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When you ask your child a question—Can you please clear the table? Isn’t the weather nice today? Would you like spaghetti for dinner? —is the first thing out of their mouth inevitably the word “No”? Even if you’re asking them if they want to do something fun that you know they would enjoy—Would you like to go swimming at the pool today? Do you want to go to the theme park this weekend? How about going toy shopping this afternoon? —do you still get a resounding no and have to argue about it?

“No” is one of the first words children learn, and occasional defiance from kids and teens is considered normal behavior. But when this behavior persists or is severe, it could be a sign of a behavioral problem called oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).

What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)?

ODD is considered a behavioral disorder that affects as many as 5% of all children. Symptoms and signs of ODD include a tendency to be argumentative, easily annoyed, and to have repeated temper tantrums—especially when they don’t get their way. These children are chronically uncooperative with parents, peers, teachers, and other authority figures. They tend to say no even when saying yes is clearly in their best interest.

Does Your Child Have ODD?

How can you tell if your child’s behavior is normal or if it falls within the realm of ODD? One quick way to determine if your child would benefit from being evaluated for ODD is to ask yourself this question:

“When you ask this child to do something, how many times out of 10 will they do it the first time without arguing or fighting?”

Most children will comply 7 to 8 times out of 10 without a problem. For most ODD kids, however, the answer is usually 3 times or fewer. And for many of them, the answer is 0.

Jeremy, age 9, was an expert at saying no. He had been suspended from school 5 times in the 2nd grade for refusing to do what he was told and being openly defiant with his teacher. His parents, who had tried to be firm with Jeremy but hadn’t had any success at getting him to be more compliant, were told not to bring their son back to school until they sought professional help for him. They decided to take Jeremy for a clinical evaluation that included brain SPECT imaging, a technology that shows areas of the brain with healthy activity, too much activity, or too little activity.

What Brain Imaging Shows About ODD

Jeremy’s brain scan revealed marked increased activity in an area of the brain called the anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG). Considered to be the brain’s gear shifter, the ACG helps people shift from one thought to another. When the activity is too high in this region, people tend to get stuck on thoughts or on a single course of action. This is brain pattern is commonly seen in people with obsessive compulsive disorder. For kids with ODD, this means getting stuck on saying no, being argumentative, and refusing to budge.

For Jeremy, taking nutraceuticals to help calm his ACG diminished his oppositional behavior. A follow-up SPECT scan two months later showed that Jeremy’s ACG was now functioning at a healthy activity level. Combining that with teaching his mom and dad new parenting skills, Jeremy was able to go back to school where he excelled in class. In fact, his new teacher could not understand why his former teachers had warned her about him.

5 Tips for Dealing with a Child with ODD

There are many things you can do on an everyday basis to help you handle your oppositional child. Here are 5 strategies you can start implementing now.

1. Give them options.

When you give oppositional children or teens with ODD an option as to when they might do something, they tend to be less likely to get stuck on “No, I won’t do it.”

2. Use distraction.

When your child or teen is stuck on a negative thought or behavior, it is helpful to distract them for a bit and then come back to the issue at hand later.

3. Notice what you like more than what you don’t like.

Rather than only giving your child attention when they are misbehaving or being defiant, make it a point to provide positive reinforcement when your child is being compliant and agreeable.

4. Don’t fight back.

It’s important to avoid fueling the fire when a child is stuck in an argumentative state. Don’t escalate the argument. Keeping calm will help your child get past the oppositional thoughts.

5. Be a good role model.

Examine your own behavior to see if you also have oppositional tendencies. Having an overactive ACG tends to run in families, meaning parents who have obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, or inflexible personality styles tend to have children with ODD. Make an effort to be more flexible in your own thinking.

If your child is displaying oppositional behavior and it is affecting their school performance, home life, or friendships, it’s a good idea to seek an evaluation. At Amen Clinics, we use brain SPECT imaging to help assess areas of the brain where there is too much or too little activity. This helps us tailor a treatment plan using the least toxic, most effective solutions for your child’s unique needs. Treatment may include family therapy and parenting skills, lifestyle recommendations, nutraceuticals, and medication (when needed).

To find out more about how we can help your child, call 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit.

Tumbling off a bike, tripping while running in the house, or getting a kick in the head while playing soccer—getting hurt is part of growing up. However, suffering a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) from such head trauma is becoming more common. In fact, from 2010-2015, concussion diagnoses among tweens and teens ages 10-19 skyrocketed 71 percent. These seemingly mild head injuries can be devastating in ways you might not imagine, with consequences that can extend far beyond the initial blow to cause a lasting negative impact on a child’s life.

