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Face it, everyone’s stressed and anxious these days. With the election, the pandemic, job losses, distance learning, and relationship issues, it’s no wonder we’re feeling stretched to the limit…or beyond. You may be experiencing headaches, a pit in your stomach, muscle tension, and trouble sleeping. These symptoms are all associated with stress, but they’re also linked to anxiety. How can you tell if you’re just feeling the effects of stacked stresses, or if you’re struggling with an anxiety disorder?

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

1. KNOW IF IT’S EXTERNAL STRESS

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

2. KNOW IF IT’S INTERNAL ANXIETY

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

3. RECOGNIZE HOW STRESS CONTRIBUTES TO ANXIETY

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

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

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

5. LOOK AT YOUR BRAIN

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

WHAT TO DO ABOUT CHRONIC STRESS AND ANXIETY

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

TYPE 2: PURE DEPRESSION

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

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF TYPE 2: PURE DEPRESSION

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

TYPE 2: PURE DEPRESSION IN THE BRAIN

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

INTERVENTIONS FOR TYPE 2: PURE DEPRESSION

In traditional medicine, antidepressants are often prescribed as the first line of defense for depression, but these drugs are not the cure-all many people expect. A 2014 study found that in over 50% of depressed patients, taking antidepressants failed to provide full remission of their symptoms. Unfortunately, treatment-resistant depression is far too common. At Amen Clinics, relying solely on medication for mental health issues (which are really “brain health” issues) is never the solution. Rather, taking a brain-body approach that addresses all the contributing factors of depression is the best way to feel better fast and make it last. There are many alternatives to antidepressants that can help, such as: Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.

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

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

Endocannabinoid System Basics

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

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

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

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

eCBs and Psychiatric Health

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

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

Cannabinoids for Psychosis and Schizophrenia

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

CBD and Depression

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

CBD and Anxiety

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

CBD and Neuroprotection

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

CBD vs. Psychiatric Medications

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

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

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

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

 

Anxiety and depression are not single or simple disorders. The nervousness you feel may be very different than the panic or dread someone else experiences. But in traditional psychiatry and medicine, healthcare providers often lump people with these conditions into a single box with a cookie-cutter approach to treatment. But giving everyone who feels anxious or depressed the same treatment will never work. Based on the brain SPECT imaging work at Amen Clinics, which has the world’s largest database of functional brain scans related to behavior (over 160,000 scans from 155 countries), as well as clinical experience with tens of thousands of patients over more than 30 years of practice, it has become evident that there are multiple types of anxiety and depression. Specifically, the neuropsychiatrists at Amen Clinics have identified 7 types of anxiety and depression. This blog series will explore each type, including the common symptoms, brain SPECT findings, and effective interventions.

