Have you ever wondered why success seems to come so easily to some people while it remains so elusive to others? If you fall into the latter camp, you may wonder what you’re doing wrong. We have answers. More than 3 decades of brain imaging work and clinical practice at Amen Clinics have taught us so much about people who aren’t reaching their potential. Based on over 170,000 brain scans and tens of thousands of patients, Amen Clinics has identified 9 brain-related traits and habits that can hold you back from reaching your career goals. Find out if you have any of these unhelpful career habits and how to fix them.
Based on over 180,000 brain scans and tens of thousands of patients, Amen Clinics has identified 9 brain-related traits and habits that can hold you back from reaching your career goals.
9 brain-related traits and habits that can hold you back from reaching your career goals:
1. Taking impulsive risks.
Are you the type who thinks you need to “go big or go home?” Taking risks is necessary in business, but the key is taking measured risks. If you make major decisions impulsively without performing your due diligence, it can cost you dearly and keep you from advancing up the ranks. For example, one Amen Clinics patient named Adam excitedly purchased new technology for his department after seeing a dazzling presentation at a conference. He neglected to investigate how the next-generation tech would integrate with their current system, and it ended up being a failure that cost tens of thousands of dollars. When a partnership opportunity came up, Adam was passed over even though he had been at the company longer than others.
The Fix: Brain SPECT imaging shows that impulsivity and excessive risk-taking are often associated with low activity in the brain’s frontal lobes, which is common in people with ADD/ADHD. To boost activity in this region, be sure to engage in physical exercise every day and try nutritional supplements such as rhodiola, ginseng, green tea extract, ashwagandha, and L-tyrosine.
2. Letting fear, anxiety, and worries keep you stuck.
Are you so afraid of failure that you shy away from taking any risks? These people tend to underachieve. Take Shelly, for example. She was so worried about failing that she didn’t follow up with a potential client about a freelance project that could have dramatically advanced her career. The project would have required her to stretch her skillset, and she wasn’t sure she was up to the task, so she didn’t even call the client back. She’s still stuck doing the same low-level projects as when she started her career over a decade ago.
The Fix: Fear of failure is often seen in people with too much activity in the brain’s anxiety centers. Calming the brain with stress reduction techniques and the nutraceutical GABA may be helpful.
3. Being too negative.
Are you one of those people who fosters a culture of negativity at work? Do you tend to notice what’s wrong with the work other employees are doing? Do you point out to your colleagues why a new initiative will never work? Do you tell your supervisor why the new hire isn’t up to snuff? Being overly negative brings everyone down. It doesn’t inspire others to perform at their best, drains energy, and squashes creativity. That is not a recipe for success.
The Fix: Negativity is associated with overactivity in the brain’s limbic system, our emotional centers, and can be a sign of depression. Making a concerted effort to look for the positive rather than immediately zeroing in on what’s wrong is the key to changing your outlook.
4. Being a rigid thinker.
If your personal motto is “It’s my way or the highway,” it could put you on the expressway to the unemployment line, or it could seriously impact your company’s bottom line. For example, if you’re constantly butting heads with your boss, it doesn’t bode well for your career advancement. Or if you insist that colleagues or subordinates adhere strictly to your playbook, it can backfire and cause them to jump ship.
The Fix: Brain imaging shows that people who are rigid thinkers tend to have too much activity in an area called the anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG). This can cause you to get stuck in certain thinking patterns or actions even if they aren’t helpful to your career or business. To promote more flexible thinking and collaboration, boost serotonin with complex carbohydrates (think sweet potatoes, not potato chips) and the nutraceuticals 5HTP and B6.
5. Procrastinating and missing deadlines.
Do you habitually put off assignments until the last minute then turn them in late? Being unreliable can be a career killer. Jessica came to Amen Clinics when she was in jeopardy of losing her job as a paralegal in a large firm. Although she was highly intelligent, Jessica had a tendency of waiting to file court documents until her boss reminded her that they were due. She needed help learning how to focus and get her work done on time.
The Fix: Jessica’s brain scans showed low activity in the prefrontal cortex, an area involved in planning, focus, and follow-through. To boost focus, Jessica began meditating daily, made sleep a priority, and started eating a higher-protein, lower-carbohydrate diet.
6. Thinking you’re special and don’t have to follow the rules.
When the HR department sends out a link to a new training course that all employees must complete, do you roll your eyes and delete the email? Do you have a tendency to skip weekly mandatory Zoom meetings because you have more important things to do? Thinking you deserve special treatment can breed resentment in others, and it certainly doesn’t put you on a path to promotion.
The Fix: Thinking that everyday work activities are beneath you is a sign that you may be under the sway of what Dr. Daniel Amen calls the Special, Spoiled, or Entitled Dragons in his book Your Brain Is Always Listening. These inner dragons breathe fire on the emotional brain and drive behavior in ways that don’t serve you or your career. These particular dragons often originate if your parents never said no to you or did everything for you, creating a sense of entitlement. To tame these dragons, start taking responsibility for your life and practice seeing things from others’ points of view.
7. Being unable to cope with criticism or feedback.
If you crumble when someone critiques your work, it can hold you back from learning from your mistakes and going for your goals. This is often seen in people who are perfectionists. Being a perfectionist is associated with toxic thinking that your work has to be the best ever or it isn’t good enough. Hearing even the smallest critique from a coworker or supervisor can send you into a dark spiral of thinking you’re a failure or aren’t worthy of a bigger job. It leads to self-sabotage that holds you back.
