It’s your big moment—you finally get to pitch your business idea to investors, present a lecture to your industry peers, or sing in front of a packed audience. You’ve been preparing for this moment for so long, but when you look out from the podium or stage and see all those people staring back at you, your brain freezes. Your mind goes blank and everything you’ve rehearsed so many times disappears. You feel like a deer in the headlights. Like millions of other people, you’ve got performance anxiety, and it could ruin your chances of success.
Why do people experience performance anxiety? From an evolutionary perspective, humans feel threatened when others’ eyes are on us. The amygdala, an almond-shaped structure in the temporal lobes, plays a part in how we perceive threats, and this part of the brain can be activated even when there is no true danger, such as standing on a stage giving a speech in a safe space.
HOW COMMON IS PERFORMANCE ANXIETY AND FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING?
Performance anxiety is rampant in our society. In fact, the fear of public speaking, or glossophobia, affects an estimated 77% of the population. That makes it more common than the fear of heights, fear of flying, or fear of enclosed spaces.
Feelings of pre-performance dread can strike anyone, including seasoned performers. Look at superstar Miley Cyrus who has been entertaining audiences since she was a child. Cyrus once told People magazine that she still experiences stage fright, saying, “I’m a little bit of a nervous person even though I try to keep it cool, but I’m actually always kind of freaking out at all times.”
5 TIPS TO CONQUER FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING AND PERFORMANCE ANXIETY
Fortunately, you can learn to overcome performance anxiety. There are several ways to break an anxiety attack that are effective and can work in the short- and long-term. Overcoming performance anxiety takes some effort, but it’s worth it. Tapping into healthy solutions and using tools to move through performance anxiety is not only possible but can be part of your journey to true and authentic self-actualization. Here are 5 science-backed ways to move into a new way of handling that frightening task:
1. Get Excited!
A date has been set for your conference and the audience list is growing. You’ve prepared a speech but can’t stop thinking about what it will feel like to have stage lights on you, wear that silly microphone around your head, and have your voice travel through a lecture hall that holds 500 guests. The last thing you feel is excited – actually, “dread” would be more appropriate – but research shows that reframing those anxious thoughts as enthusiasm can help, even more than attempting to calm yourself down. Getting yourself excited not only helps decrease anxiety, but tasks score measurably higher in performance success when preceded by thoughts of excitement rather than trying to relax.
2. Remember Your True North
Remember why you’re doing what you’re doing. Whether you’re playing an original folk song at a venue, going for a job interview, experiencing sexual intimacy with someone you care about deeply or sharing your brilliant idea with 500 strangers, remember your purpose. Let your deepest calling guide you through the anxiety and into a state of grounded confidence by telling yourself that you are doing something important and meaningful for yourself and possibly others. Redirect your thoughts back to your purpose using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques and remind yourself of the importance and meaning of the task, and that anxiety could be quelled.
3. Act As If You’re a Pro
If you feel a lack of confidence in your abilities, stand in front of your mirror. Look at your posture, feel your jaw muscles – are they tight? Where do you feel tension in your body? Hold that spot with the palm of your hand, give yourself compassion, reassure yourself that you are safe and you’re going to do a great job. Hold yourself in high regard by standing up straight, grounding your feet beneath you, shaking out the tension in your body, looking deep into your eyes, and saying, “I’ve got this.” Be your own best friend and encourage yourself verbally as many times as needed.
4. Practice Visualization
Imagine yourself performing the task you’re afraid of doing. How do you want to present yourself? What will your voice sound like? What energy and essence do you want to convey? Do you want to laugh, have a sense of ease, be professional in tone? Research shows that visualization of the task you’ll undergo is helpful in decreasing anxiety. If you’re going to get up on stage in front of an audience, envision each person as a dear friend with whom you’re sharing an intimate moment. Visualize how you’ll feel internally and engage in warm, loving thoughts for every person you’re with, whether or not they’re strangers.
5. Ditch the Coffee for Water
Research in Psychological Medicine shows why you should avoid loading up on caffeine or any other substance that increases your heart rate and can possibly get you jittery. Sugar, caffeine, and processed foods can contribute to that awful, anxious feeling. Instead, nourish your body with healthy foods that help you sustain energy without creating a hyperactive feeling, followed by a drastic energy crash, and make sure to drink plenty of water. A study in the Journal of British Nutrition found that even mild dehydration increases tension and anxiety. Take sips of water throughout the day, calculate the amount of water you should drink every day, and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to increase your water intake.
