brain development, building on their strengths and learning new skills that, over the course of time, can lead to meaningful employment and/or college programs later in their lives.
Autism spectrum disorder and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being—and that of your loved ones— is more important than ever.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. In recent times, there has been a lot of hype surrounding the use of psychedelic drugs as potential treatments for mental health issues. The excitement about the possibilities of these mind-altering substances to relieve symptoms associated with a variety of mental health conditions is reaching a fevered pitch. But does the reality live up to the hype? And just how safe are these substances?
Although it’s true that some scientific research suggests potential mental health benefits from using psychedelics in a clinical setting, there are downsides too. Extreme caution is needed. Here’s what you need to know about psilocybin, ketamine, MDMA, and LSD.
Although it’s true that some scientific research suggests potential mental health benefits from using psychedelics in a clinical setting, there are downsides too. Extreme caution is needed.
The term psychedelics refers to mind-altering drugs that can expand the consciousness and impact sensory perceptions. There are many such substances—some that occur in nature while others are chemical compounds developed in laboratories.
Four of the most commonly discussed drugs currently gaining traction in the field of psychiatry are psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, and ketamine.
Psilocybin
Have you heard of “magic mushrooms?” These natural substances contain a psychoactive compound called psilocybin that can alter thoughts and perceptions and can cause visual and auditory hallucinations at high doses.
The psychedelic effects of psilocybin include feeling like time has slowed down, a sense of euphoria, seeing colors more vividly, thinking unusual thoughts, and seeing stationary objects appear to move.
In the 1960s, people began investigating using psilocybin for depression and addiction. In the 1970s, it was classified as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it currently has no accepted medical use, and it has a high potential for abuse.
MDMA
Commonly known as MDMA, ecstasy, or Molly, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (is a mood-altering chemical that produces enhanced sensory perception and feelings of closeness to others.
In the late 1970s, some psychiatrists began using MDMA because they believed it improved patient communications and gave patients greater insight into their mental health issues.
The DEA issued an emergency ban on it in 1985, classifying it as a Schedule I drug.
LSD
Discovered in the 1950s by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) was made available to the psychiatric research community. By the following decade, over 130 studies on the substance showed that it produced positive results in a range of mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and alcohol abuse.
In the 1970s, however, following a surge in the recreational use of LSD and instances of “bad trips,” the drug was banned.
Ketamine
Developed more than half a century ago, ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic. It dulls pain and makes people feel dissociated from their body. This substance can have hallucinogenic effects and has been used as a recreational drug with the nickname “Special K.”
In the 1960s, practitioners began using the ketamine as a human anesthetic in the clinical setting. Subsequently, it has been used as a potential treatment for treatment-resistant depression and chronic pain relief.
Today, ketamine is a controlled drug and is classified as a Schedule 3 substance, which means there is a risk for abuse, but the risk is lower than with Schedule 1 drugs or Schedule 2 substances. Other Schedule 3 drugs include codeine and anabolic steroids.
On October 10, 2023, the FDA issued a warning stating that it has not approved ketamine for the treatment of any mental health disorder. In this warning, the FDA clearly states that it has not determined that ketamine is safe and effective for the treatment of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
PROS AND CONS OF MICRODOSING PSYCHEDELICS
Emerging research is investigating the use of psychedelics for the treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction, and more. In the field of psychiatry, this typically involves microdosing, or administering very small amounts of the psychedelic substance.
This is intended to produce benefits without causing a “bad trip” or triggering intense hallucinatory effects. A very important caveat of microdosing psychedelics is that the drugs are administered by a trained mental health professional in a clinical setting.
The substances are used as a way to enhance psychotherapy, which is why this practice is referred to as drug-assisted therapy.
Be aware, however, that studies also point to potential downsides related to the use of mind-altering substances. This is why the use of these substances outside the clinical setting is not recommended.
Psilocybin
The research on psilocybin remains mixed. Some studies point to potential benefits for the administration of this substance in a clinical setting while others show negligible benefits.
On the positive side, a 2021 study in JAMA Psychiatry involving 24 people with major depressive disorder, found that psilocybin-assisted therapy produced “large, rapid, and sustained antidepressant effects.”
Another research paper from 2021 in The New England Journal of Medicine on people with moderate to severe depression showed that treatment with psilocybin was equally effective as treatment with a common antidepressant (escitalopram, brand name Lexapro).
On the other side, scientific research in Scientific Reports shows that although psilocybin may work in the short-term, its effects are not long term. In fact, depression returns in a majority of people four to five months after a dose of the drug.