Take Joey, for example. He fell down a flight of stairs at age three. Even though he was unconscious for only a few minutes and was given a diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), there was nothing mild about the enduring effect the injury had on his life. By the time he was 15, he had been kicked out of his third residential treatment program for violence. Neither medication nor behavioral therapy was the answer—Joey needed a brain rehabilitation program.

If your child has suffered a head injury, here are 7 things you need to know:

Fact #1. TBI’s can impact cognitive function.

Head trauma can affect a child’s cognitive skills, causing problems with learning, attention and concentration, planning, problem-solving, memory, communication, and more. These are the fundamental building blocks of education and can set a child up for trouble in school.

Fact #2. Head injuries increase the risk of mental illness.

A concussion or TBI as a child increases the likelihood of developing mental health conditions, but few healthcare professionals know it. TBI is associated with a rise in:

• ADD/ADHD
• Depression
• Anxiety and panic disorders
• Psychosis
• PTSD
• Suicide
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Borderline and antisocial personality disorders
• Dementia
• Aggression

Fact #3. Head trauma increases the risk of incarceration.

In a review of studies involving juvenile offenders, researchers found that about 30% of them had suffered a past TBI. Their findings suggest that juvenile offenders are significantly more likely to have a TBI compared to the general population.

Fact #4. Head injuries can disrupt healthy hormone production.

TBIs, especially those from whiplash injuries, can damage the pituitary gland, which plays a vital role in the regulation and production of the body’s hormones. This can lead to hormonal dysfunction, which can negatively impact neurotransmitter production and raises the risk of experiencing symptoms of mental illness.

Fact #5. TBI’s can happen at home or on the playing field.

You may think TBIs only happen in major car accidents, but new research shows that sports and recreational activities and everyday consumer products account for 72% of children’s emergency room visits for a TBI-related injury. According to the 2019 study in the journal Brain, sports and recreational activities (especially football, biking, and basketball) account for 28.8% of head injuries, home furnishings (primarily beds) and fixtures are linked to 17.2%, residential structures and construction materials are responsible for 17.1%, child nursery equipment is tied to 2.7%, and toys make up 2.4%.

Fact #6. Functional brain imaging tests can reveal damage from past head injuries.

Following a TBI, brain imaging tests that show the brain’s structure, such as MRI, may not indicate any damage to the anatomy of the brain. However, functional brain scans, such as brain SPECT imaging, can reveal areas of the brain with abnormal activity due to past trauma. When a person who is experiencing symptoms of a psychiatric disorder has a brain scan that reveals signs of a TBI, it helps them get a more accurate diagnosis. For people with a past head injury, treating only the psychiatric symptoms often doesn’t work. They also need treatment to help balance underlying brain activity.

For many people, seeing their brain scan serves as a reminder of past head trauma they had forgotten. That’s what happened to controversial YouTube star Logan Paul, who is well-known for taking wild risks and performing dangerous stunts. He wanted to get a brain scan to find out why he makes so many bad decisions, why he lacks empathy, and why he is incapable of maintaining a committed relationship. When he looked at his brain scan, it jogged his memory of playing tackle football in high school where he was “always getting hit in the head.” Those blows to the head likely played a part in the issues he was having.

Fact #7. Healing the brain can help soothe symptoms.

Therapies that help heal abnormal brain activity due to TBI include hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and neurofeedback. HBOT speeds healing and boosts cognitive and emotional functioning. Neurofeedback is a non-invasive strategy that has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, attention problems, and more. Eating a brain-healthy diet and taking targeted nutritional supplements can also contribute to more balanced brain activity.

At Amen Clinics, we have helped thousands of children and adults with concussions or TBIs to heal their brain and minimize their symptoms. We use a combination of the least toxic, most effective therapies, which may include neurofeedback, HBOT, nutraceuticals, and medications, as well as simple lifestyle changes that can make a big difference.

If your child has suffered a concussion or head injury, find out how we can help. Talk to a specialist today by calling 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in America, and it affects nearly 1 in 3 teens between the ages of 13 and 18. The number of young people experiencing anxiety is on the rise, with a 20% jump in anxiety disorders in kids and teens seen from 2007-2012. What’s the problem?