WHEN PERFORMANCE ANXIETY INTERFERES WITH YOUR LIFE
If fear of public speaking or other forms of performance anxiety is negatively impacting your career or life, it is an indication you may need professional help. It is possible that further treatment will be helpful to get to any deeper issues that may be contributing to your performance anxiety. Depending on your needs, you may benefit from EMDR, psychotherapy, neurofeedback, or other modalities.
Anxiety disorders and other mental health disorders can’t wait. If you need support, look to Amen Clinics for in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. When you’re confronted with a colleague, child/teen, friend, or romantic partner who needs to share a problem that they have strong feelings about, do you struggle with how to respond or fear you may say the wrong thing? You’re not alone. Unfortunately, many of us have learned poor communication styles and respond in ways that may provoke resistance, resentment, or retaliation, and damage relationships. However, we can learn better communication skills.
There’s nothing worse than judgment and criticism. It lacks empathy and destroys productive communication and relationships.
Researchers have examined what helps to facilitate productive communication, and what hinders it. Nearly 60 years ago, renowned communications training pioneer, clinical psychologist, and researcher Dr. Gordon Thomas determined a number of behaviors that impede productive communication in parents and leaders. He called them Communication Roadblocks, and they still hold true today.
They have inspired the following suggestions to help you overcome common communication roadblocks when someone comes to you to share a problem that they have strong feelings about.
COMMUNICATION ROADBLOCKS TO AVOID
1. Don’t Be An “Authoritarian”
If you’re in a position of power, such as in a supervisory or parental role, take off your authoritarian “hat” when an employee or child/teen shares a problem with you. No one wants to be coerced. Avoid these behaviors:
Responding with statements like “You must…” or “You have to…” will surely hinder communication. This kind of response lacks empathy and fails to acknowledge the person’s feelings, making them feel resentful and retaliatory. Often, responding in this manner will immediately end further communication, and you’ll lose an opportunity to hear an important concern.
Similarly, statements like “You’d better stop, or I’ll…” and “If you don’t, then…” are void of empathy or understanding and tend to cause resentment and resistance.
Also lacking empathy, responding with “You should…” or “You ought to…” indicates that the person needs to adopt what others deem to be right. It can cause guilt and conveys that the person sharing is not as wise as you, and they may resist and defend their own postures even more strongly.
2. Avoid “Big Me, Little You”
People want to be heard. When they offer up a problem, you may be compelled to try and solve it. Be careful of slipping into a destructive “Big Me, Little You” dynamic. Keep the focus on the person’s ability to find a solution, by avoiding the following approaches:
Giving advice. Responding with “I would do…” or “Why don’t you try…” robs them of the opportunity to think through an issue, consider options, and try them out. It encourages dependence and will trigger resistance.
Using logic. Statements like “Wouldn’t it be better if…” and “Let’s look at the facts…” indicate your failure to hear the person and a desire to influence them with your own ideas. You become like a teacher, and the person may feel you see them as inadequate. They may become defensive or resentful, or they may defend their position more strongly. It halts continued communication.
Playing therapist with phrases like “You’re just trying to…” or “You probably are feeling like that because…” can be threatening. If the analysis is accurate, the person may feel embarrassed at being exposed. If the analysis is wrong, they may feel hurt, angry, and resistant.
3. Don’t Dismiss
Don’t discount, dismiss, or deny the problem or the pain that the person shares with you. If you find yourself doing it, you might want to examine if what they are sharing is making you anxious or uncomfortable. Avoid these 3 dismissive behaviors:
Reassuring. Statements like “Don’t worry…” or “It could be worse…” minimize the person’s feelings and deny the seriousness of their problem, making them feel like you don’t really understand, and possibly like you wish to change them.
Questioning. Responding with questions like “Why did you say that?” or “Then what did you do?” ignores the feelings of the person and indicates that you actually do not want to deal with the feelings or problem that was shared.
Responses like “I’d rather not discuss this…” or “It’s your problem to handle…” clearly communicates a lack of respect for the person’s feelings. People are usually serious when they get the courage to talk about their feelings. If they hear a response that diverts or ignores them, it can make them feel hurt, rejected, belittled, frustrated, or angry.
4. Avoid Judging, Good or Bad
There’s nothing worse than judgment and criticism. It lacks empathy and destroys productive communication and relationships. Avoid it by being aware of these 3 behaviors:
Judgmental responses like “You’re not seeing this correctly…” or “You created this problem…” risk making a person feel defensive, inadequate, inferior, stupid, unworthy, or bad. You’re teaching that person to keep their feelings to themselves as it’s not safe to reveal their problems. Often, they become angry and feel hostile (especially if the judgment is correct).