When it comes to side effects, a 2023 study in JAMA found that participants receiving psilocybin was linked to a higher rate of adverse events and more serious adverse events compared with participants who received a dose of niacin.Downsides: Some people who ingest magic mushrooms also experience negative reactions, such as anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, feelings of fear and depression, nausea, and numbness.
MDMA
MDMA may have some benefits for people with PTSD. A 2021 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 clinical trial appearing in Nature Medicine looked at the impact of MDMA-assisted therapy on individuals suffering from severe PTSD.
Following the treatment, 67% of participants no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. The researchers concluded that “MDMA-assisted therapy represents a potential breakthrough treatment that merits expedited clinical evaluation.”
That’s the good news. The not-so-good-news comes from a 2024 review in Neuropsychopharmacology. This review found that in phase 3 clinical trials, people receiving MDMA were 3.5 times more likely to experience adverse events compared to controls.
Downsides: Anxiety, jaw clenching, blurred vision, nausea, nausea, sweating, and chills are some of the unwanted effects of taking MDMA.
LSD
In a 2020 study looking at LSD and other psychedelics as possible depression treatments, the researchers suggested that “low doses of psychedelics could play a role in depression by inducing some kind of cognitive flexibility, which might lead to decreased rumination.”
Animal studies have found that side effects of microdosing LSD can last for weeks and include hyperactivity, heightened aggression, and difficulty feeling pleasure.
Ketamine
Downsides: The effects of this mind-alerting drug are unpredictable and can vary from one person to another. In high doses,
Numerous studies point to ketamine’s positive effects on major depressive disorder. Findings in a 2013 study in the American Journal of Psychiatry showed that in people with treatment-resistant depression, ketamine quickly triggered antidepressant effects.
Significant improvement in depressive symptoms among people taking ketamine was also noted in a 2017 review in Mental Health Clinician. In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved esketamine nasal spray—a derivative of ketamine—as a treatment for depression and treatment-resistant depression.
Downsides: Ketamine may be addictive and may cause high blood pressure, dizziness, and nausea.
HOW PSYCHEDELICS WORK ON THE BRAIN
Clearly, any mind-altering substance also has an impact on brain function. Here’s what the science shows so far about how psychedelics affect the brain.
Psilocybin
A 2020 brain-imaging study in the journal NeuroImage looked at brain scans of people before and after taking psilocybin and found that the drug lowers activity in an area called the claustrum.
This brain region is believed to be involved with setting attention and shifting tasks, which may explain why people taking psilocybin.
MDMA
experience feelings of connectedness and a lack of ego.
MDMA triggers the release of neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Experts point to the heightened levels of serotonin as the primary basis for the feelings of euphoria that recreational users tend to experience.
After this surge of serotonin, however, levels of the neurotransmitter may become depleted, leading to negative psychological effects.
Long-term heavy use of MDMA is also associated with changes in regions of the brain associated with impulse control and attention,
LSD
working memory, visual information processing,Research shows that this psychoactive drug works on a variety of receptors in the brain, including serotonin and dopamine.
Ketamine
Research shows that ketamine alters the way the brain’s neurons communicate. The substance binds to receptors that trigger the release of glutamate, an abundant neurotransmitter in the brain that is involved in memory and learning.
A 2019 study in the journal Science suggests that ketamine promotes the growth of synapses in the brain.
IS MICRODOSING SAFE?
Although some research is pointing to potential benefits of microdosing, there isn’t enough information yet to know how microdosing psychedelics in a clinical setting will affect the brain on a long-term basis.
More investigation on the use of psychedelics as a psychiatric treatment is needed to understand their lasting impacts on brain health and to establish how safe they really are.
PSYCHEDELICS IN PSYCHIATRY
Depression, anxiety, PTSD, 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 888-288-9834or visit our contact page here. When you think of psychiatry, does your mind automatically equate the field with prescription medication? Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, or other issues but don’t want pills to be your only treatment option? Have you already tried conventional treatment without relief from your symptoms? Are you hesitant to see a psychiatrist because you’re interested in a more holistic approach to treatment for mental health issues? There’s a solution, and it’s called psychiatric naturopathy.
Are you hesitant to see a psychiatrist because you’re interested in a more holistic approach to treatment for mental health issues? There’s a solution, and it’s called psychiatric naturopathy.