Several factors are contributing to the increasing anxiety among teens, including the following:

1. Spending more time on social media

Teens report using the internet on an “almost constant” basis, according to statistics from Pew Research Center. And Generation Z (16-20-year-olds) logs over 4 hours a day online on their mobile phones. Much of that time is spent on social media sites like Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook. A growing number of studies have shown a connection between time spent on social media and feelings of anxiety and depression.

Social media outlets are masterful at creating shame as they invite nonstop comparisons to other people who may or may not even be real. Shame is a painful emotion that results from negatively comparing yourself to others or not living up to your own standards. The near-constant flood of negative feelings can generate worry and anxiety about not measuring up.

How to help: Limit social media time. In a study of over a million teens since 1991, researchers found that when they limited social media, spent time with their friends in person, exercised, played sports, attended religious services, read, and even did homework, they were happier than those who spent time on the internet, playing computer games, doing social media, texting, using video chat, or watching TV.

2. Spending less time in face-to-face interactions

As teens spend more and more time on social media, they are spending less time with in-person connections. And when anxiety enters the picture, teens may be even more likely to isolate themselves from social situations in favor of scrolling through their social media feeds, which creates a negative, looping cycle.

The problem is that social media doesn’t provide the same psychological or physiological benefits as socializing face-to-face. Human bonding—eye contact, hugs, holding hands—causes the brain to release the feel-good neurotransmitter oxytocin. Instead, research shows a clear, causal link between Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram and depression and loneliness, especially in teenage girls.

How to help: Encourage your teen to spend more in-person time with friends, family, and others. Consider volunteering with your teen at a charity where you can both interact with others.

3. Increased pressure to perform

AP classes, after-school activities, college applications—the high expectations placed on teens (and that teens place on themselves) are also fueling the rise in anxiety. Teens today can be under tremendous pressure to achieve, and a growing number of them say they feel overwhelmed by everything they need to accomplish.

How to help: Be aware of the expectations you’re placing on your teen and try to encourage realistic goals. Allow your teen time to relax rather than overscheduling their time. When you give positive reinforcement to your teen, don’t focus solely on their accomplishments. Let them know what you appreciate about them as a person.

4. An increasingly frightening society

Mass shootings on school campuses and the threat of terrorist attacks are adding to the sense of anxiety so many teens are experiencing. Just seeing news coverage of these events can cause intense fear and contribute to anxiety or post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). Places where teens used to feel safe—school, movie theaters, outdoor concerts—may now be where they feel apprehension and dread.

How to help: Reduce exposure to the negative news cycles on television and online. Talk to your teen about being aware of their surroundings and noticing where exits are located so they can have some sense of control in case a situation arises. In addition, teach them stress-management techniques to soothe anxiety when it hits.

5. Poor eating habits

Food is a drug. It has powerful effects on our moods, emotions, and behavior. Teens have notoriously bad eating habits—think fast food, pizza, soda, ice cream, coffee—that can increase symptoms of nervousness. Adolescents may also be prone to skipping meals, which can promote or exacerbate feelings of anxiety.

In addition, consuming foods—such as sugar, MSG, gluten, soy, corn, and dairy—that are potential allergens may create a metabolic disorder that can lead to symptoms of anxiety, agitation, irritability, depression, and more. Considering these are found in the vast majority of processed foods, it can be hard to avoid them. And teens may not make the connection between what they’re eating and the way they’re feeling.

How to help: Feed your teen a healthy diet of small amounts of high-quality protein, fatty fish that is rich in mood-boosting omega-3 fatty acids, and pesticide-free vegetables and fruits, and minimize refined carbohydrates and junk food. You may also want to consider an elimination diet—essentially a diet free of dairy, gluten, corn, sugar, and soy for one month. Then add foods back one by one to see how they affect anxiety levels.

6. Abnormal activity in the teenage brain

Brain imaging studies show that teens with anxiety tend to have too much activity in a region of the brain called the basal ganglia. This area is involved in setting a person’s anxiety level. When there is too much activity in this area, it is associated with anxiety, nervousness, panic attacks, physical sensations of anxiety (such as a pounding heart, shortness of breath, and racing thoughts), a tendency to predict the worst, conflict avoidance, muscle tension, headaches, stomachaches, tremors, twitches, and more.

How to help: Getting a functional brain scan using SPECT technology can help identify brain patterns associated with anxiety and can also reveal any co-occurring conditions, such as depression. Imaging studies have found 7 types of anxiety and depression and knowing your teen’s type can help find a more targeted treatment plan.