Surprisingly, responding with favorable assessments like “I totally agree with how you handled that…” or “You did the right thing…” can have a negative effect because the person realizes you may easily judge them negatively in the future. Or if you praise often, its absence may be interpreted as criticism. Praise can feel manipulative, a subtle way of influencing others to do what you want them to do. And if you praise a lot, you may make a person too dependent on it.
Statements like “Okay, know-it-all…” or “You women/men/teenagers/seniors are all…” will likely make a person feel foolish, inferior, or wrong. It provokes defensiveness and may incite the person to argue or fight back rather than take a closer look at themselves. It does not convey acceptance and empathy.
Practice Active Listening
When a person comes to you to share a problem, avoid communication roadblocks by becoming an active listener, a skill used in interpersonal psychotherapy. When another person is sharing a problem, give them your full attention, show you are listening with your body language, and increase empathy by getting outside of yourself to get a sense of what they are thinking and feeling. Research on developing effective communication skills suggests following these tips:
Make time for the person by eliminating distractions such as the phone or by moving to a quiet room. Remove physical barriers, such as a desk, between you and the other party.
Physically show you are listening by making eye contact and acknowledging what the other person is saying with facial and body gestures. Avoid arm crossing as it conveys a guarded stance and may suggest arrogance, dislike, or disagreement.
Repeat back what they have heard with statements like “I hear you saying…” or “Is that what you meant?” Practicing this will help you to clearly hear and understand what the other person is communicating.
Research shows that this kind of active listening helps to strengthen personal relationships, helps to reduce marital conflict, boosts self-esteem, and reduces stress, among other benefits. It’s a communication skill that will pay dividends in all of your relationships!
Serious communication issues or conflict in important relationships 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. Feeling more depressed and anxious these days? Join the club. The numbers of people feeling blue and nervous are skyrocketing. In fact, research shows that from August 2020 to February 2021, the percentage of American adults reporting symptoms of major depressive disorder or an anxiety disorder jumped from 36.4% to 41.5%. For most people, it’s a double whammy as anxiety and depression occur together 75% of the time, according to brain SPECT imaging findings at Amen Clinics.
Anxiety and depression occur together 75% of the time, according to brain SPECT imaging findings at Amen Clinics.
To overcome low moods and anxiousness, many people turn to antidepressants or anti-anxiety pills, or both. But prescription medications aren’t the only way to decrease depression and anxiety. Here are 10 science-backed natural solutions that can boost moods and calm anxiety.
10 NATURAL WAYS TO HELP ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
1. Eat more veggies and fruits.
Mom was right when she told you to eat your veggies. A 2020 systematic review concluded that higher consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with greater overall mental health, including improvements in both depression and anxiety.
2. Eliminate processed and artificial foods.
You have to eat right to feel right. This means ditching unhealthy, fake foods that drive depression and anxiety. A 2019 French study found that as consumption of ultra-processed foods go up, so does depression. Research in Nutritional Neuroscience suggests there is a link between the artificial sweetener aspartame and several neurophysiological symptoms, including anxiety and depression.
3. Say “om.”
A Johns Hopkins review of existing scientific research shows that meditating for 30 minutes a day has beneficial effects on symptoms of both anxiety and depression.
4. Practice prayer.
Prayer can have a powerful and long-lasting effect on depression and anxiety. According to a 2012 study, depressed and anxious people who participated in an intervention involving 1-hour prayer sessions for 6 weeks saw a significant reduction in their symptoms as well as an increase in optimism. Even more promising, the positive improvements were maintained a year after the completion of the prayer intervention.
5. Breathe.
You may be aware that deep breathing promotes relaxation and reduces stress, but did you know it can also improve depression and anxiety? A 2016 study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that a yogic breathing practice helped fight treatment-resistant depression (people who did not respond fully to medication treatment), and it also lowered anxiety symptoms. This breathing technique centers on alternating between slow, calm breaths and fast, stimulating breaths.
6. Kill the ANTs.
Automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) infest your mind and fuel blue moods, anxiousness, and stress. Whenever you feel sad, mad, nervous, or out of control, write down what you’re thinking. Then, use an elegantly simple yet powerful strategy to challenge your thoughts developed by Byron Katie and ask yourself, “Is it true?” Chances are, you’ll find that these intrusive thoughts aren’t true at all.
7. Get moving.
Physical activity lifts moods and eases anxiousness. Research in the International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine points to exercise as a first-line treatment for mild to moderate depression and as an effective alternative treatment for anxiety disorders.
8. Add saffron to your daily supplements.
Scientific evidence supports the use of nutraceuticals to promote healthy moods and relaxation. One supplement that has positive effects on both anxiousness and depression is saffron, according to a 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis. The review authors suggest that “saffron could be an effective intervention for symptoms of depression and anxiety,” however, they add that more trials are necessary.