Naturopathic psychiatry takes a holistic mind-body-spirit approach to mental health and well-being that aims to educate the patient, prevent mental illness, and provide natural solutions. This is in contrast to allopathic psychiatry (also known as conventional or traditional psychiatry), which typically looks to use medications to mask symptoms. It’s important to note that naturopathic doctors (NDs) who specialize in psychiatry are trained in conventional medicine as well as being educated in complementary medicine. They rely on science, and the therapies they recommend are backed by rigorous research.
LOOKING FOR THE ROOT CAUSES OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS
Licensed professionals who practice naturopathic psychiatry look at how a person’s biology, psychology, and spirituality are connected and can contribute to mental health disorders. In addition, they seek out the root causes of psychiatric issues. A naturopathic psychiatrist may explore the following as possible contributors to mental health problems:
Gut health: A condition called leaky gut is associated with mood and anxiety disorders, ADD/ADHD, and even Alzheimer’s disease.
Adrenal health: The adrenal glands, located above your kidneys, play a vital role in how your body reacts to stress. When stress becomes chronic, a cocktail of harmful chemicals can come with it and can overwhelm your body and contribute to mental health issues.
Nutritional deficiencies: People with mental health issues are more likely to have deficiencies in key nutrients, and scientific research suggests that nutritional treatment may help prevent, treat, or improve mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism, addiction, and eating disorders.
Exposure to toxins: Environmental toxins impact nearly every aspect of your body and brain and can lead to a wide range of physical and psychiatric symptoms. In terms of mental health and cognitive function, exposure to toxins can increase the risk of depression, ADD/ADHD, brain fog, memory problems and dementia, learning problems, autism, temper outbursts, psychotic behavior, and suicide.
Inflammation:Research shows that chronic inflammation has been associated with a wide range of mental health problems, including depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), schizophrenia, personality disorders, and Alzheimer’s disease
Hormonal imbalances: When hormones are out of balance you may experience symptoms typically associated with psychiatric illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, moodiness, irritability, and psychosis.
Infections: Having underlying chronic infections, such as Lyme disease, or having long-haul COVID (also known as COVID-Brain) is linked to many issues typically viewed as psychiatric problems. These include brain fog, attention issues, depression, and more.
Head trauma: The brain imaging work at Amen Clinics clearly shows that head injuries increase the risk of anxiety, panic disorders, depression, PTSD, ADD/ADHD, substance abuse, personality disorders, aggression, learning problems, and dementia. The problem is that few people, including most naturopathic psychiatrists, know this because the field of psychiatry typically doesn’t look at the organ it treats. At Amen Clinics, naturopathic psychiatrists use functional brain SPECT imaging to identify underlying brain injuries that contribute to mental health disorders.
HOLISTIC PSYCHIATRY TREATMENTS
Naturopathic psychiatrists focus on providing therapies that promote self-healing within the body and brain. As a general rule, this form of holistic psychiatry looks to use the least toxic, most effective solutions, including natural therapies whenever possible. Treatment recommendations may include psychotherapy, spiritual or marriage counseling, mindfulness techniques, non-invasive treatments, nutraceuticals, exercise recommendations, diet suggestions, and much more.
If you’re struggling with mental health issues that aren’t responding to traditional treatment or you’re interested in a more holistic approach to care, Amen Clinics is here for you. Amen Clinics has several naturopathic doctors on staff, including Kabran Chapek, ND (president of the Psychiatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians), Elissa Mendenhall, ND, and Julie Brush, ND. 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 888-288-9834or visit our contact page here. YouTube star and vlog squad member Jeff Wittek suffered a horrific injury resulting from a filmed stunt gone wrong. The accident caused severe facial injuries and nearly cost him his eye. Since then, he’s endured several painful surgeries. From the scars on his face, his millions of followers could tell he’d suffered from something terrible, but what people couldn’t see was that he was also suffering on the inside. His mental health began to deteriorate, and he was experiencing a different kind of pain he had never felt before in his entire life—depression, anxiety, and serious emotional stress.
From the scars on his face, YouTuber Jeff Wittek’s millions of followers could tell he’d suffered from something terrible, but what people couldn’t see was that he was also suffering on the inside as his mental health deteriorated.
“I’m obsessed with my profession,” Jeff said to Daniel G. Amen, MD, when he met with the psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and founder of Amen Clinics. “I just want everything to be perfect. and just be the best I can be when I put out these videos.”