Amen Clinics has helped thousands of teens overcome anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and PTSD. We use brain SPECT imaging to help identify which type of anxiety teens have and to help find the least toxic, most effective personalized solutions as part of a brain-body approach to healing.

If your teen’s anxiety is affecting their school, home life, or relationships, speak with a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

There are so many myths floating around about ADD/ADHD, it can be hard for you to know what’s fact and what’s fake. Knowing the reality of this common condition is one of the first steps to finding the most effective solutions for yourself or your child.

Myth #1: ADD/ADHD is just a fad and an excuse for bad behavior.

Fact: ADD is real and is recognized as a medical condition by the American Psychiatric Association, National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Plus, it can be seen in the brain. Brain imaging research shows that ADD/ADHD affects many areas of the brain, including:

• Prefrontal cortex and cerebellum–involved in concentration, attention span, judgment, organization, planning, and impulse control
• Anterior cingulate gyrus—involved in shifting attention
• Temporal lobes—involved in memory, learning, and emotional reactions
• Basal ganglia—involved in the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which drives the prefrontal cortex
• Deep limbic system—involved with setting emotional tone and bonding

With so many brain regions involved, it’s understandable how the condition can have such a negative impact on learning, behavior, and emotions.  A variety of brain patterns have been associated with the condition, showing that there are actually 7 types of ADD/ADHD.

Myth #2: ADD/ADHD is only found in hyperactive boys.

Fact: Contrary to popular belief, not all people with this condition are hyperactive, and although it is about three times more commonly diagnosed in boys, ADD/ADHD also affects girls and women. One of the most common types of the condition is known as “inattentive ADD,” and it is characterized by having trouble focusing and being easily distracted. This type often goes undiagnosed because these people tend to be quiet and don’t draw attention to themselves with their behavior. Many of these children, teenagers, and adults are unjustly labeled as “lazy,” “unmotivated,” or “slow.” Girls tend to have inattentive ADD as much as or even more than boys.

Myth #3: ADD/ADHD is overdiagnosed.

Fact: The common perception that ADD/ADHD is overdiagnosed is not supported by scientific evidence, according to a 2018 review of the research in JAMA Network Open. Although it is true that the number of people diagnosed with ADD/ADHD is rising, research shows that it remains underdiagnosed and undertreated in some people, such as adults and females. In addition, over two-thirds of people with ADD/ADHD have one or more co-occurring conditions—such as oppositional defiant disorder, depression, or bipolar disorder—and their ADHD symptoms are often misdiagnosed for those other issues.

Myth #4: ADD/ADHD is only a minor problem.

Fact: Left untreated, or when mistreated, ADD/ADHD is a very serious societal problem. Consider these dire statistics:

• 33% never finish high school compared to the national average of 8.7% (25% repeat at least one grade).
• 52% of untreated teens and adults abuse drugs and alcohol.
• 19% smoke cigarettes (compared to 10% of the general population).
• 46% of untreated hyperactive boys will be arrested for a felony by age 16, compared to 11% for controls.
• 21-25% of inmates in a number of studies have been found to have ADD/ADHD.
• 75% have interpersonal problems
• 60% higher risk of being involved in a bicycle collision
• A higher percentage have motor vehicle accidents, speeding tickets, citations for driving without a license, and suspended or revoked licenses.
• They have more medical visits and emergency room visits.
• They get injured up to 5 times more than others.

Myth #5: People with ADD/ADHD should just try harder.

Fact: Brain imaging studies show that when people with ADD/ADHD try to concentrate, it actually shuts down activity in the parts of the brain involved focus and follow-through. No amount of effort can change this. It’s like asking a person who needs glasses to simply “try harder” to see.

Myth #6: Everyone outgrows ADD/ADHD around age 12 or 13.

Fact: Many people never outgrow ADD/ADHD, and their symptoms continue to interfere with their daily lives for decades. An estimated 30-65% of children, who are diagnosed with the condition will have disabling symptoms into adulthood.

Myth #7: Medication is the best treatment for ADD/ADHD.

Fact: Treatment can be very effective when properly targeted and especially when using a comprehensive approach that includes education, support, exercise, nutrition, and personalized supplements and medications (when needed). Unfortunately, many healthcare professionals take a one-size-fits-all approach to medication, which may work for some people with ADD/ADHD but can make others worse.