The Fix: People who are perfectionists are often filled with ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) that make you feel bad about yourself. To combat toxic thinking, learn to challenge your negative thoughts.
8. Being forgetful.
Do you walk away from important meetings with every intention of following through on the great ideas but quickly forget what was discussed or what actions you were supposed to take? Do certain aspects of your job slip your mind? Do you forget to do the accounting, payroll, or account reports? Or do you have trouble remembering people’s names? Having memory problems can sabotage your success in so many ways.
The Fix: Finding out what’s causing your memory issues is the key to fixing it. Brain SPECT imaging can help determine if memory loss is a sign of early dementia; related to stress, anxiety, or depression; a side effect of medication you’re taking; or something else.
9. Not treating mental health issues.
Did you know that having untreated ADD/ADHD, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or other issues can get in the way of your success at work? Not seeking treatment because you’re worried about the stigma attached to mental health problems or because you don’t think you deserve to take the time to invest in your mental well-being can hold you back from performing at your best.
The Fix: Seeking professional help can help you be the best you can be, so you can make more progress toward your goals.Problems with focus, anxiety, negativity, 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. Ticks—those tiny, 8-legged, spider-like bugs—can pack a debilitating punch when they bite humans. The reason? They can transmit serious illnesses to us because they feed on the blood of animals that can carry infectious diseases. As small as they are, the power of a tick bite can cause a wide range of physical, psychiatric, and neurological symptoms that might even become fatal for some people.
Known as vector-borne diseases—meaning transmission from animal to animal or animal to humans—9 tick species in the U.S. are known to transmit 16 diseases to us, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Powassan virus, and the most notorious—Lyme disease. Alarming new research shows that having Lyme disease increases the risk not only for mental health issues but also for suicide attempts, indicating that Lyme disease can have life-or-death consequences.
Alarming new research shows that having Lyme disease increases the risk not only for mental health issues but also for suicide attempts, indicating that Lyme disease can have life-or-death consequences.
The blacklegged tick (also known as a deer tick) which can be found throughout the eastern half of the country and the Western blacklegged tick along the Pacific coast are carriers of the bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease. They tend to hang out in leaf debris on the ground, in wooded areas, and on the tops of tall grasses where they can easily latch onto your skin or clothing (they have claws at the bottom of their legs!) as you pass by—or hitch a ride on your dog. Once they find a potential host, ticks gravitate to the warm moist areas of the body and, unbeknownst to you, can burrow into your skin to feed on your blood.
People often don’t know that they’ve been bitten, either because they don’t notice or feel the tick—ones in the nymph stage are the size of poppy seeds—or there is no tell-tale bullseye left behind. Nonetheless, if the tick is a carrier of the bacteria, it will infect you within 36-48 hours. Then, in as few as 3 days or as many as 30 or more, flu-like symptoms, along with a rash or swollen lymph nodes will start to develop, and eventually so can problems such as these:
Facial palsy
Limb and nerve pain
Joint pain and swelling
Gastrointestinal problems
Racing heart or irregular heartbeat
Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, thereby affecting the central nervous system
Lyme Disease is the “Great Imitator”
Although treatment with antibiotics ASAP can usually alleviate symptoms, the blood tests for Lyme disease are challenging because the antibodies might not develop until a few weeks after infection. Furthermore, without knowing that you’ve been bitten by a tick and because the infectious bacteria can affect the brain, many of the symptoms mimic a host of other disorders, so the possibility of you having Lyme disease might be completely overlooked by a doctor.
The additional symptoms can resemble those of neurological disorders like:
In a new study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers analyzed Denmark’s patient register databases from 1994 – 2016. They found that those with Lyme disease (more than 12,000 patients) had a considerably increased risk for mental health disorders and suicide attempts, compared to patients who did not have Lyme.
Another research paper that studied the link between tick-borne diseases, including Lyme, and suicide was published in Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. The researchers postulated that the unexplained suicides were associated with the significant psychiatric and other debilitating symptoms from Lyme disease along with dismissive attitudes that healthcare providers and family or friends had about the disease being the underlying cause of the patients’ symptoms.
Lyme Bacteria Can be Elusive
What makes Lyme disease even more complicated and potentially hard to detect is that the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria can become dormant for months—or even years—in the central nervous system. Moreover, it is a type of pathogen known as a spirochete [pronounced SPY-roh-kete] that can imbed itself in cell membranes, including those in the brain, making it even more difficult to detect. However, the subsequent inflammation and immune response affect multiple systems in the body and lead to so many challenging mental and physical symptoms. Unfortunately, because symptoms can manifest even long after a tick bite, it can be very difficult to connect the dots back to the root cause.
Keeping Safe from Tick Bites
Most people enjoy spending time in the great outdoors; it’s so beneficial for our physical and mental well-being. However, ticks of all sorts are part of our natural world. Despite the havoc they can wreak on human health, believe it or not, they actually serve an important ecological purpose. Birds, lizards, frogs, and other critters eat them, while ticks feed on and spread diseases that kill sick or weakened animals to help control their populations.
Since eliminating ticks from the environment isn’t viable, keeping yourself safe from them is the best course of action. In order to do this it’s important to understand and avoid potential tick habitats—or if you are venturing into them for a hike or trip to the beach—it’s critical to know and follow your state or local guidelines for the prevention of tick-borne illnesses.