During the pandemic, Jeff turned 30 and had gotten to a point in his professional life where he wanted to create something bigger. “I can’t just be making these silly, stupid videos anymore,” he said. He agreed to do a stunt for a friend’s video that was going to be monumental. It involved an excavator, a massive piece of machinery used in construction that spins. In the middle of a lake, Jeff was going to be dangling on a wakeboard attached to the end of a rope on the excavator’s arm as it spun as fast as possible.
It sounded like a lot of fun—at least for a YouTuber like Jeff who is used to doing crazy stuff most people would never do—until he spun wildly out of control and went flying face-first into the excavator itself.
Jeff broke his hip, had 9 fractures in his skull and face, and had a full orbital blowout fracture. He couldn’t see out of one of his eyes. “Everybody thought I was gonna die,” he recalls. “I was pale white, and I lost a lot of blood.”
His YouTube colleagues and friends put him into a car and rushed him to the hospital. along the way, Jeff tried to pull down the car’s visor, but his friends stopped him. They told him not to look at his face, and that’s when the influencer knew it was bad, really bad. And the 30-year-old had no idea that things were about to get worse.
When the Invisible Struggle Is Worse
As Jeff went through the process to heal from the head trauma and many fractures, he began to notice another side effect of the accident. He started feeling anxious and had a persistent blue mood. “I never thought that depression or anxiety or anything like that was even a real thing,” he admitted. “When I heard people talk about having it, I thought it would just be like, ‘Okay, you’re just a little nervous or something or you’re overreacting.’”
He still has a hard time believing that it could be happening to him. “It’s just something I never expected I would go through,” he said. “I was in jail and I didn’t go through it.”
As the weeks and months passed, things got worse, not better. “It got dark,” he recalled. “A couple months after the accident it was some of the darkest days of my life.”
With all the changes in his mental health, he began to suspect his brain was also affected. That’s when he decided to visit Dr. Amen at Amen Clinics for a brain scan.
What Jeff’s Brain SPECT Scans Reveal
On a scale of 1-10, how bad was Jeff’s brain after the accident? When Dr. Amen told Jeff that his brain was currently a 4 out of 10, it hit hard. “I didn’t think it was that bad,” says Jeff. But the YouTuber’s brain SPECT scans showed why. SPECT is a brain imaging tool that measures blood flow and activity in the brain and it shows 3 things:
areas with healthy activity
areas with low activity
areas with too much activity
Jeff’s scan showed abnormal activity in several areas, including the following:
Prefrontal cortex: This part of the brain located behind the forehead, which is where Jeff’s head rammed into the excavator, is involved with planning, impulse control, judgment, organization, learning from the mistakes you make, and more. Jeff’s scan showed low blood flow to this critical brain region, which is considered the part of the brain that makes us human. Dr. Amen explained to Jeff that when you have decreased blood flow here, “You can do things and say things you shouldn’t do.”
Limbic system: The limbic system is involved in setting a person’s emotional tone. On Jeff’s scan, it shows overactivity in this region, which is associated with heightened anxiety and low moods.
“Bumpy” appearance: In healthy SPECT surface scans, there is a smooth, even appearance to the brain. On Jeff’s surface scan, it looks more “bumpy,” which is sometimes a sign of exposure to toxins. Jeff admits that he used to have a problem with booze (he says he stopped drinking 3 years ago), which is commonly associated with “bumpiness” on brain scans. As Dr. Amen explained to him, “Your brain is older than you are.”
Other neurocognitive tests Jeff took at Amen Clinics showed high scores for stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as conscious negativity. This means a negative outlook on life in general.
How Head Trauma Impacts Your Life
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), as well as the surgeries to treat injuries associated with head trauma, can have serious consequences in many areas of your life.
General anesthesia: Depression and brain fog are side effects of surgical anesthesia, but surgeons don’t usually talk to patients about these risks. When it happens, people don’t put it together that their issues are related to anesthesia. Jeff underwent general anesthesia 7 times in 8 months, and this may be a contributor to his issues.
Hormonal imbalances: In head injuries, the pituitary gland often gets injured. The pituitary gland is responsible for hormone production, and when it is damaged, it can lead to hormonal imbalances. People with head injuries are at risk for problems, such as low testosterone, abnormal thyroid activity, and low levels of other important hormones. These can contribute to anxiety, depression, brain fog, and other symptoms typically associated with psychiatric issues.
Mental health issues: Head trauma is one of the major causes of mental health problems, but few people know it. Having experienced a concussion or multiple mild head traumas increase the risk of having depression, anxiety, PTSD, and many other issues.
Brain fog and memory problems: Having a head injury makes you more likely to feel spacey, forgetful, and dull.