If you or your child are experiencing symptoms associated with ADD/ADHD, it’s important to get a complete evaluation to make sure you receive the targeted solutions you need. At Amen Clinics, we have helped tens of thousands of people with all 7 types of ADD/ADHD overcome their symptoms, boost their performance at school or work, and improve their behavior.

For more information or to speak with a specialist, call 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

Some anxiety is a good thing. It’s what makes your child do their homework on time, look both ways when crossing the street, and do their chores. But when kids have too much anxiety, it can make them suffer.

Six-year-old Sam was terrified of dogs. Seeing one, even a small dog, would make him run away or cry out in fear. Sam had never been bitten or attacked by a dog, so there was no reason for his irrational anxiety about dogs. One day, when Sam was walking hand-in-hand with his mom, a dog came toward them. Sam panicked, dropped his mom’s hand and ran across the street to avoid the dog and narrowly missed being run over by a car. That’s when his mom took Sam for an evaluation.

A fear of dogs wasn’t Sam’s only issue. He was intensely shy and would become very nervous whenever anyone would fight at school or at home. He also bit his fingernails, complained of frequent stomachaches, and had trouble sleeping most nights.  

Brain imaging studies using SPECT technology show that children with anxiety tend to have heightened activity in certain areas of the brain, including the basal ganglia, which is involved in setting a person’s anxiety level. Sam’s brain scan showed this same pattern.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to change the brain to help children—like Sam—overcome anxiety.

5 Natural Ways to Help Kids Overcome Generalized Anxiety Disorder

1. ANT Therapy

Anxious kids tend to have a lot of ANTs (automatic negative thoughts). Their anxious thoughts may prevent them from living a full life. For example, they may avoid socializing with other kids because they think they will be unfairly judged or laughed at. They may not sign up for the school field trip because they think the school bus will get into a terrible accident along the way. Teaching your children to question their ANTs can help. Here’s how this simple technique worked for Sam, as he learned ways to talk back to his ANTs.

ANT: “That dog is going to attack me and bite me all over.”

Talk back to the ANT: “The dog is in its yard behind a fence, and it isn’t big enough to jump over the fence.”

Talk back to the ANT: “The dog is on a leash, and the owner is a big guy who can hold the leash tight if he needs to.”

Talk back to the ANT: “The dog is not growling at me and isn’t even looking at me.”

2. Balloon Breathing

One of the simplest forms of relaxation that you can teach an anxious child is deep breathing. Kids love balloons, so you may want to use a balloon as a visual image to guide them. Whenever your child is feeling anxious, have them take a deep breath into their belly for about 5 seconds, as if they were filling up a balloon. Then have them let the air out of the balloon by exhaling slowly for about 5 seconds. Have them blow up and empty 10 balloons (10 breaths). This immediately gets more oxygen into the body to help calm anxious brains.

3. Food as Medicine

The foods a child eats can either fuel anxiety or soothe it. If you have a kid who skips meals, it can lead to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can trigger feelings of anxiety. It’s important to make sure kids eat small meals that include high-quality protein throughout the day. In addition, problems with gut health are associated with anxiety. To help boost gut health, cut out inflammatory foods like corn, soy, and processed foods from your child’s diet.

4. Nutritional Supplements

Supplements, such as magnesium, GABA, theanine, omega-3 fatty acids, and Relora, are frequently used to help calm anxiety. Check with an integrative physician who does brain health nutrition coaching for doses that are appropriate for children.

5. Biofeedback

For some children who suffer from anxiety due to emotional trauma, a biofeedback technique called EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) can be effective. This non-invasive therapy involves holding specific memories in mind while a therapist performs hand movements to reduce the emotional response associated with the memory. This therapy helped Sam overcome his fear of dogs. For kids, it’s important to find a therapist who is trained and skilled in working with children and adolescents.

Amen Clinics has helped thousands of children and adolescents—including Sam—overcome anxiety, panic attacks, and emotional trauma. We use brain SPECT imaging to help identify which type of anxiety they have and to help find personalized solutions as part of a brain-body approach to healing.

If your child’s anxiety is affecting their daily life, speak with a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

When it comes to mental health/brain health, your family history matters. Scientific research has shown that having family members with depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, addictions, or dementia, increases your risk.

5 ways psychiatric issues in your family make you more susceptible to mental health issues.