TYPE 1: PURE ANXIETY

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

12 COMMON SYMPTOMS OF TYPE 1: PURE ANXIETY

TYPE 1: PURE ANXIETY IN THE BRAIN

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

INTERVENTIONS FOR TYPE 1: PURE ANXIETY

In too many instances, people with anxiety turn to anti-anxiety medication as the first and only thing they do to calm their nerves. Unfortunately, prescription drugs for anxiety, such as benzodiazepines (“benzos”), come with troublesome side effects. For example, benzos are associated with decreased overall brain activity, and they’re habit-forming. In addition, research in the Journal of Clinical Neurology shows that taking them for long periods of time raises the risk of dementia by over 50%. Medications aren’t the only answer. In fact, there are many natural alternatives to anti-anxiety pills, including: Anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever, and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk. Think we’re living in an unprecedented time of fear? Consider the following passage from CS Lewis’ Atomic Age from 1948 and replace “atomic bomb” with “COVID-19.” In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb (COVID-19). “How are we to live in an atomic age (COVID-19)?” I am tempted to reply: “Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.” In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb (COVID-19) was invented: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways. We had, indeed, one very great advantage over our ancestors—anesthetics; but we have that still. It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful and premature death to a world that already bristled with such chances and in which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty. This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb (COVID-19), let that bomb (virus) when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs (viruses). They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that), but they need not dominate our minds. CS Lewis could have easily been describing life in the current pandemic. The same fears and anxiety people felt about the atomic bomb are replaying today. The atomic bomb isn’t the only example from history that relates to what people are feeling in the pandemic. Look at the following quote: “The hospitals will be stormed, traffic will cease, the homeless will shriek for help, the city will be a pandemonium.” Sound like a description of life today during the pandemic? It’s actually a quote that appears in Erik Larson’s book The Splendid and the Vile from a British military planner about the World War II bombings in London. Other officials during that time predicted that British civilians would sink into undisciplined mobs, widespread panic would take hold, and people would be driven insane, according to research in the Journal of British Studies. To prevent the German bombers from being able to identify cities as targets for air raids, the British government imposed strict blackout restrictions. Citizens covered the windows of their homes and businesses to keep any light from filtering out. Car headlights and streetlights were turned down. And people hunkered down in underground shelters during nighttime air raids. Despite thousands of lives lost and many buildings destroyed during the Blitz, the Brits showed true grit and resilience. They carried on. The overwhelming fears we’re facing today echo those that Londoners felt about the WWII bombings, as well as those that people faced during the atomic age, those people faced when the Black Death plague swept Europe and took the lives of 200 million, and so on and so on. Like so many past generations, we’re facing fears about losing our lives, losing our loved ones, and losing our way of life.

Fear in the Brain

Fear is deeply ingrained in the brain and is a useful emotion in terms of survival. However, when fear is disproportionately high compared to the actual danger at hand or when it is prolonged, it leads to mental health issues such as anxiety. When researchers look at the brains of fearful and anxious people, they often find a number of areas of the brain with heightened activity, including the: Brain SPECT imaging shows that when areas such as these are overactive, people are more likely to be overwhelmed by stressful situations and may have a tendency to freeze or become immobile in their thoughts or actions. If your brain is overactive and you’re filled with fear, anxiety, or panic, you can calm your brain to reduce anxious feelings with a variety of natural therapies, including: In addition to these techniques, you can also benefit from some of the strategies that helped the Brits fear during WWII.

What You Can Learn from the Brits in WWII on Coping with Fear and Anxiety

You don’t have to let fear rule your life or fill you with anxiety, even when you’re faced with dire situations like a war or pandemic. The following strategies that helped British citizens overcome fear and anxiety during WWII can help you today during the pandemic. Take action: During WWII, the British government and its citizens were taking actions every day that provided some sense of control over their situation. The Royal Air Force was carrying out missions, Prime Minister Winston Churchill was firing off memos with red “Action This Day” labels for his staff, and citizens were doing their part to contribute to the efforts. Pandemic strategy: In the face of fears, look for things you can control, no matter how small they may seem. You may not be able to control the virus, but you can take responsibility for your own health by shoring up your immune system, eating brain healthy foods, and exercising to Stay connected: During the Blitz, Londoners huddled together in bomb shelters, building community and a sense that “we’re all in this together.” Unfortunately, this is much harder for people to accomplish with the pandemic. Pandemic strategy: Take advantage of technology to stay socially connected. Video phone calls, online meetings, and virtual events can help you feel more connected to others. Laugh more: The Brits were able to find humor in their situation no matter how dire it was. Pandemic strategy: You may not think there’s anything funny about the threat of COVID-19 or being in lockdown, but you can seek ways to laugh a little. Watch a comedy on TV, watch funny videos on social media, or listen to a humorous podcast. Laughter also supports the immune system, boosts moods, and gives your brain a healthy dose of the feel-good neurotransmitter oxytocin, as shown in a brain imaging study in The Journal of Neuroscience. Develop a sense of purpose: During the war, civilians felt a tremendous sense of purpose in fighting for a common cause. Pandemic strategy: In our fractured society today, it’s hard to find common ground. However, knowing your own purpose in life can give you the resilience to withstand challenging times. According to Dr. Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist and World War II concentration camp survivor, and the father of Logotherapy, a form of psychotherapy based on the idea that humans are strongly motivated to live with purpose, “We find meaning as a result of responding genuinely and compassionately to life’s challenges.” Frankl believed there were three ways to create meaning: Anxiety, panic attacks, excessive fear, depression, and other mental and behavioral health conditions—can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk. Feeling anxious? Panicky? Fearful? Welcome to the club. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in America. Each year, an estimated 40 million American adults—over 18% of the population—experience anxiety, and those are pre-pandemic numbers! The rate of anxiety is skyrocketing. A review of recent studies on mental health and the pandemic show that the prevalence of anxiety is now 32%. If you head to a traditional healthcare provider and tell them you’re experiencing anxiety, you’re likely to walk out with a prescription for anti-anxiety pills. End of story. But there’s so much more you need to know.