9. Optimize omega-3 levels.
Another key nutritional supplement that does double duty is omega-3 fatty acids. A 2018 study in JAMA Open Network found that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids improves symptoms of clinical anxiety. Similarly, findings from a 2019 meta-analysis point to the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids on symptoms of depression. You can check your omega-3 levels by taking the Omega-3 Index blood test.
10. Try neurofeedback.
Neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback that assesses brainwave activity in real-time and helps you gain control of your brainwaves to reach a desired brain state. A 2017 review shows that neurofeedback has the potential to treat both depression and anxiety.
Depression, anxiety, 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. Most kids are scared of monsters—the kind that hide under the bed or in the closet at night. For some youngsters, however, monsters aren’t figments of their imagination. They are real people who do horrible things and change the trajectory of a child’s life. Just ask Hannah Brown, the star of season 15 of The Bachelorette and the winner of the 2019 season of Dancing With the Stars. In an episode of Scan My Brain, she tells Daniel Amen, MD, about a terrifying ordeal that happened when she was just 7 that changed her outlook on life, made her fearful, and led her on a path to depression.
For some youngsters, monsters aren’t figments of their imagination. They are real people who do horrible things and change the trajectory of a child’s life.
In the Scan My Brain episode, Brown reveals a traumatic event that changed her life. It happened when she was only 7 years old, but she vividly remembers the day her aunt and cousins were brutally murdered. Brown’s aunt and uncle were kind people who believed in giving people a second chance in life. They had hired a former inmate who had been jailed for a nonviolent offense and who was on work release to work on their home and became friendly with him. Some time later, he started using drugs and needed money. Brown’s aunt got a call from him, and she invited him over. She made tea for him, but then saw him rummaging around in her purse. An altercation ensued, and her aunt and two young cousins were killed.
As a child, all Brown knew of the story was that someone had gone into their home and “hurt” her extended family and that they were now in heaven. Just that bit of knowledge scared her. “I was terrified as a kid. I thought someone was going to come in. I wasn’t scared of monsters. I was scared of a person,” she says.
It wasn’t until years later that Brown pieced together what really happened on that fateful day. In the meantime, other things added to the trauma she experienced. At age 11, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer. She underwent surgery to have an egg-sized tumor removed, and fortunately, the cancer had not spread to other organs.
Brown eventually fell into depression and sought treatment to try to feel better. “I had never been to a psychiatrist, but I’m on medication,” she tells Dr. Amen in the episode. As Dr. Amen explains to her, 85% of psychiatric drugs are prescribed by non-psychiatrists—primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants—in brief, office visits. One study shows that 72% of antidepressant prescriptions are accompanied by no diagnosis in the medical charts. It’s no wonder these medications often fail, he says.
Despite her newfound celebrity, Brown continues to be haunted by dark days. That’s part of what prompted her to visit Amen Clinics to get a brain SPECT scan. She was hoping it would give her clues to why she feels the way she does and why she acts the way she does.
THE BACHELORETTE’S BRAIN SCAN
Among the findings on Brown’s brain scan, which can be seen in the Scan My Brain episode, was a pattern of overactivity that is commonly seen in people who have experienced trauma. At Amen Clinics, this is referred to as the diamond pattern, and it is often associated with worry, anxiousness, and sadness. This helped Brown understand why she felt depressed.
The good news for Brown and for anyone who has suffered from trauma or depression is that there are strategies that can help calm brain activity. Some beneficial strategies include:
EMDR therapy:EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is a non-invasive therapy that can help eliminate the emotional charges linked to traumatic memories.
Killing the ANTs (automatic negative thoughts): Learning to question negative, fearful, and anxious thoughts can help you gain emotional control.
Optimizing gut health:Research shows that an unhealthy gut is linked to an increased risk of depression and anxiety, among other mental health issues. It’s important to improve gut health with a healthy diet and probiotics.
Nutritional supplements: A growing body of scientific evidence, including a study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, points to supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids as an effective way to reduce depressive symptoms.
Focusing on your purpose in life: Purposeful people have better mental health, less depression, and greater happiness, according to research.
For Brown, balancing her brain is now a priority. In addition, becoming an advocate for mental health and sharing her story to help others and give them hope, is giving her own life purpose. She hopes that’s one step in the direction to greater happiness and fulfillment.
Depression, trauma, 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. What do muscle tension, sleep problems, fatigue, and irritability have in common? They’re all physical signs of agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder that will affect an estimated 1.3% of the population at some point during their lifetime, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Because these physical symptoms are commonly seen in other mental health issues as well as physical conditions, they often go undetected as part of agoraphobia. Knowing all the symptoms of agoraphobia can be the key to getting this anxiety disorder under control.