If you think you may have gotten Lyme disease, it can be very helpful to schedule an appointment with a functional medicine physician who is Lyme-literate and well-versed in the best treatments that can lead to optimal recovery from the infection and its symptoms. Similarly, if you’re struggling with cognitive or mental health issues that aren’t responding to treatment, it may be time to investigate if infection like Lyme disease may be contributing to your symptoms.
Symptoms of Lyme disease can’t wait. 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. With several states in the U.S. having legalized the medical and recreational uses of marijuana in recent years, many people are relieved, while just as many others continue to warn of its danger. The divisiveness about this topic makes it very difficult to separate facts from myths, despite increasing reports about the benefits of using medical marijuana products to offset symptoms of certain mental or physical health conditions.
To help clarify the confusion and as a way to continue opening up the dialogue around the pros and cons of marijuana use, Dr. Rebecca Siegel, a psychiatrist with Amen Clinics New York, has written an engaging and informative book entitled, The Brain on Cannabis: What You Should Know about Recreational and Medical Marijuana. As a certified prescriber of medical marijuana, Dr. Siegel has witnessed the positive response many of her patients have had with it when traditional treatments have failed them.
Along with key educational, including that marijuana is made from the dried flowers and leaves of the cannabis sativa plant, Dr. Siegel addresses almost any question the reader might have on this topic. In addition, she includes a captivating look at the historical journey cannabis has made through diverse cultures over the course of human history.
The Surprising History of Medical Marijuana
Most people aren’t aware that the medicinal use of cannabis did not evolve with the decriminalization of marijuana in recent years. Rather, this plant and its derivatives have been utilized throughout much of human history.
In her book, Dr. Siegel weaves together a fascinating timeline going back 6,000 years when cannabis was known to have been a farm crop. In 2737 B.C., China’s Emperor Shen Neng recognized its efficacy as medicine and permitted it to be used for hundreds of ailments, including malaria, gout, pain, and rheumatism. Eventually, cannabis was utilized in many other cultures as well for a variety of problems, ranging from nausea and coughs to tumors, jaundice, and more.
During the 1700s in what is now the U.S., certain health problems were treated with the seeds and roots of the hemp plant. Through the early part of the 1900s, cannabis was medically endorsed for many health issues, including incontinence, inflammation of the skin, and labor pains. Its wide-ranging acceptability was such that it could even be ordered through the Sears, Roebuck, and Co. catalog!
Well…that is until the tide turned in response to an increase of opiate and cocaine addictions in the U.S. (both substances were also legal at the time) and the hammer came down as laws changed. Subsequently, the use of cannabis for medicinal or other purposes became a crime.
The ensuing hysteria was well characterized in the fear-mongering 1936 film, Reefer Madness, as public attitudes made a dramatic U-turn in the forthcoming decades. The perception became that marijuana use was relegated to hippies and stoners who followed the Grateful Dead.
Health Conditions that May Benefit from Medical Marijuana
Now in 2021, while the unflattering stereotype remains in the minds of many, the use of medical marijuana has slowly gained traction again. Clinical experience and ongoing research show promising discoveries about its potential to provide relief of symptoms caused by a variety of health problems. These include:
To be very clear, Dr. Siegel does not endorse the recreational use of marijuana for several reasons. As a physician, she recognizes the potential short-term consequences, such as mood changes, cognitive difficulties, and the possibility of psychosis as well as the long-term risks like impaired brain function and the risk for lung disease.
Throughout The Brain on Cannabis, Dr. Siegel uses a straightforward approach to address this complex topic. In the process, she provides many details and facts that help to educate readers so that they can make informed choices for their own life when it comes to using marijuana or not.
If you’re seeking validated information about the benefits and risks of marijuana, Rebecca Siegel, MD, a psychiatrist and certified prescriber of medical marijuana has written a comprehensive guide that addresses both sides of this issue. With a relatable style and easy-to-understand language, The Brain on Cannabis: What You Should Know about Recreational and Medical Marijuana untangles the confusion around the ever-evolving discussions on marijuana and its appropriate uses. Click here to order your copy now. Have you ever wondered if you might have attention deficit disorder (ADD), also known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? Have you ever thought that it might be holding you back from living the life you want? Is ADD/ADHD the reason why you aren’t performing up to your potential at work, why your relationships sizzle then burn, or why you never seem to follow through on your goals? The best way to determine if you have this condition that affects an estimated 4.4% of U.S. adults is to undergo a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. But if a psych eval isn’t in the cards for you right now, check to see if you have any of the following common signs of ADD/ADHD.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, are you easily able to pay attention when you’re engaged in something you love? For example, if you’re a big basketball fan, can you spend hours watching games on TV, checking scores on your phone, or participating in a fantasy sports league? Being able to stay laser-focused only when you really like something is another sign associated with ADD/ADHD.
3. You’re a thrill-seeker.
Do you gravitate toward activities like bungee jumping, riding motorcycles, or rock climbing without ropes? Are you the type who loves scary movies? Needing stimulation or excitement is a classic sign of ADD/ADHD. If you’re like most people with the condition, you probably feel most alive when things are new, novel, interesting, highly stimulating, or frightening.
4. You get easily distracted.
Do you get easily distracted by outside stimuli, such as light, sounds, smells, certain tastes, or even the clothes you’re wearing? People with ADD/ADHD tend to have keen sensitivity that can be distracting. For example, in a job interview, you may find yourself tuning out from the question the interviewer is asking because the tag on the back of your shirt is so itchy it’s demanding all of your attention.