9 Need-to-Know Facts About Anxiety

1. Your anxiety may be a family heirloom.

If you have family members who suffer from anxiety, you have a higher risk of developing it too. Both nature (genetics) and nurture (behavior) play a role in this phenomenon.  Studies on identical twins and within families have shown the high genetic nature of many mental health issues. According to research, the familial risk of anxiety disorders is: A 2014 study in the journal Translational Psychiatry found that the α-endomannosidase gene (MANEA) was associated with panic disorder and social anxiety disorder. In terms of nurture, parents tend to model anxious behaviors that children emulate. In addition, research in Child Psychiatry & Human Development shows that parents with social anxiety disorder demonstrate less warmth/positive effect with their children, give them more criticism, and have more doubts about their child’s competency than non-anxious parents. It’s likely that rubs on kids. Chill out: Having a genetic risk is not a death sentence; it should be a wake-up call for you to know your vulnerabilities and get serious about taking care of your brain. Genes load the gun; your behavior and environment pull the trigger.

2. Your anxiety may be related to thyroid problems.

An overactive thyroid produces too much hormone, making everything in your body work too fast. It can feel like you’re in hyper-drive—you feel jittery and edgy, as though you’ve had way too much caffeine. Statistics show overactive thyroid is associated with anxiety, depression, restlessness, and psychosis and affects about 1 in every 100 people in the U.S. Chill out: Get your thyroid tested and balance it if needed. Take nutraceuticals that support thyroid function, including L-tyrosine, zinc, iodine, and ashwagandha.

3. Progesterone imbalances may be contributing to your anxiety.

Progesterone, which plays an important role in a woman’s monthly cycle, is like nature’s anti-anxiety pill. Progesterone influences more than just a woman’s reproductive system. It has a high concentration of receptors in the brain, and it helps support the neurotransmitter GABA, which helps the brain relax. That’s why it’s often called the “relaxation hormone.” When it is in balance, it calms you, brings feelings of peacefulness, and promotes sleep. When there’s a hormonal imbalance, calmness can give way to anxiety, irritability, depression, sleepless nights, and brain fog. In a woman’s late thirties and forties, major fluctuations in progesterone can make you feel anxious and out of sorts. Chill out: Get your progesterone levels tested and consider hormone therapy if necessary. Nutraceuticals that support progesterone production include chasteberry.

4. Not all anxiety is the same.

Brain SPECT imaging studies show that anxiety disorders (including social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and phobias) are not single or simple disorders. Over 160,000 brain scans at Amen Clinics have shown that there are 7 types of anxiety. Giving everyone who’s anxious the same treatment will never work. Knowing your type is the key to getting the right treatment plan. Chill out: Consider getting a brain scan to discover your anxiety type and read more about the 7 types of anxiety. Brain SPECT imaging studies show that anxiety disorders (including social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and phobias) are not single or simple disorders. Over 160,000 brain scans have shown that there are 7 types of anxiety.
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5. Anti-anxiety medication can be bad for your brain.

Most mental health professionals never look at the brain, so they wouldn’t know that anti-anxiety pills (such as benzodiazepines) negatively impact brain function. SPECT scans show that people who take benzos for anxiety tend to have decreased brain activity and a toxic-looking brain. People who take benzos also find it very hard to stop taking them. Chill out: Be cautious about starting any medication that may be hard to stop. Try natural solutions to heal anxiety, such as these 12 Alternatives to Anti-Anxiety Pills.