WHAT IS AGORAPHOBIA?
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that involves extreme fear or anxiousness about being in open spaces, enclosed areas, or any place where you may feel trapped. Panic can arise in places most people find completely safe, such as the grocery store, a park, or a coffee shop. People with this condition may experience intense, irrational panic in these situations. When the anticipation of the fear becomes so great, they eventually choose to stay at home rather than risk finding themselves in a stress-inducing environment.
One of the key characteristics of agoraphobia lies in the fact that the fear is out of proportion to the actual threat. This greatly interferes with daily living and can be harmful to personal relationships, career, and schoolwork. This debilitating condition currently affects approximately 0.8% of adults in the U.S., however, experts suggest the numbers may be rising due to the pandemic.
WHAT IS PANDEMIC AGORAPHOBIA?
Due to the pandemic, many people have experienced a new or increased sense of angst about going outside of the house. A fear of being around other people on public transportation, in restaurants, or at sporting events is understandable. COVID-19 and the subsequent variants that have emerged continue to pose a threat to health and well-being. For some people, however, rational caution has spilled over into crippling fear of leaving home. In these cases, people may be suffering from what psychiatrists are calling pandemic agoraphobia.
If your concerns about going out in public have morphed into a sense of dread that keeps you housebound, it may be time to consider the possibility that you may be struggling with agoraphobia.
Due to the pandemic, many people have experienced a new or increased sense of angst about going outside of the house. Some of these people may be suffering from what psychiatrists are calling “pandemic agoraphobia.”
When in a stressful situation, people with agoraphobia may experience physical symptoms similar to those seen in a panic attack, such as:
Racing heart
Shallow breathing
Nausea or diarrhea
Chest pain
Feeling hot
Perspiring
Shaking or trembling
Tingling or numbness
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Chronic physical symptoms associated with agoraphobia can include:
Muscle tension
Fatigue
Sleep disturbances (such as insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, or trouble staying asleep)
All of these symptoms can range from mild to severe. Recognizing your symptoms is one of the keys to understanding your condition and getting the right help.
WHAT CAUSES AGORAPHOBIA?
Experts are still researching what causes agoraphobia. Although the exact cause or causes remain unknown, the following factors increase your risk for agoraphobia.
Parental overprotectiveness: Research suggests that growing up with overprotective parents contributes to the risk of agoraphobia.
Having another mental health disorder:Research shows that during their lifetime, 87% of people with agoraphobia will have another psychiatric condition, such as panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety, specific phobia, or substance abuse. Neuroticism may also heighten the risk for the disorder.
Early-life trauma: Having a history of adverse childhood experiences, such as physical or sexual abuse or the death of a parent increases risk.
A blood relative with agoraphobia: Some people may have a genetic predisposition for the condition.
GETTING A DIAGNOSIS AND TREATING AGORAPHOBIA
Getting the right treatment for agoraphobia depends on getting the right diagnosis. This condition is sometimes misdiagnosed as other types of anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or major depressive disorder. For an accurate diagnosis, functional brain SPECT imaging can help. SPECT measures blood flow and activity in the brain and reveals patterns commonly seen in mental health conditions. For example, SPECT has helped the psychiatrists at Amen Clinics identify 7 types of anxiety and depression.
Knowing your type and identifying any co-occurring disorders can be so helpful in getting the targeted treatment you need. In general, treatment for agoraphobia may include:
Psychotherapy: Several forms of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy, may be beneficial for people suffering from agoraphobia.
Lifestyle changes: Avoiding foods that increase anxiety, exercising to boost production of calming brain chemicals, meditating or praying to soothe stress, and practicing diaphragmatic breathing can be helpful.
Nutritional supplements:Nutraceuticals, such as GABA, magnesium, L-theanine, and vitamin B6, have been shown to soothe anxiousness and encourage relaxation of the mind and body.
Medications: In some cases, depending on co-occurring disorders, medications may be recommended.
With a treatment plan that is targeted to your needs, you can begin to overcome agoraphobia, whether it is something you’ve been dealing with for years or only since the pandemic hit.
Agoraphobia, anxiety disorders, 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. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has earned a place in the social consciousness due to increased media coverage about the condition. If you’re like most people, you probably think PTSD predominantly affects military veterans. Wrong! Surprisingly, the #1 trigger of PTSD in the U.S. is rape. Statistics from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America shows that 46% of women and 65% of men who are raped will develop the disorder, which affects 7.7 million adult Americans. Other forms of sexual assault—including attempted rape, unwanted physical contact, and childhood sexual abuse—can also increase the risk of developing PTSD.