5. You’re disorganized and messy.
Is your desk a complete mess or covered with piles of unorganized documents that make it hard to find what you need? Are your closets cluttered? Are dirty clothes strewn about the floor even though the laundry hamper is nearby? Most people with ADD/ADHD tend to struggle with organization, which can make it harder to perform at your best.
6. You’re almost always late.
Are you chronically running late for meetings and appointments? Do your family members get upset with you because you keep them waiting? Do you get into hot water at work because you show up after your designated start time? Having trouble managing time is a common sign of ADD/ADHD.
7. You procrastinate.
When you have an assignment due at work, do you find yourself waiting until the last minute to get started? Do you tend to ignore your honey-do list until your spouse gets mad at you for not doing it? Having ADD/ADHD is associated with procrastination.
8. You have a hard time with impulse control.
Do you impulsively say or do things you regret later? Do you neglect to think through the consequences of your actions? Many people with ADD/ADHD have issues with impulse control, which can get you into trouble in your relationships or at work.
9. You tend to make the same mistakes over and over.
Do you have a hard time learning from your mistakes? Do you make some sort of blunder, vow never to do it again, then find yourself repeating it anyway? Not learning from past errors is associated with ADD/ADHD.
10. You create drama in relationships.
Are you the type who likes to irritate people to get a rise out of them? Do you get a secret thrill when you have an argument with your spouse then make up? These can be signs of ADD/ADHD, as people with the condition tend to be conflict-seeking and create problems as a way to build excitement.
11. Your symptoms started early in life.
ADD/ADHD is referred to as a developmental disorder because it emerges early in life. It is not something that shows up in middle age. If you develop symptoms of the condition as an adult but never had them as a child, it is likely due to something else, such as depression, chronic stress, hormonal changes, a head injury, or some form of toxic exposure.
THE 1 COMMON ADD/ADHD SYMPTOM YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE
Hyperactivity is one of the most well-known symptoms associated with ADD/ADHD. You may assume that if you aren’t hyperactive you can’t have ADD/ADHD, but that isn’t the case. That’s because ADD/ADHD isn’t just one thing. Brain SPECT imaging shows that there are 7 types of ADD/ADHD, and hyperactivity is only seen in certain types of the disorder. Knowing the symptoms associated with each of the 7 types can be helpful in determining if you might be struggling with the condition.
WHEN TO SEEK A PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION
If you suspect you have ADD/ADHD, what can you do? Many people think stimulant medication is the only way to treat the condition, but there are many natural solutions that can be effective. Eliminating caffeine, exercising more, avoiding simple carbohydrates are just a few of the lifestyle changes that can help. If your symptoms don’t improve, or if they are creating problems in your life at work, in your relationships, or at school, it may be time to seek a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation that includes brain SPECT imaging, lab work, and more.
ADD/ADHD 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. Some people believe all forms of marijuana will hurt you, while others insist they’re perfectly safe. With so much conflicting information, it’s hard to know what to believe about this increasingly available substance that, over the decades, has transitioned from its status as a common recreational drug to becoming a segment of mainstream medicine.
Increasingly, people are asking healthcare providers about the use of marijuana and its derivatives for certain health problems. However, since the research is still ongoing, getting a clear answer has been difficult. Enter Rebecca Siegel, MD, a psychiatrist with Amen Clinics New York, who provides clarity on the subject.
Inspired by the questions she was fielding from her own patients, Dr. Siegel began exploring the pros and cons of cannabis, along with studying its medicinal uses. She eventually earned a certification that allows her to certify her patients to obtain state-regulated marijuana for certain health conditions. Since that time, she has discovered a great deal more and recognizes how complicated, confusing—and often inaccurate—the available information can be.
Getting to Know The Brain on Cannabis
In a genuine effort to help others understand the background, uses, myths, and research about marijuana for medicinal and recreational uses, Dr. Siegel has written a fascinating new book entitled, The Brain on Cannabis: What You Should Know about Recreational and Medical Marijuana (release date September 28, 2021). In an easy-to-understand manner, she covers both sides of the marijuana debate as well as shares factual information that can empower readers with the knowledge to make their own decisions about whether or not to choose medical marijuana—or related products for recreational use.
One of the most helpful things about this book is that Dr. Siegel begins with the basic information about marijuana, including descriptions of the terminology that so often confuses people. For example, she explains that the flowers and leaves of the plant, cannabis sativa, are what marijuana is made from. There are also varieties of the cannabis plant known as hemp, which is not taken as a drug. Instead, it has strong fibers that are used to make rope, paper, and fabrics.
What Differentiates CBD and THC?
Another piece of foundational information Dr. Siegel discusses in her book are two of the most well-known compounds—CBD and THC—that are frequently misunderstood. She explains that CBD, which stands for cannabidiol and is best known for its medicinal properties, is non-psychoactive. This means it doesn’t produce the mind-altering effects, i.e. “feeling high.” And according to a research study in the journal, Trends in Pharmacological Science, it is not considered to be a toxic or impairing substance.
Conversely, tetrahydrocannabinol—or THC—is the part of the cannabis plant that usually induces a mildly euphoric feeling for most users, although it can affect people in different ways—some of which are not good. Research continues to be ongoing about the adverse impacts of THC on the brain, especially for young people and those who may be genetically vulnerable to mental illness. Brain SPECT imaging studies conducted at Amen Clinics show that marijuana users have lower blood flow in areas of their brain that are associated with memory and learning.