6. Oral contraceptives may contribute to anxiety.

You may already know that hormonal birth control pills have been shown to cause problems with blood pressure and blood clots and increase the incidence of strokes, especially if you smoke or have a history of migraine headaches. But did you know that oral contraceptives also affect your brain and mental health? Research in Frontiers in Neuroscience shows that taking the pill causes structural changes in the brain, alters neurotransmitter function, and messes with mood regulation. Stopping the pill isn’t necessarily a quick-fix solution. In the months following cessation of hormonal birth control, some women experience a rash of symptoms, including anxiety, mood swings, and depression. Some hormonal experts have started calling this effect “post-birth control syndrome.” Chill out: If you’re taking oral contraceptives or have stopped taking them and are experiencing symptoms, seek professional help.

7. What you put on your fork matters.

The foods you eat can either help you feel calm and relaxed or can ramp up anxiousness and stress. Research in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that people who ate more vegetables, fruit, fish, meat, and whole grains were less likely to feel anxious than those who ate a typical Western diet high in processed and fried foods, sugary items, refined grains, and beer. Chill out: Avoid foods that spike anxiousness and try these 8 Anti-Anxiety Foods You’ll Love.

8. Killing the ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) can help.

Every time you have a thought, your brain releases chemicals that affect how you feel. Anxious and worried thoughts make you feel bad; happy and hopeful thoughts make you feel good. Thoughts can be automatic, and it’s the ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) that make you feel stressed, nervous, and anxious. Learning to eliminate the ANTs can help calm your nerves and keep you feeling relaxed. To kill the ANTs, notice whenever you have a negative thought and talk back to it. You don’t have to believe every negative thought you have! Chill out: Learn to kill the ANTs.

9. Some anxiety is good.

You may think anxiety is awful, but it isn’t all bad. In fact, it’s important to have a healthy level of anxiety. It’s what keeps you from engaging in death-defying feats, making poor decisions, or investing all your money in a pyramid scheme. Studies show that people with a “don’t worry, be happy” attitude tend to die earlier from risky behavior. Chill out: Try to embrace the good side of anxiety while keeping it from interfering with your everyday life. Anxiety, panic disorders, phobias, and other mental health conditions can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever, and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk. By Melissa Quinn, MD Depression is taking a devastating toll on humanity. Worldwide, depression is the third leading cause of disability. In the U.S., it’s affecting a skyrocketing number of people. During the pandemic, Census Bureau Statistics on 42,000 people found that 24% of respondents reported significant symptoms of major depressive disorder. Among 18-29-year-olds, the number was even higher with 36% reporting depressive symptoms. This common condition can have devastating consequences—causing problems with energy, focus, motivation, sleep, appetite, libido, and more. Some people are left feeling so helpless and hopeless, they develop suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. In 2018, 48,344 people in the U.S. died by suicide and there were 1.4 million suicide attempts. That boils down to an average of 3,836 attempts per day.

The Traditional Approach to Treating Depression

For decades, pharmaceutical antidepressants have been the primary medical intervention for depression (outside of lifestyle interventions such as dietary changes, exercise, and mind-body practices). Typically, it takes 4-12 weeks of use for patients to experience a decrease in symptoms. Unfortunately, 30%-60% of individuals do not respond to SSRIs (though there are genetic tests to help identify these clients and therefore help with improved treatment decisions). Some people try several different antidepressants without relief, leading to a form of depression known as treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This often leads to months of inadequate medication treatment that can leave the person feeling more hopeless than prior to starting treatment. Considering the dire statistics and the shortcomings of antidepressant medications, it’s clear that we are in desperate need of more effective treatments for depression and suicidal ideation.