Healing an Injured Brain
On the bright side, it is possible to heal after head trauma. Although Jeff expressed concern about how bad his brain looked, Dr. Amen assured him that his brain wasn’t permanently damaged. And he said that if Jeff followed the recommendations he gave him, he could dramatically improve the health of his brain and decrease his symptoms.
Head injuries, depression, anxiety, 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. Many people are aware of the symptoms associated with adult ADD, also known as adult ADHD—short attention span, easily distracted, disorganization, procrastination, and impulsivity. But what does it really feel like to have this common condition that affects approximately 4.4% of American adults? At Amen Clinics, we have worked with thousands of people who struggle with ADD/ADHD. Straight from the psychiatrist’s couch, here’s what some of them have said about what life is like with ADD/ADHD.
What our patients have said about what life is like with ADD/ADHD:
“I feel so bad about the rude things I say.”
I have a tendency to blurt out whatever pops into my head. If you’ve ever answered “yes” when your wife asks you if those jeans make her butt look fat, then you know how I feel. It’s like the words just spill out of my mouth and it’s too late to take them back. As soon as I say something rude, I regret it. I’m really not trying to be hurtful, but I end up making people mad at me or hurting their feelings and ruining my relationships. I spend so much time feeling bad about the mean things I’ve said. Why can’t I just keep my mouth shut?
“My mind is being assaulted…all the time.”
No matter where I am, I can’t help but notice everything that’s going on around me—the wind blowing that tree branch, the itchy tag on the back of my sweater, or the pretty butterfly that just flew by. It’s really a problem when I’m in a conversation with someone, especially with my husband. My mind gets distracted, and I miss what he’s saying. Sometimes, he’ll notice that I’m not paying attention to him, and he thinks I don’t love him or care about him. Or he’ll ask me to do something, but that’s right when a loud car whizzed past us, and I lost track of what he was saying. Then he gets mad at me when I don’t do whatever it was he requested. It’s not that I’m not trying to listen to what he’s saying, it’s just that there’s so much going on around me that grabs my attention, and I can’t block it out. It’s like I can’t filter out all the unimportant stuff. I just want to turn my mind off sometimes.
“Everything takes me so long.”
Even when I think I’ve given myself enough time to get ready for something, I find ways to be late anyway. Last week, I had a Zoom job interview, and I gave myself half an hour to get ready, but during that time, I managed to get distracted and start a load of laundry, answer some emails, and call my mom. All of a sudden, I only had 5 minutes left and I still hadn’t finished my hair or makeup. I ended up jumping on the interview a few minutes late, and I didn’t look or feel my best. I was sure I made a bad impression, so I couldn’t focus on their questions or what I could bring to the company. I’m sure it cost me the job. It made me feel like a failure like I should just give up trying to get a job.
“I get so antsy if I have to wait for anything.”
I’m so impatient, I refuse to wait in line at the store, so I end up eating cereal for dinner because it’s all I have in the house. I hang up if I’m on hold with the bank for longer than a minute. I walk away from my computer if I get the dreaded spooling icon. The bottom line, it means I don’t get things done even though I wanted to do them, and I actually tried to do them. Due to the pandemic, I had to file for unemployment and the website took so long to load and there were so many steps involved, I just gave up. I ended up losing out on several weeks of benefits before I finally got through it all.
ADD/ADHD 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 888-288-9834or visit our contact page here. How many times have you predicted the way you will feel about something in the future and been right? For example, think about something you really want to get. If you’re a fashionista, perhaps it’s buying a new pair of the trendiest shoes. If you’re really into music, maybe it’s buying tickets to a concert you’ve been wanting to see. As you anticipate such things to come, you may feel really pumped up about them, believing they will make you feel just as happy when you get them as you do right now by simply thinking about them.
This type of projection is called affective forecasting. The term affect refers to emotions. People commonly predict how they will feel when they acquire, achieve, do, or otherwise enhance their life. This makes sense in many ways and motivates us to be driven toward whatever the thing is that we want. What’s interesting though is that once you get what you wanted you aren’t going to feel quite as happy as you thought you would. The opposite is also true. A future event that you are not looking forward to because you’re sure it’s going to make you feel terrible, ends up being only moderately unpleasant.