Research continues to be ongoing about the adverse impact that THC from the cannabis plant has on the brain, especially for young people and those who may be genetically vulnerable to mental illness.
Despite this, it may be surprising to learn that THC is not only used for recreational purposes, but it actually has medicinal properties too.
Medical Uses of Marijuana and CBD
With her extensive clinical experience and the scientific lens through which she stays current on developments about the medicinal uses of CBD and marijuana, Dr. Siegel has been able to help many patients. In an excerpt from her book, she writes:
“In my practice, I’ve seen patients with a variety of conditions— most frequently, chronic pain, PTSD, inflammatory bowel disease, and cerebral palsy—benefit from medical marijuana. Evidence has also revealed that medical marijuana has been proven to alleviate pain, discomfort, and nausea associated with the effects of some cancer treatments. And the use of medically approved CBD has had remarkable results in children suffering from countless daily epileptic seizures. Scores of other patients will testify to the ways it has benefited them.Although most medical professionals agree that more research is needed to fully understand how marijuana in general, and THC in particular, affect the brains and bodies of users, it is already providing hope for many.”
Throughout The Brain on Cannabis, Dr. Siegel addresses both sides of the marijuana debate, and dispels the myth that marijuana is always harmful or always harmless. She believes neither of these are true; that in fact, marijuana can be harmful to the brain AND it can be useful for medical purposes. This new book equips the reader with the best information available at the time of its writing so they can make smart choices about marijuana for themselves.
CTA: If you’re seeking validated information about the potential benefits and risks of marijuana, Rebecca Siegel, MD, a psychiatrist and certified prescriber of medical marijuana has written a comprehensive guide that addresses both sides of these issues. With a relatable style and easy-to-understand language, The Brain on Cannabis: What You Should Know about Recreational and Medical Marijuana, clarifies the confusion around the ever-evolving discussions on marijuana and its appropriate uses. Click here to order your copy now. Former professional football player Lewis Howes, who hosts the wildly popular podcast The School of Greatness, seems to have it all. But in a candid session with Dr. Daniel Amen, Howes shares that he didn’t always feel like a success. In fact, the bestselling author and entrepreneur says, “I felt like I was dumb pretty much my whole life.”
Howes struggled in school, where he says he was always at the bottom of his class. He had a tutor and attended special needs classes during recess and after school, but no matter how hard he studied he still got Cs and Ds. When he entered eighth grade, he tested at a second-grade reading level, and administrators wanted to hold him back a grade. It was a real blow to his self-esteem.
“[Learning] was always stressful. It was always exhausting,” says Howes. Eventually, he thought, “What’s the point of trying?” As a result of constantly trailing behind his peers academically, he struggled with confidence, insecurity, and anxiety that lasted into his 20s.
With the help of psychotherapy, workshops, and other therapeutic experiences, Howes has managed to overcome it, but not everybody does. In fact, having any form of learning disability is linked to a greater risk of lasting mental health problems.
Having any form of learning disability is linked to a greater risk of lasting mental health problems.
Learning disabilities encompass a range of issues that negatively impact academic performance. Common learning disorders include:
Specific learning disabilities are the most common form of learning disorders, accounting for 33% of the 7 million students in U.S. public schools receiving special education services, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics. A specific learning disability (SLD) is a type of neurodevelopmental disorder that causes problems with reading, writing, spelling, thinking, speaking, or doing math. SLDs include dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.
Irlen syndrome is a visual processing problem in which certain colors irritate the brain. Although it is not widely known, Irlen syndrome affects nearly half of individuals with reading or learning problems. Being unaware of this underlying condition can lead to a lifetime of frustration.
Autism spectrum disorder is a brain-based disorder that is characterized by developmental delays, difficulty with social skills, communication problems, and more. Approximately 1 in 59 children are affected by autism, but some people with high-functioning ASD may not get diagnosed. Instead, these individuals may spend a lifetime feeling like they don’t fit in.
Behavioral problems that involve ongoing aggression, defiance, or temper control problems can interfere with the ability to learn.
ADD/ADHD is a brain disorder that causes symptoms—such as short attention span, difficulty with focus, distractibility, and procrastination—that impair learning. ADD/ADHD affects over 6 million children ages 3-17 and an estimated 4.4% of adults.
Traumatic brain injuries are not considered a learning disorder, however, they can have lasting negative impacts on learning. Brain SPECT imaging shows that mild head injuries are associated with trouble concentrating, memory problems, brain fog, and other issues that disrupt the learning process.
THE LINK BETWEEN LEARNING DISORDERS AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
Anything that interferes with the learning process and impairs academic performance can increase the likelihood of emotional problems and mental health issues, including:
Anxiety
Close to 24% of youngsters with a specific learning disorder experience severe anxiety, according to research in the Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Worries about taking tests or being nervous about looking unintelligent in front of classmates can become overwhelming. These feelings can last into adulthood where you may continue to get anxious at work or when going for a job interview. This type of anxiousness can hold you back from reaching your potential and achieving what you want in life.
Depression
A 2016 study reveals that over 14% of children and adolescents with specific learning disorders suffer from severe depression. Not being able to get good grades despite studying hard can make you feel like a failure. And when extra help doesn’t improve the situation, it can leave you feeling hopeless and helpless. On top of that, making friends can be more challenging, and people with learning disabilities may withdraw voluntarily from social activities or be left out. Either way, social isolation combined with feelings of being unworthy are a recipe for depression.