Ketamine: A Potential Breakthrough

Increasingly, psychiatrists are turning to ketamine as another option. Used as an anesthetic drug for about 50 years, it deadens pain and can cause feelings of being dissociated from one’s own body. A growing body of scientific evidence, including a 2017 study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, has found that ketamine has antidepressant effects. And it enhances mood much more quickly than traditional antidepressants. A 2018 review of over 20 studies on ketamine in Drug Design, Development, and Therapy showed that it produces significant decreases in depressive symptoms in just 24 hours. Here’s what you need to know. Mechanisms of action: Unlike traditional antidepressants that affect neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, ketamine works differently. It is an agonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which work on the glutamate neurotransmitter systems. Although the full mechanism that ketamine induces is not fully understood, we do know that it increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which plays a role in the growth and maintenance of neurons. Types of ketamine delivery: Ketamine can be delivered in a variety of ways, and each route differs in its bioavailability. The rates are: Intravenous: 100% Intramuscular: 93% Intranasal: 25-50% Sublingual (under the tongue): 30% Orally (by mouth): 16-24% Psychotherapy-assisted delivery vs. IV therapy only: Ketamine encourages open-mindedness, however, it’s the therapist who enhances this effect by doing deeper integration work to promote growth and change. With this guided process, patients can weave the experience into their daily life to support long-term change. In some places, ketamine IV therapy is being offered alone without psychotherapy, but the doses are very small, and it doesn’t offer the added benefits of working with a mental health professional. Frequency: Ketamine is typically administered during psychotherapy sessions that last 2-3 hours each with 2 sessions per week for 3 weeks. Consider set and setting: A patient’s mindset is a critical element to consider for any psychiatric experience, and ketamine administration is no different. Be sure your patients have realistic expectations regarding what to expect during the process and make the setting a comfortable one. Not a solo treatment: Some patients may look to ketamine as a sort of “magic bullet” that can eliminate depressive symptoms. As mental health professionals, it is up to us to inform patients that ketamine will be most effective when it is part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes brain healthy lifestyle changes, nutritional supplements, psychotherapy, and more. Side effects: Ketamine’s safety and tolerability have been demonstrated over nearly 50 years. Side effects may include dizziness and a rise in blood pressure. As such, individuals with severe hypertension or heart disease are not good candidates. Potential for addiction: A 2018 study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that ketamine’s antidepressant effects activate the opioid system, but decades of research show that ketamine is not physically addicting. However, it can be used inappropriately. For this reason, it is best used only in a clinical setting where the administration is monitored by a healthcare professional. Other issues that may respond to ketamine: In addition to effectively treating depression, ketamine may also be helpful in treating anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emotional trauma, and addictions.   About the Author: Melissa Quinn, MD, Amen Clinics Los Angeles Dr. Melissa Quinn is a psychiatrist who is double board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Her passion is to help people heal, get psychologically well, find the relief they deserve, and help them to become the best version of themselves. She helps children, adolescents, adults, and families get their lives back on track with a whole-person—and when appropriate—a whole-family approach. By developing her clients’ inner strengths, she shows them how to reach their highest potential. She knows that people are seeking a range of solutions for prevention, health, and healing. As a result, Dr Quinn became passionate about learning integrative approaches and was subsequently board-certified in Integrative and Holistic Medicine through The Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine. She later went on to peruse a fellowship in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) through Duke University and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy through PRATI (The Psychedelic Research and Training Institute). She enjoys working with a variety of clients, but she specializes in working with patients with ADHD, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Suicide is devastating for the loved ones who are left behind. Family and friends often say they didn’t notice any signs of suicidal tendencies, which leaves them wondering what they might have missed. But what if brain imaging could predict who will attempt suicide? Exciting brain imaging research from 2017 in Nature Human Behavior found that based on brain scans alone, a computer could identify with 94% accuracy rate which study participants had suicidal tendencies. Earlier research from Amen Clinics, the world’s leader in brain health—including a 2009 brain imaging study in The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Neurosciences on 12 people who completed suicide and a 2011 brain imaging study in Translational Psychiatry on 21 people who completed suicide—found abnormalities in brain function in these people. Both of these studies found decreased cerebral blood flow in specific areas of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex (see below). The researchers concluded, “This work suggests that SPECT might be useful in predicting risk for suicide completion in subjects with depression or treatment-resistant depression.” “Finding biological biomarkers in the brain that are associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors could ultimately save lives,” says Dr. Daniel Amen, founder of Amen Clinics, which has built the world’s largest brain imaging database related to behavior. “Finding biological biomarkers in the brain that are associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors could ultimately save lives.” — Dr. Daniel Amen, founder of Amen Clinics
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This would also benefit family and friends, who must deal with a legacy of unimaginable pain when a loved one dies by suicide. “The pain of suicide is unlike any other loss because people see it as a choice, rather than as a consequence of brain health problems,” says Dr. Amen. Understanding that brain dysfunction is at the root of suicide helps loved ones process their grief and alleviates feelings of guilt. “The pain of suicide is unlike any other loss because people see it as a choice, rather than as a consequence of brain health problems.” — Dr. Daniel Amen, founder of Amen Clinics
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A SUICIDE CRISIS