If you’re like most people, you probably think post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) predominantly affects military veterans. Wrong! Surprisingly, the #1 trigger of PTSD is rape.
Sexual assault is alarmingly common. Every 68 seconds, someone in America is sexually assaulted, according to RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. And CDC statistics show that over 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience sexual violence in their lifetime. Experts agree that the incidence of sexual assault is likely much higher as many cases go unreported.
The lack of reporting is due, in part, to the stigma attached to being a rape survivor. Victims often feel guilt and shame about the experience, so they keep it to themselves. In some cases, an abuser threatens the victim or their loved ones with physical violence if they tell anyone. In other instances, victims feel hopeless and think that telling someone will do no good. Still, others may fear that speaking up will invite unwarranted scrutiny and victim-blaming.
Sadly, this means that millions of Americans keep rape and other forms of sexual assault a secret and don’t seek help for the distressing psychological consequences they bring.
SEXUAL ASSAULT AND PTSD
Following sexual trauma, it’s common to experience feelings of stress, anger, fear, anxiousness, guilt, and sadness. For most survivors, these feelings subside over time, but in others, they fester into PTSD. The researchers behind the 2020 meta-analysis mentioned earlier suggest that the trauma associated with sexual assault can result in the dysregulation of the body’s stress response system, leading to chronic stress or PTSD.
Sexual assault survivors are more likely to develop PTSD than people who experience other forms of trauma. An epidemiological study of over 4,000 women found that 32% of rape survivors and 31% of sexual assault survivors will have PTSD at some point during their lifetime. Compare that to just 9% of survivors of traumatic events, such as a car accident or natural disaster, that aren’t crime-related.
Brain SPECT imaging, which measures cerebellar blood flow and activity, shows that PTSD is associated with overactivity in the emotional centers of the brain. This overactivity seen on SPECT scans typically looks like a diamond pattern that is also associated with an increased risk of other mental health issues.
OTHER MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF RAPE
PTSD isn’t the only psychological fallout associated with rape and other forms of sexual assault. Being the victim of this form of trauma is also linked to a heightened risk of a range of psychiatric issues, including:
Depression and anxiety.
Take a look at the findings of a 2019 study involving over 300 middle-aged women in JAMA Internal Medicine, for example. In this study, 22% of the participants said they had been sexually assaulted, and the survivors were 3 times as likely to experience symptoms of major depression and twice as likely to have anxiety.
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
For some victims, the psychological impact of the incident is so powerful that they begin having suicidal thoughts. A 2020 meta-analysis of dozens of studies with over 88,000 participants found a significantly greater prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among people with a history of sexual assault compared with those who had no such experiences. Specifically, over 27% of sexual assault survivors experienced suicidality compared to just 9% of people with no history of assault.
This analysis confirms earlier research indicating a rise in suicidality following sexual assault. For example, a study in the Archives of General Psychiatry indicates an increased risk of suicide attempts in women with a history of sexual assault. When the sexual trauma occurred before the age of 16, the rate of attempted suicide was 3-4 times higher.
Increased suicide risk also affects teens. Troubling findings in JAMA Pediatrics point to an increased rate of suicide attempts among teenage females who have experienced recent dating violence and males who have been subjected to sexual assault.
Addictions.
A wealth of research indicates that sexual assault and rape increase the risk of developing substance abuse. Experts suggest that sexual assault victims may turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with the psychological distress that typically follows an attack.
Dementia and other brain disorders.
New brain imaging research from the University of Pittsburgh shows that not only does sexual assault impact mental health, but it can also harm brain health. This 2021 study in Brain Imaging and Behavior found that experiencing trauma, and especially sexual assault is associated with greater volumes of white matter hyperintensities (WMH), which are considered neuroimaging markers of dementia, cognitive decline, stroke, and other brain disorders.
OVERCOMING PTSD ASSOCIATED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT
If you’ve endured the trauma of a sexual assault and developed PTSD, it is possible to heal. In order to overcome PTSD related to rape—even if it occurred decades earlier—it’s critical to get a comprehensive assessment. SPECT can help you see if there are changes in blood flow or activity in the brain, such as the diamond pattern, that are typically associated with trauma and PTSD. Determining if you’re also suffering from other mental health issues—such as anxiety, depression, or substance abuse—is another critical part of the process to ensure you get the most targeted and effective treatment plan.
PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples.Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834or visit our contact page here. Here’s a fact that should take your anxiety down a notch: Some anxiety is good!