Chronic Stress
For people who grow up with learning disorders, stress can be a constant companion. Research in the Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that nearly 17% of youngsters with specific learning disorders suffer from severe stress and 75% have low levels of resilience. Relentless stress exacerbates learning problems as it impairs the ability to focus and can disrupt the memory formation process.
Substance Abuse
Having learning disabilities puts you at increased risk of substance abuse. It’s easy to understand why this might happen. Living with a sense of inadequacy or struggling with anxiety or depression related to learning problems may prompt some individuals to use drugs or alcohol to cope with these emotions. Such behavior makes learning even more challenging. If substance abuse begins at an early age, it can have a negative impact on brain development, which further complicates issues in adulthood. Researchers writing in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine suggest that “children with dyslexia and other learning disabilities should be screened for substance abuse.”
Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors
For individuals with learning disorders, depression and low self-esteem can spiral into suicidal ideation. A 2017 Canadian study found that adults with a learning disability were 46% more likely to attempt suicide compared with people without learning disorders.
Because learning disorders can cause a lifetime of mental health struggles in addition to suicidal behaviors, it is critical to screen children early. And as an adult, if you suspect that a learning disability may be an underlying cause that is holding you back from reaching your goals and living the life you want, it’s time to see a mental health professional. Considering how often undetected head injuries are involved in these issues, looking at how your brain functions with SPECT imaging can also help provide the answers you want.
Learning disorders and the mental health issues that come with them 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. Mood swings. Night sweats. Brain fog. Menopause comes with a host of symptoms that can make you feel awful emotionally and physically. Due primarily to declining levels of the hormone, estrogen, the unfamiliar and erratic symptoms that lead to and through “the change,” can wreak havoc on your overall sense of well-being.
During the years of fertility, estrogen naturally fluctuates throughout the month, commensurate with a woman’s menstrual cycle. Then after 3 decades or so of having a monthly period, women enter perimenopause, which is a years-long process that reflects changing levels of estrogen related to decreasing fertility. During this time, instead of having rolling fluctuations of estrogen each month, this hormone will start to spike and dip, with the highs being higher, and the lows lower than what one would have experienced during PMS. Since there are estrogen receptors in every organ of the female body, when this hormone begins declining, it can have a significant impact on overall functioning.
Mood swings. Night sweats. Brain fog. Menopause comes with a host of symptoms that can make you feel awful emotionally and physically.
Although symptoms usually start out as mild, they begin to worsen as a woman gets closer to the beginning of menopause. At the same time that estrogen levels are decreasing, progesterone—nature’s feel-good hormone that helps you feel calm—also begins to decline. The combination of changes in these and other hormones can lead to numerous symptoms, including episodes of:
In addition to experiencing the emotional and cognitive symptoms of menopause, the majority of women will start having hot flashes, one of the most prominent issues during “the change.” Episodes of being suddenly overheated can be embarrassing too as a woman becomes drenched in perspiration, dreaming of a walk-in freezer to help her cool off. Being in warm temperatures, taking a hot shower or bath, and working out can contribute to hot flashes. Other triggers include:
Basically, anything that causes blood vessels to dilate can set the stage for a hot flash to occur. Nonetheless, they feel miserable while they last, which can be anywhere from a few seconds to 10 minutes or more. There is also a lot of variability in the duration of this bothersome symptom. Some women may have a few hot flashes a week, while others may have them multiple times a day. And this may go on for a matter of months or many years, although the average length of time is about 4 years.
Other symptoms that women commonly develop during menopause include:
There are a number of ways to help reduce or manage the symptoms of menopause and the deleterious effects they seem to have at times. Here are 7 ways to feel better:
1. Hormone Therapy.
While there are some concerns regarding traditional hormone replacement treatments, such as an increased risk for heart disease and breast cancer, the short-term use of low doses of bio-identical estrogen and progesterone can give some much-needed relief for symptoms like hot flashes. Vaginal estrogen creams are also helpful in reducing dryness, urinary symptoms, and increasing comfort during sexual intercourse. Working with a functional medicine doctor who will do a full hormone evaluation and treatment may be very helpful in getting your symptoms under control.
2. Medications.
Not all women can or want to use hormone therapy, so fortunately certain medications can be helpful. Research published in the medical journal, Menopause, found that the use of the anticonvulsant medication, gabapentin, was effective for reducing hot flashes and night sweats. Similarly, low doses of some antidepressants may help with hot flashes too, and in addition, can help with mood problems.
Be sure to include plenty of fresh produce, clean protein, and healthy fats like those found in avocados and nuts. And because the lack of estrogen can deteriorate bone health leading to osteoporosis, be sure you’re getting adequate calcium and vitamin D. Talk to your doctor about any need for supplements in this regard.
4. Regular exercise.
While the overall benefits of being physically active are amazing, getting regular exercise can help you manage anxiety while boosting your mood and supporting your heart health (your heart can also be adversely affected by the lack of estrogen). And be sure to include a couple of days of weight training each week to help keep your bones strong.
5. Sleep hygiene.
Being exhausted due to lack of sleep as a result of hormonal changes is certainly one of the biggest challenges. Therefore, improving your habits around bedtime can be very helpful. Try these:
Keep your bedroom temperature low and have a fan near you to help you cool down during night sweats.
Minimize extraneous noise. Use a white noise device, if needed.
Use dark curtains to block exterior light.