The need to address suicide is becoming more critical as the rates of suicidal ideation are skyrocketing due to the pandemic. Approximately twice as many U.S. adults have seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days compared with 2018, according to the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. In the report, more than 1 in 10 of the 5,412 respondents reported seriously considering suicide in the previous 30 days. Even more startling is that over 1 in 4 people ages 18-24 had seriously contemplated ending their own life. And over 30% of unpaid caregivers for adults and 22% of people considered essential workers had suicidal thoughts. This comes on the heels of already-rising suicide rates, especially among young Americans. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death overall, but it is the second leading cause of death among 10-24 year-olds, according to the CDC. From 2007-2017, teens ages 15-19 experienced a 76% increase in suicides, and the suicide rate for 10-14 year-olds nearly tripled. We need to reverse this trend. It’s time to take advantage of advanced brain imaging technology to help detect people who are at risk.

BRAIN ABNORMALITIES SEEN IN SUICIDAL PEOPLE

Brain SPECT imaging, which measures blood flow and activity in the brain, reveals underlying brain abnormalities in people with suicidal tendencies. In addition to the studies mentioned above, Amen Clinics has also done brain scans on over 300 people who attempted suicide and on thousands more who have seriously contemplated dying by suicide. What do these brain scans show? People with suicidal thoughts and behaviors tend to have abnormalities in brain activity. What follow-up scans on these patients show is that with the right treatment, there are ways to heal underlying brain health issues and reduce the risk of suicide.

Here are 4 of the most common SPECT findings in Amen Clinics patients with suicidal tendencies along with proven strategies to heal the brain.

Head Trauma

Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries are associated with an increase in suicidal tendencies, according to research in the American Journal of Public Health. Head injuries can negatively impact brain function and have been linked to increases in depression, anxiety, substance abuse, which can contribute to suicidal ideation. Head injuries are far more common than you might imagine, and even minor blows to the head can cause trouble weeks, months, or even years later. At Amen Clinics, brain imaging studies show that 40% of patients have signs of a previous head injury. Surprisingly, many of them don’t remember experiencing a head injury, or they think their past head trauma—whether it was from falling off a bike, falling down a flight of stairs, or from playing tackle football—was insignificant. Brain scans show they are highly significant. Healing head trauma: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), neurofeedback, hormonal therapy (head injuries often disrupt hormone production), and nutritional supplements (ginkgo, acetyl-l-carnitine, huperzine A, N-acetyl-cysteine, alpha lipoic acid, and phosphatidylserine) facilitate the healing process.

Temporal Lobes

Abnormal brain activity in the temporal lobes—especially in the left temporal lobe—is commonly seen on the brain scans of people with suicidal tendencies. According to an Amen Clinics study, 62% of patients who had seriously contemplated suicide or who had made an attempt had abnormalities in the left temporal lobe. The temporal lobes are involved in mood stability, memory, and learning. Problems in the left temporal lobe also include anger and aggression, dark or violent thoughts, sensitivity to slights, word-finding problems, auditory processing problems, reading difficulties, and emotional instability. Healing temporal lobes: Neurofeedback, nutritional support (higher-protein, lower-carbohydrate diet), the supplements GABA and theanine, music therapy, singing, and anger management can be helpful.

Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)

Low activity in the PFC is a common finding on SPECT in suicidal people. The PFC is involved in impulse control, judgment, and decision-making, but when it is underactive, it is associated with impulsivity, poor judgment, and bad decisions. Having a “sleepy” PFC is one of the hallmarks of ADD/ADHD, and a 2017 review of 26 studies in the World Journal of Psychiatry shows that people with this common condition are at increased risk of suicide. The researchers conclude that early diagnosis and treatment of ADD/ADHD—and the co-occurring psychiatric disorders—can play an important role in the prevention of suicide. Healing the PFC: Physical exercise, neurofeedback, goal setting, nutritional interventions, support (higher-protein, lower-carbohydrate diet), meditation, green tea, the supplements rhodiola and ginseng, and asking “Then what?” (thinking about the consequences of your actions) are beneficial strategies to strengthen the PFC.