We Unintentionally Exaggerate
The big problem with predicting how you’ll feel in the future is that you are projecting emotions based on how you feel in the present. Quite often those emotions are exaggerated, and most of the time they end up being off the mark. Since our lives are multi-faceted and influenced by many things at once, it’s very difficult to know exactly how you will feel down the road. Not to say that desiring things is necessarily bad, rather it is the emotional power we mistakenly assign to the feelings about them that is misleading and can subsequently diminish our satisfaction quotient.
We’re usually pretty good at being able to predict in advance whether an event or situation is likely to be good or unpleasant. However, we’re not very skilled at accurately predicting what the intensity of our emotions will be nor how long they will last. This is due to impact bias which is our tendency to overestimate how good or bad something in the future will make us feel.
One of the contributing factors for this kind of bias is the knack we have for focusing on a singular positive aspect of what it is to come while underestimating the concurrent demands of other things like responsibilities at home or work. For example, you and a group of friends plan a long weekend getaway. The excitement and joy you have about the fun you’ll have together overrides your thoughts about any negative implications, such as the cost of the trip or returning home on a red-eye flight.
It’s Not as Bad—or as Good—as You Predict
Aside from very stressful situations such as the death of a loved one or divorce, when we think about something bad happening in the future—like not getting a highly coveted job offer—we tend to overestimate how awful we will feel. This is because we accommodate rather quickly to changes in our circumstances. Through processes like reasoning, positive beliefs, and attribution to external forces, our psychological immune system helps us to recover from disappointing or otherwise negative events. In unconscious ways it helps us to adapt, so we’re likely to justify the loss by convincing ourselves that:
A better job is waiting
It’s God’s will
The boss is probably a jerk
Or by other means of rationalization that decrease our negative feelings.
So, what we initially predicted to be feeling really horrible, isn’t quite so terrible after all.
We make similar unconscious accommodations with positive events too. For instance, today you might be projecting a sense of happiness for when you acquire or achieve something you really want. However, once it actually happens, it becomes integrated into your life, and though it’s still positive, the intensity of those predicted positive emotions starts to diminish and wear off surprisingly quickly. So, while the outcome is still a good one, your degree of happiness or satisfaction did not increase as much as you had anticipated it would.
3 Ways to Be More Realistic About Your Future Feelings
Although it can be challenging, it’s important to practice being more accurate in predicting how you will feel in the future because it can have a significant bearing on important decisions you make. If you’re considering a relocation, career change, getting married, or any life-changing event, be aware of the natural human tendency to be incorrect about how you will ultimately feel.
To help guide you, here are 3 things you can do:
Be sure you consider the pros and cons of things you desire so you can be more realistic about the emotional impact of your choices.
To help temper miscalculations, talking to others and getting objective perspectives about how the things you want—or what you want to avoid—will likely make you feel when the future arrives.
Don’t rush important decisions. Write down your thoughts in a journal over a period of time to help you stay in a more cognitive frame of mind, rather than letting your emotions dictate your decisions because emotions naturally fluctuate.
If you’re suffering with symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health problems, 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. Although clinical cases of patients with alternate personalities were documented and treated by physicians and psychoanalysts in the early 1900s, dissociative identity disorder (DID) was not officially recognized as a distinct psychiatric condition until 1980. By that time, the 3rd edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) was published and the impact of trauma on brain development and psychological functioning had become more widely recognized. Despite the skeptics who supported unsubstantiated myths about DID as a true diagnosis—including that it was a fad disorder, extremely uncommon, or caused by suggestion—we know today that it is a very real and often misunderstood mental health condition. In an effort to bring more awareness to this condition, actress AnnaLynne McCord chose to speak openly publicly about her own DID diagnosis and allowed her visit to Amen Clinics to be filmed.
DID used to be called multiple personality disorder and is found in approximately 1% of the population. While there are other possible contributing causes of DID, such as war and natural disasters, it is estimated that 90% of cases are brought on by extreme physical, emotional, or childhood sexual abuse.
Dissociative Identity Disorder Evolves as a Coping Mechanism
For example, a young child who is the target of repeated sexual abuse by a parent may project the experience onto someone else inside her mind as though it isn’t happening to her real self. Dissociating from the experience occurs unconsciously to help her get through the trauma while blocking out the horror of it. Her young brain cannot process nor accept what is happening, yet she must find a way to survive without being overwhelmed by the emotions and shame that threaten to engulf her. In an appropriately developmental way, her brain creates an alternate identity that gives her a way to cope.