Turn off electronic devices for at least an hour before bedtime. The blue light they emit can disrupt your circadian rhythm.
6. Stress management.
Unpredictable hormonal changes and the accompanying symptoms—which may differ from one day to the next—can be unsettling and stressful. Incorporating relaxation techniques into your life, such as gentle yoga, meditation, and acupuncture, can help offset this.
7. Avoid alcohol.
As mentioned above, it can exacerbate the frequency of hot flashes, but in addition, hormonal imbalances can cause emotional issues, such as feeling more sad, irritable, or anxious. Since alcohol makes you less inhibited, it can worsen these symptoms and cause you to say or do things you might regret.
The challenges women face during this time in their lives can often feel overwhelming. However, using a variety of healthy strategies to help manage your symptoms can make a big difference in how you get through “the change.” The good news is that many of the more difficult symptoms resolve once menopause has passed!
Hormone problems can’t wait. 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. If I get through the day and don’t take my life then that is a victory. If I don’t go buy that gun, if I don’t use that knife, if I don’t jerk that steering wheel into oncoming traffic, if I don’t hang myself, if I don’t put that hose in my car’s tailpipe, if I don’t go into the garage and start the car, if I don’t jump off that cliff or overpass, if I don’t swallow all those pills, then that is a victory.
These are the words of Zane, a social worker and a counseling patient who managed to survive decades of suicidal ideation. In The Suicide Solution, released Sept. 14, 2021, during National Suicide Prevention Month, authors Daniel Emina, MD, (Amen Clinics psychiatrist) and Rick Lawrence (award-winning author and minister) chronicle Zane’s—and many other people’s—journey out of the valley of the shadow of death. In this excerpt from the book, the authors delve into what makes some people more vulnerable to suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Down through history, that cascading number includes many well-known cultural influencers, from Marc Antony (Roman general and politician) to Anthony Bourdain (host of Parts Unknown) to Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart (son of Fidel Castro) to Kurt Cobain (lead singer/songwriter for Nirvana) to George Eastman (inventor and philanthropist) to Margot Kidder (actress, Lois Lane in Superman) to Richard Manuel (lead singer of The Band) to Freddie Prinze (actor and star of Chico and the Man) to Anne Sexton (poet) to Kate Spade (fashion designer) to Alan Turing (mathematician and World War II codebreaker) to Vincent van Gogh (artist) to Robin Williams (actor and stand-up comedian).
It’s an endless, heartbreaking funeral procession.
So, why do some of us remain stuck [in patterns of destructive thinking] while others seem to bounce through the potholes and keep on going in life? What makes some people more vulnerable to the pull of suicide than others? In the famous first line of his classic novel Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy writes: “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Translated into this context, every healthy brain is alike in its “wholeness,” but every stuck brain is stuck in its own way.
4 Factors That Increase Suicide Risk
These are the factors that catalyze a descent into the darkness:
1. The brain’s “self-preservation” mechanisms experience a breakdown.
Our brains are hard-wired to help us survive. When internal and external stressors overwhelm these “fail-safe” mechanisms, our natural protections stop working properly. The anxiety we experience in the course of everyday life is deeply linked to our fundamental determination to preserve ourselves. Anxiety is a normal emotion—it’s the brain’s alarm system, letting us know when something is wrong so we can start the process of fixing the problem. But when our response to the alarm is dysfunctional, or our alarm system itself doesn’t work the way it’s designed to work, our self-preservation safeguards fail us.
2. Bugs in the brain’s software (or our psychology) create “cognitive distortions” that lead to hopelessness, negative self-evaluations, and dire predictions for the future.
These cognitive distortions undermine our social behavioral skills
tempting us to avoid solving problems in the first place,
keeping us stuck in existing ways of thinking (“cognitive rigidity”), and
limiting our “menu” of healthy coping mechanisms.
3. Bugs in the brain’s hardware (or biology) create “broken links” in the areas tasked with managing our emotions and impulse regulation.
A team of psychiatrists set out to identify “brain alterations that contribute to suicidal thoughts and behaviors,” poring over the data from more than a hundred imaging studies over the course of two decades. They published their findings in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. They discovered a pattern of broken links in the brains of suicidal patients—a “dysregulation” of the specific brain regions and circuits that are supposed to maintain a stable emotional response to stressors.
4. Individual and environmental variables can increase the risk of suicide, especially when they’re mixed into a “cocktail” of circumstances.
When both personal and circumstantial variables pile on top of each other, it can create a “perfect storm” that overwhelms a person’s normal defenses.
In spite of these factors, it is still possible to find a way out of the darkness and into the light.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
The Suicide Solution by Daniel Emina, MD, and Rick Lawrence offers hope and a practical toolbox for people who are struggling to find their way out of a cave of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts—and for anyone who cares for someone who’s been lost in that cave. Informed by the clinical realities of anxiety, depression, and suicide, the authors draw from the transformational relational strategies of Jesus to chart a path into life and freedom. When you think of a brain injury, you probably envision a cracked skull or a visit to the emergency room. However, physical injury isn’t the only way to hurt the brain. Many other things—such as toxins, infections, and untreated physical and mental health conditions—can also cause harm to your brain. Unfortunately, because we can’t see inside our heads, many people are completely unaware that certain common habits, products, conditions, and activities can have potentially harmful consequences on the brain.
Because we can’t see inside our heads, many people are completely unaware that certain common habits, products, conditions, and activities can have potentially harmful consequences on the brain.