Anterior Cingulate Gyrus (ACG)

The ACG is the brain’s gear shifter, and it helps you shift your attention from one thought to another. Too much activity here, which is commonly seen on SPECT in suicidal people, makes people more likely to get stuck on negative thoughts. A 2020 study in Translational Psychiatry builds on prior research showing that dysfunction in the anterior cingulate cortex (where the ACG is located) is associated with suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior. Healing the ACG: Nutritional support (higher smart carbohydrates, lower protein), supplements (saffron and 5-HTP), exercise, learning how to stop looping thoughts, learning to distract yourself when you get stuck on negative thoughts, and writing out options when you feel stuck can help balance an overactive ACG.

HEALING THE BRAIN HELPS PREVENT SUICIDE

After over 30 years of treating people who have considered suicide, Dr. Amen says it’s clear that “suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” When the underlying brain dysfunction is treated, however, people’s symptoms of depression, impulsiveness, hopelessness, helplessness, aggression, and negative thinking patterns improve. Putting the brain in a healthy environment with the healing strategies described above provides hope for people who are suffering from suicidal ideation. “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” — Dr. Daniel Amen, founder of Amen Clinics
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If you are having suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Suicidal tendencies can’t wait. During these uncertain times, getting the help you need is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.

Bipolar disorder is in the spotlight these days thanks to several celebrities—including Kanye West, Demi Lovato, Bebe Rexha, and Halsey—who have gone public with their diagnoses. These high-profile individuals are among the 5.7 million Americans affected by bipolar disorder.

Considered a cyclic mood disorder, this condition shifts between manic episodes and depressive episodes that are characterized by severe changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. The discussions in the media and on social media have brought to light some of the common symptoms associated with the condition.

For example, manic episodes are characterized by:

On the other end of the spectrum, depressive episodes are associated with:

This is good information, but there’s one important aspect of bipolar disorder that nobody is talking about—the brain.

BIPOLAR DISORDER IN THE BRAIN

Brain SPECT imaging, which measures blood flow and activity in the brain, shows that people with bipolar disorder tend to have abnormal activity patterns in the brain. For the patients at Amen Clinics and their families, seeing their brain scans helps them understand that symptoms and behaviors associated with bipolar disorder are not “mental health” problems or character flaws, they’re “brain health” problems.

Unfortunately, millions of people in America who are suffering from bipolar disorder and other psychiatric conditions don’t get the help they need due to the stigma surrounding mental health. Reframing the discussion from mental health to brain health helps overcome that stigma because it shows that conditions aren’t moral, they’re medical.

For people with bipolar disorder, brain imaging can also reveal some surprising findings. For example, at Amen Clinics, SPECT brain scans show that many people who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder also have an underlying traumatic brain injury that has never been properly diagnosed or treated. Many of these people don’t even remember experiencing a head injury.

This hidden trauma can be the result of head injuries that happened months, years, or even decades earlier. Some of the most common causes include falls (falling off a bike or ladder, or falling down stairs), vehicle accidents, or sports-related concussions. Having a brain injury can exacerbate the ups and downs of bipolar disorder. The patient population at Amen Clinics shows that healing the underlying damage can be very helpful in reducing symptoms associated with bipolar disorder.

Brain imaging can also help detect other mental health conditions that commonly occur with bipolar. For example, research in Clinical Psychology shows that 62% of people with bipolar disorder also meet the clinical criteria for ADD/ADHD. Anxiety disorders and substance use disorders are also common in people with bipolar disorder.

CONSEQUENCES OF MISDIAGNOSED OR MISTREATED BIPOLAR DISORDER

Without the added help of brain imaging, bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed for other conditions, such as depression or schizophrenia. In fact, most people suffer from symptoms of the disorder for an entire decade before getting an accurate diagnosis. This can have devastating effects because following the wrong treatment plan can make symptoms worse.

When left untreated or mistreated, the condition is associated with a decrease of over 9 years in life expectancy. In addition, people with bipolar disorder are 15 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population, and 1 in 5 people with the condition eventually take their own life.