Whether you are an anxious person, you have an anxiety disorder, or you suffer from occasional bouts of angst, we all know that feeling of nervousness and dread. Anxiety can sometimes be mildly distracting, and at other times, all-consuming. Anxiety affects us on many levels, impacting our emotions and our bodies as physical sensations, and often contributing to negative thoughts.
Hopefully, it brings some consolation to the anxious that moderate amounts of anxiety can yield important, meaningful, and even life-saving benefits. Here are some of the more positive aspects of anxiety.
Hopefully, it brings some consolation to the anxious that moderate amounts of anxiety can yield important, meaningful, and even life-saving benefits.
While overwhelming anxiety can lead to paralysis, some anxiety can motivate you to take action when facing challenges. In a study focused on the benefits of worry, the researchers noted that worry illuminates the importance of taking action to prevent an undesirable outcome. For example, anxiety and worry may motivate you to work diligently to avoid failure and successfully complete a work or school project.
A 2018 study found that some anxious people in work environments have learned to harness anxiety to help them focus on tasks. They use their anxiety to regulate their performance. Anxiety can be very useful when it comes to things like test-taking and competition. Research shows that students and athletes who experienced some anxiety actually displayed improved performance on tests or while participating in competitive sports.
2. Resilience
In a presentation at the 2019 annual convention of the American Psychological Association (APA), psychologists acknowledged the beneficial role stress and anxiety can play in our everyday lives. Specifically, one presenter, Dr. Lisa Damour, noted that the stress and anxiety inherent in taking on a challenge and working to the edge of our abilities can actually make us stronger and more resilient when we are faced with new difficulties. She said that moderate levels of stress and anxiety “can have an inoculating function, which leads to higher than average resilience.” Examples of anxiety helping to build resilience may occur when you start a new job or take on a more challenging role at work.
3. Cautiousness
Anxiety is designed to protect us from danger and allow us to react quickly to emergencies. Anxious feelings are part of the fight-or-flight stress response. Practically speaking, for example in California, when the warm Santa Ana winds start blowing in the fall, anxiety may put you on alert and prompt you to trim the foliage surrounding your home in case a brush fire erupts. On the other side of the nation, the fear of flooding from a looming hurricane may drive you to use sandbags to protect your property.
Anxious people also tend to be more cautious, and that’s a good thing. A U.K. study found that anxious adolescents had fewer accidents and accidental deaths in early adulthood than those who did not suffer from anxiety. In cases like this, anxiety may serve to keep you safe – and alive!
4. Longevity
In 1921, psychologist Lewis Terman at Stanford University in California embarked on what has become the world’s longest-running longitudinal study. It began with 1,500 children starting at age 11 into adulthood, collecting a variety of data that might predict later success. The fascinating results show that the trait most associated with longevity was conscientiousness. The don’t-worry-be-happy people died the earliest from accidents and preventable illnesses because they tended to underestimate risks.
A new study from the University of Edinburgh and University College London that examined health information on more than 500,000 people also found that people who are highly neurotic (anxious people) are more likely to live longer. The researchers believe that their worrying dispositions drove them to underestimate their wellness and take action to check and care for their health. In other words, they were very vigilant about their health. Meanwhile, the non-neurotic patients were less likely to seek treatment for symptoms and had health difficulties later on!
5. Warning Signs
Anxiety can be like a red flag or warning sign to an area of your life that needs attention. In this regard, the unpleasantness of recurrent worry and nervousness may be serving you well. Dr. Damour, the APA presenter mentioned above, noted this positive attribute of anxiety in her talk. She described anxiety as an internal alarm system that was handed down by evolution to alert us to both internal and external threats.
Perhaps you have anxiety about something your teenage child is doing and it’s telling you to pay attention and take action, or maybe you need to end a relationship that is no longer working, or maybe your anxiety is increasing because you have an important deadline approaching, and you need to get working. Whatever the warning signal is, your anxiety may be alerting you to take notice or action on something very important.
6. Empathy
Suffering makes us more empathetic human beings, and that is definitely the case when it comes to suffering from anxiety. Personal struggles with painful anxious feelings have likely made you a more empathetic person, according to research. That means you may be more sensitive to, loving, and accepting of loved ones and people in general who are dealing with personal challenges. The world is a better place with more empathetic people.
7. Good Leadership
Leaders need to run multiple scenarios and be prepared for any outcome. It turns out that anxious people are really good at this, and often prepared for a crisis when it arrives. These are very important qualities for effective leaders.
Interestingly, data shows that anxious people process threats differently, using areas of the brain that are responsible for taking action. Anxious people react quickly in times of danger and tend to be more comfortable with uncomfortable feelings.
If these qualities are applied intelligently, anxious leaders are wonderful at making their teams more resourceful, productive, and creative.