As you can see, there are numerous ways that your brain and its function can be damaged—and many of them may have surprised you. BUT even if you have several on this list, there are still ways to help your brain get better!
Brain SPECT Imaging for Hurt Brains
How can you find out if you have damaged your brain? Looking at the brain with advanced imaging technology called SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) can help. SPECT looks at blood flow and activity in the brain and can show 3 very important things:
Areas of the brain that work well
Areas that don’t work hard enough (low activity)
Areas that work too hard (overactive)
Depending on what has harmed the brain, it can result in having areas of low activity, high activity, or both. Being able to see areas of the brain that aren’t functioning optimally can help determine what might be hurting the brain. This is an important step because knowing what caused (or is continuing to cause) damage to the brain is critical to healing the brain.
There’s Hope for Healing Your Brain
Although every brain is unique, all brains can benefit from being in a healing environment. Simply put, this means avoiding things that hurt your brain, such as toxins, more concussions, and a poor diet, while incorporating simple lifestyle changes that support your brain health, such as:
Learning to challenge your automatic negative thoughts that can otherwise ruin your mood and your day.
Your brain is the organ of you. It is involved with everything you do, feel, think, and decide, and when it works well, you work well. When it is troubled—for any of the reasons listed above or others—you are more likely to have trouble in your life. Even if your brain has been hurt, it can get better when you choose to do the right things to take care of it and help it heal.
Traumatic or toxic brain injuries, addictions, 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. The human brain is an electrical powerhouse, generating enough electricity to spark a 20-watt lightbulb. At all times, our brain cells are communicating with each other through the transmission of electrical impulses that are of a very, very low frequency. In some people, however, brain cells fire erratically creating electrical storms, or seizures, in certain parts of the brain. Lasting as little as a few seconds or up to several minutes, seizures may cause a variety of symptoms and have also been associated with a range of behavioral issues, such as attention problems, trouble controlling temper, anxiety, and more. But some seizures can go unnoticed, meaning many people don’t realize that their behavioral issues are rooted in seizure activity in the brain.
3 Common Types of Seizures
Seizures can manifest in various ways, including these 3:
A grand mal seizure will involve a loss of consciousness and convulsions with intense muscle contractions or jerking motions. These can last a few minutes, but when they endure for more than 5 minutes, it is a medical emergency.
Petit mal—or absence—seizures typically last less than 20 seconds and cause a person to “space out,” lose visual focus, blink their eyes rapidly, smack their lips, or have other unusual mouth movements.
Focal seizures can either stem from a small area of the brain and result in minimal symptoms—some of which may be barely noticeable—or involve multiple parts of the brain. These are known as “focal onset impaired awareness seizures” and often last from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Symptoms might include:
Sometimes, people will have only a single seizure in their lifetime which would be considered a non-epileptic seizure. If they have 2 or more they might get diagnosed with epilepsy, which is considered a chronic neurological disorder that can be caused by:
Congenital or hereditary conditions
Sensitivity to flashing lights or changes in temperature
Acquired brain injury, such as from a stroke, tumor, infection, or lack of oxygen
Substance abuse, as well as alcohol or drug withdrawal
In addition, there are even cases where the cause of the ongoing epileptic activity is unknown According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are approximately 3.4 million people in the U.S. who have epilepsy and almost 500,000 of them are children.
The Value of Brain SPECT Imaging for Seizures
Because of the increased activity in the brain, the location of the seizure can often be identified with certain imaging procedures, including single photon emission computed tomography—or SPECT—which is used to assess blood flow patterns. It identifies 3 important things in the brain:
Areas of normal activity
Areas with too little activity
Areas with too much activity—like that which occurs during a seizure
Regulating institutions in Europe and North America, as well as other places around the world, endorse the use of brain SPECT imaging for identifying the location of the seizure activity. In fact, the Canadian Association of Nuclear Medicine (CANM) recently updated its guidelines for SPECT. In addition to assessing for seizures, CANM also approves brain SPECT imaging for these indications:
The temporal lobes, located on the sides of the brain, are often the site of seizure activity. They are involved with language, memory, sounds, interpreting vision, emotions, and the fight-or-flight system. Consequently, when there is an electrical storm in this part of the brain, these functions can go haywire for a short period of time, which then manifests as unusual symptoms or behavior during the course of the seizure.
At Amen Clinics, our doctors have also observed on SPECT scans that some patients have higher than normal activity in their temporal lobes but don’t actually have seizures. Nonetheless, these patients might be struggling with symptoms such as feeling anxious, spacey, or fearful or even have mild hallucinations. However, on SPECT scans, anxiety disorders, spaciness—which is common in inattentive ADD—or psychotic disorders typically have very different blood flow patterns from unusual temporal lobe activity. Therefore the treatment strategy that would normally work for these conditions may be ineffective for someone whose symptoms arise from their temporal lobes.
There is a Better Way
This is a classic example of why Dr. Daniel Amen often asks, “How do you know unless you look?” Without having the benefit of SPECT imaging to help with the differential diagnosis, a patient might be given treatments that don’t work, thus further impairing their ability to function as well as they could.
By including imaging as part of a full psychiatric evaluation, the doctors at Amen Clinics are able to pinpoint the underlying areas of brain dysfunction and create an individualized treatment plan to help each patient they treat feel the best that they can.
If you’re struggling with unusual brain symptoms or mental health problems, Amen Clinics is 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 couplesFind out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.