HEALING FROM BIPOLAR DISORDER

Bipolar disorder is treatable and is generally responsive to a treatment program that is personalized to enhance brain health and that may include nutritional supplements, healthy nutrition, exercise, lifestyle changes, helpful forms of therapy, and medication (when necessary).

Bipolar disorder, 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. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.

At Amen Clinics, a global leader in brain imaging related to psychiatry, we have helped tens of thousands of patients from over 120 countries enhance their brain health and get well. By the time our patients reach out to us for help, they’ve typically been suffering for quite a while. On average our patients have 4.2 diagnoses and have failed 3.3 providers and 5 medications before they come to us.

We routinely ask patients what drove them to seek our help, what was the last straw that made them pick up the phone. With the pandemic, it’s clear that people are experiencing a whole new array of issues that are driving them to ask for help.

Based on patients at Amen Clinics, here are 14 of the most common pandemic-related reasons why people say they are seeking psychiatric treatment now.

1. Nothing to distract from mental health issues.

Without the typical daily distractions, such as going to school or to the office, there is nothing to shield people from their struggles or the reality of their mental illness. It’s now front and center on a daily basis and demands attention.

2. Once-controlled problems are re-emerging.

People who had stabilized their mental health condition are now experiencing a return of symptoms they used to have under control. They need adjustments to treatment plans and additional strategies to help them through this challenging period.

3. Relationship issues have become inescapable.

Due to quarantine, couples are spending more time together at home with no respite from their relationship problems. This has led to more marital conflict, more frequent fights, and a more immediate need to address long-standing issues.

4. Kids’ ADD/ADHD can no longer be ignored.

Now that kids are stuck at home, their ADD/ADHD symptoms are becoming glaringly apparent to their parents. And if parents are doing homeschooling during the lockdown, they are seeing first-hand that their child’s learning challenges may be far more significant than they realized.

5. Youngsters’ issues are exacerbated.

For many young children, adolescents, and teens, it’s their friends, sports, and other extracurricular school activities that help keep them mentally stable. Without that support network and without the activities they love, their underlying mental health problems are becoming unbearable.

6. Increased substance use.

Due to the stress and anxiety of the pandemic, some people with addiction issues who had been sober are using again or thinking about using again and need help to combat those urges. In addition, some people who had previously been light or moderate drinkers are now developing a drinking problem and others are turning to drugs as a coping mechanism.

7. Job loss and financial insecurity.

The stress from a lack of work or unexpected financial instability is pushing some people over the edge and creating mental health problems or making existing ones worse.

8. Overwhelming uncertainty.

Feeling like everything is up in the air, that there is nothing you can count on, and that you can’t make any plans is extremely difficult to handle and is ramping up anxiety, depression, and other issues.

9. Suicidal thoughts.

For some people, the events of 2020 have been so traumatic that they are beginning to have suicidal thoughts and need professional help.

10. Loss of routine.

Daily schedules have gone out of the window, leading to a variety of lifestyle changes, such as sleep problems that exacerbate anxiety, depression, stress, and other mental health issues.

11. Emotional eating.

Quarantine has triggered a host of changes in eating patterns—giving up on healthy eating habits, overeating, consuming more sugary baked goods—all of which make mental health issues worse.

12. Irrational fears.

Months of being told that we are “safer at home” has led to agoraphobia, which is a type of anxiety in which you have an irrational fear of specific places, situations, or spaces. In some people, this phobia stems from the fear of contacting COVID-19 or passing it to a loved one.

13. Have tried it all, but nothing’s working.

Some people say they have “tried everything” to control their mental health issues, but they are still struggling and are looking for alternative approaches to treatment.

14. “Hitting the wall.”

A growing number of people are saying they’ve hit the wall with the pandemic, and they feel that they’ve reached the limit of their coping skills and need professional help.

Do you recognize yourself in these reasons? Have you reached the point where you could benefit from professional help? You’re not alone. No matter how impossible or unbearable your situation may seem, understand that there is hope. With the proper brain-centered treatment, you can overcome trauma, anxiety, depression, and loss and learn to thrive—even in the most awful situation.

Anxiety, depression, 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 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.