Alternate Personalities
In cases of DID, a person will have a core personality and at least one “alter,” although it’s not unusual for someone to have several. The alters have specific personality traits and may be of different ages or genders and have attitudes, behaviors, capabilities, and mannerisms that differ from the core personality. Although there are varying reasons for switching from one personality to another, stress or reminders of the abuse and trauma are common triggers. Again, this is an unconscious process that serves the need to be protected from the past traumatic experiences a person was subjected to.
Common Symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder
Although symptoms often begin in childhood, research has found that it can take 6 to 12 years after seeking treatment for DID to be properly diagnosed. Aside from a practitioner’s potential lack of knowledge about the disorder, another reason for this is because people with DID—as with other trauma-based disorders—often have a number of co-occurring conditions, including:
The overt symptoms of these conditions may often be the focus of treatment, while other symptoms that are clinically consistent with the diagnosis of DID may be overlooked or not recognized. These include:
Dissociation and switching personalities
Gaps in memory about everyday events, including personal information
Memory lapses about the traumatic events
Feeling disconnected to reality and/or their body
Diagnosis and Treatment of Dissociative Identity Disorder
In cases where DID is suspected but not confirmed, a psychotherapist or psychiatrist can utilize reliable clinical assessment tools, such as the Structured Clinical Interview for Dissociative Disorders (SCID-D) or the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule (DDIS) to obtain additional diagnostic information.
Some people with DID may initially be reluctant to talk to their doctor or psychotherapist about their alternate personalities. While embarrassment or shame may inhibit them from disclosing this information, another reason may be that doing so gets too close to the traumatic memories, which by virtue of their alters, they have had some degree of protection. It’s understandable. A very common reaction in therapy for those who have endured trauma is a tendency to try and minimize or skirt around certain issues or feelings, because of the sense of overwhelm they engender.
Healing from Dissociative Identity Disorder is Possible
With an experienced practitioner, a person suffering from DID can begin the healing process, but it must be appropriately paced and not rushed. Helping the patient to develop greater emotional stability and a sense of psychological and physical safety is the first step. Once that has been attained, then the process of working through the painful traumatic experiences can begin. Over time, as those memories are assimilated and better managed, learning how to live and cope in the present—without dissociation and splitting—can be practiced and achieved.
Dissociative identity disorder, emotional trauma, and other mental health problems can be treated. During this time of uncertainty, your mental well-being is more important than ever. 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. Are you chronically late for meetings, have difficulty getting your projects completed, or have a hard time sitting at a desk for any length of time?
If so, ADD may be the driving force.
While most often diagnosed during childhood due to school and behavior issues, ADD/ADHD doesn’t just disappear in adulthood. Thus, having untreated ADD can cause some problems in the workplace for many people.
ADD brains work differently in certain respects, and while there are several potential challenges, there are also some amazing gifts. On the bright side, people with ADD can be:
If people with ADD are able to surround themselves with support staff who manage the details of their projects and help keep them organized, they can be very successful. However, not everyone has that luxury. Research has found that it is not unusual for many with ADD to struggle with a number of challenges at work, particularly the following ones:
1. The Harder You Try, the Harder it Gets
And it isn’t exactly your fault because it’s actually how your brain works. When people with ADD concentrate, blood flow decreases in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the part of the brain that is vital for staying focused. This makes it harder to stay on task.
Helpful hint: Set a timer for every 60 or 90 minutes and take a quick break to move around a little and get your blood flowing again. Then get right back to the project you were working on.
2. Procrastination
Do you wait right up until the deadline to get started on a project? Sometimes projects can seem really overwhelming, so people may put them off as long as possible. On one hand, that shortened timeline gets the adrenaline flowing to help motivate you, but on the other hand, waiting until the last minute can cause problems for yourself and others. You’re more likely to make mistakes when rushed and if you’re working on a team project it can interfere with the productivity of others.
Helpful hint: Break up your project into smaller tasks and focus on one at a time, rather than feeling like it’s a giant ball of twine you have to untangle all at once.
3. Distractibility
It can be very challenging for ADD brains to filter out voices, noise, and other things going on around them—including what’s happening on their smartphone. They also have a tendency to daydream and get caught up in their own busy mind. These distractions interfere with the ability to pay attention and follow directions, which of course are detrimental to productivity.
Helpful hint: Try using a white noise machine or earbuds to minimize distractions from the sound around you. Also, turn off the notification beep for your email and set a timer to check and respond to your inbox once per hour instead.
4. Impulsivity
The PFC is supposed to function as the brakes of the brain, but with ADD, this part of the brain tends to be underactive, and your brakes don’t work as well as they should. Often, this lends itself to interrupting others or speaking before thinking—and in the workplace that can be problematic. Blurting out something without taking a moment to process the thought can offend or irritate coworkers, customers, or even the boss.