ANXIETY: A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
While moderate amounts of anxiety can be beneficial in the ways just mentioned, too much anxiety can cause panic attacks, health problems, and destructive behavior. If your anxiety is out of control, or if it’s interfering with your daily life, it’s time to seek professional help.
Anxiety 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. At face value, Nikki Leigh appears to have it all. A bright and attractive actress, model, and host of the Positivity Time podcast, Leigh boasts nearly 5 million followers on Facebook. But she wasn’t always so popular. In fact, in a revealing episode of Scan My Brain, Leigh admits that when she was in junior high, she was bullied. “I had no friends and felt super alone,” she tells Dr. Daniel Amen, founder of Amen Clinics, in the video. “I had people beat me up.”
She tried desperately to get the people who didn’t like her to change their opinion of her and become friends, but it didn’t work. The bullying eventually got so intense that Leigh fell into depression. “I told my mom one day that I just didn’t want to live anymore, and she broke. I didn’t realize why, but I learned later on that her dad committed suicide,” she says.
Leigh’s brain SPECT scan showed overactivity in the emotional centers of the brain. Based on the Amen Clinics database of over 170,000 brain scans, the diamond-shaped pattern seen on Leigh’s scan is common in people with mood issues, anxiety, and worry.
Based on the Amen Clinics database of over 170,000 brain scans, overactivity in a diamond-shaped pattern in the emotional centers of the brain is common in people with mood issues, anxiety, and worry.
Can being unpopular in school lead to mental health problems later in life? The research is heartbreaking.
THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL COSTS OF UNPOPULARITY
Being unpopular can have devastating impacts on mental wellness, according to a decades-long study appearing in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. At the outset of this study in 1966, Swedish researchers asked 12,500 6th graders to choose the 3 classmates they liked working with best. The kids who were named by 7 or more of their classmates were deemed “favorites.” On the other end of the spectrum, students who were named by only one of their peers were considered “peripheral” and those who weren’t chosen by any of their schoolmates were categorized as “marginalized.”
When the children turned 50 years old several decades later, the researchers analyzed hospitalizations based on their peer status categories. The children considered peripheral or marginalized were more likely to have been hospitalized for physical or mental health issues. For example, men and women who had been in the marginalized group were approximately twice as likely as those in the favorites groups to have received inpatient care for mental health and behavioral disorders, including alcohol or drug abuse. Adults who were marginalized as children were also more likely to have died by suicide and to have a range of lifestyle-related diseases, such as heart disease or diabetes.
Another study out of Sweden in 2012 re-confirmed that being unpopular in school can make you unhappier and unhealthier later in life. In this research published in Plos One, middle-aged adults who had been unpopular in high school were more likely to have medical problems, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and poor cholesterol ratios. By age 43, those who had been ostracized as teens had a higher risk of having metabolic syndrome, which is a combination of all of these conditions.
Although this study only looked at physical health consequences, it’s important to note that these medical issues also increase the risk of psychiatric issues. For example, being obese carries a greater risk of depression, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia (fear of going out), and addictions. Being overweight is also associated with untreated ADD/ADHD and lower self-esteem. Research in the American Journal of Public Health also shows that among women, increased body mass index (BMI) is linked to a rise in suicidal thoughts.
Similarly, diabetes can take a devastating toll on mental well-being. Anxiety and depression are 2-3 times higher in patients with diabetes than in the general population, according to a 2016 study and a 2018 study. Findings from a 2015 study show that people with diabetes are also at greater risk for eating disorders, such as binge eating.
Feeling stressed from these findings? Take heart that even if you weren’t part of the popular crowd at school, you can overcome the health and psychological problems associated with being socially isolated. It starts with your mindset.
ADOPTING A MORE POSITIVE MINDSET
For Nikki Leigh, opening up about her difficult school days and starting a podcast called “Positivity Time” has helped her deal with the depression and suicidal thoughts she used to feel. On the podcast, she routinely expresses gratitude and shares random acts of kindness with her listeners. Leigh naturally gravitated to focusing her energies on being more upbeat, but there is science to explain why her strategy can be so helpful.
Positivity bias training is a proven practice that can help you overcome negativity, low self-esteem, and other issues, even if they were embedded in your psyche during your formative years at school. Positivity bias training basically means actively seeking out the positive in life—noticing what you like more than what you don’t like, showing gratitude, and changing the way you think.
With these techniques, you have the potential to emerge from decades of feeling bad about yourself due to your school experience. And when you feel happier and more self-confident, you are also more likely to adopt healthy habits that will further enhance your body and brain. It’s a win-win situation.
Depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, 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. 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. 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.