Helpful hint: Start paying attention to how your body feels when you have the urge to respond instantaneously to something and practice counting to 10 before responding. This can help you get control of your mouth, so you don’t put your foot in it.
5. Forgetfulness
When you have a busy and spontaneous brain, memory can be an issue. Missed deadlines, forgotten reports, and steps not completed because you didn’t remember how to do them or even that you were supposed to do them, all can adversely impact your success at work.
Helpful hint: When you’ve been assigned a new task or project, write out all the necessary steps and use your computer or phone reminder functions to help you stay on track.
6. Disorganization
This is one of the hallmarks of ADD. Does your office have piles of stuff that make others wonder how you can find anything at all? This can be very challenging for your work because of how easy it is to lose track of important papers you need and the excessive time it takes to find things—both of which can lead to being inefficient at your job. In addition, a messy workspace is very distracting and can make it even harder to focus.
Helpful hint: Shred or recycle papers you don’t need—as soon as you are finished with them—so they don’t end up in a pile. For all others, scan and file documents electronically, or if appropriate, put them in clearly labeled file folders in your desk drawer.
7. Chronic lateness
Losing track of time can cause big problems at work. Not making deadlines, regularly showing up late to meetings, and not getting to work on time are red flags for many supervisors. Whether it’s due to disorganization, overscheduling yourself, or not getting up early enough, a lack of timeliness can lead to job loss.
Helpful hint: Set meeting reminders to beep 10 minutes and 5 minutes prior to when you need to depart for each meeting and give yourself adequate time to get there. Even if it’s an online meeting, use the same reminders to get logged in before the start time. Also, set your alarm clock so that you have plenty of time to get ready for work and prepare any lunch food the night before, so you don’t waste time in the morning.
8. Restlessness
Many (but not all) people with ADD are naturally restless or hyperactive. It can be very hard to sit still and do desk work or stay in one place for any length of time. This urge to move around can be difficult to harness, so if you can’t switch careers to one that offers more movement and novelty, try building more motion into your day.
Helpful hint: To avoid being fidgety during meetings, take notes to keep your mind focused and your hand busy. Also, schedule short intermittent breaks throughout the day to get some quick exercise, such as a power walk around the block or a few laps up and down the stairs to help burn off some of that excess energy.
Job problems are quite common in people with untreated ADD; however, with some natural solutions, you really can improve the behaviors and habits that keep getting in your way at work. Depending on which of the 7 Types of ADD a person has, the proper diet, adequate exercise, simple supplements, and other lifestyle changes can make a huge difference in getting control of your brain, so you can be successful in your career and the goals that lay ahead!
ADD 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, anxiety, PTSD, 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. When you think of psychiatry, does your mind automatically equate the field with prescription medication? Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, or other issues but don’t want pills to be your only treatment option? Have you already tried conventional treatment without relief from your symptoms? Are you hesitant to see a psychiatrist because you’re interested in a more holistic approach to treatment for mental health issues? There’s a solution, and it’s called psychiatric naturopathy.
Are you hesitant to see a psychiatrist because you’re interested in a more holistic approach to treatment for mental health issues? There’s a solution, and it’s called psychiatric naturopathy.
Jeff’s scan showed abnormal activity in several areas, including the following:
Prefrontal cortex: This part of the brain located behind the forehead, which is where Jeff’s head rammed into the excavator, is involved with planning, impulse control, judgment, organization, learning from the mistakes you make, and more. Jeff’s scan showed low blood flow to this critical brain region, which is considered the part of the brain that makes us human. Dr. Amen explained to Jeff that when you have decreased blood flow here, “You can do things and say things you shouldn’t do.”
Limbic system: The limbic system is involved in setting a person’s emotional tone. On Jeff’s scan, it shows overactivity in this region, which is associated with heightened anxiety and low moods.
“Bumpy” appearance: In healthy SPECT surface scans, there is a smooth, even appearance to the brain. On Jeff’s surface scan, it looks more “bumpy,” which is sometimes a sign of exposure to toxins. Jeff admits that he used to have a problem with booze (he says he stopped drinking 3 years ago), which is commonly associated with “bumpiness” on brain scans. As Dr. Amen explained to him, “Your brain is older than you are.”
Other neurocognitive tests Jeff took at Amen Clinics showed high scores for stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as conscious negativity. This means a negative outlook on life in general.