1. Genetic makeup

Your genetic makeup can increase your vulnerability. For Celina, 36, compulsiveness and other issues seemed to run in the family. She was a perfectionist, had repetitive negative thoughts, and had to have all the shirts in her drawer buttoned a certain way or she’d get very upset. Her 8-year-old daughter Lisa had a locking compulsion—every time someone left the house, Lisa would be right behind them to lock the door. Then there was Celina’s 10-year-old son Samuel. Once he got a thought in his head, he couldn’t get it out and he would follow his mom around the house asking her the same questions for hours.

All three of them underwent brain SPECT imaging studies to see if there might be a genetic component to their problems. The brain scans showed that all three of them had overactivity in an area called the anterior cingulate gyrus.

2. Added stress

When there are mental health challenges in your family, it’s likely that you were exposed to stressful situations throughout your lifetime. Growing up in a stressful home life or being subjected to abuse from a parent or relative increases the likelihood of developing depression or anxiety.

3. Epigenetics

A new field of genetics called epigenetics shows that our habits and emotions can impact our biology so deeply it actually causes changes in the genes that are transmitted to the next several generations. This means the stress associated with mental health challenges in your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents actually altered your genes to become more susceptible to trouble. In addition, if your ancestors ate poor diets, were exposed to environmental toxins, lived with chronic stress, or didn’t get eat healthy prenatal nutrition, it changed their genes—and subsequently, yours—to be more likely to express mental health problems.

4. When family members self-medicate

If the members of your family self-medicate with harmful substances—think alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, marijuana—or by engaging in bad habits, you are more likely to adopt some of these same behaviors. After all, exposure equals preference. These habits contribute to mental health/brain health issues. In addition, in children and grandchildren of alcoholics, childhood trauma resets the activity in their brains to a higher-than-normal level, setting them up for emotional problems later in life.

5. Lack of love for the brain

When your family members don’t love themselves and don’t love their brain enough to change their behavior, you may also find it hard to learn to love yourself enough to engage in a brain-healthy lifestyle. This puts your brain and mental wellbeing at risk.

How to Overcome Genetic Risk for Mental Health

Having a genetic risk is not a death sentence; it should be a wakeup call for you to know your vulnerabilities and get serious about taking care of your brain. 

Think of it this way. Your genes load the gun, but it’s your behavior and environment that pull the trigger. Engaging in a brain healthy lifestyle can help “turn off” or “turn down” the genes that make you more vulnerable to mental health issues.

And remember, it’s not just about you, it is about generations of you. By reducing your risk, you also alter the genes of your children, grandchildren, and beyond to make them less susceptible to problems.

If your family history has put you at risk or is contributing to mental health/brain health issues, understand that at Amen Clinics, we treat the whole person. In addition to our leading-edge brain imaging work, we also assess the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors that influence your life and either contribute to psychiatric disorders or help heal them.

For more information about how we can help, reach out today to speak with a specialist at 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

The relationship a child has with their father is extremely important to their early development. Do you have “daddy issues” because your dad wasn’t the best parent? Fathers are so important to your development and to your self-esteem, and when that bond isn’t as strong as it could be, it can affect your life in powerful ways.

In a week-long series of the Brain Warrior’s Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen share personal and enlightening insights about their own issues with their dads. And they explore how your primary relationship with your father plays a major role in how you think and how you behave in your day-to-day life.

In this eye-opening series, you’ll discover:

• How to understand the way your relationship with your father has affected your life

• Why birth order matters in your relationship with your father

• How your dad’s mental health/brain health impacts your own life

• Why one of the major themes in Dr. Amen’s psychiatric practice is how patients got along with their dad

• How a girl’s bond with her father greatly affects her relationships with other men

• How an unpredictable or unstable father impacts your emotional brain even years later

• What it means for you if your dad had mental health problems

• How having a dad with obsessive compulsive disorder affects you

• How stepfathers can make a big difference in your life

• Why your memories about your dad may not be completely accurate

• How seeing your own brain scan can dramatically change your perception of your father

• How to reframe the way you think about your dad

• Simple strategies to prevent daddy issues in your own children

Listen to the 4-part series on Daddy Issues on the Brain Warrior’s Way Podcast.

At Amen Clinics, we have helped thousands of people overcome family and mental health issues so you can mend relationships and heal past hurts that stem from your upbringing. If you or a family member needs help, call 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

Have you ever plopped your preschooler on the couch with a tablet, gaming device, or smartphone to keep them occupied while you get a few chores done around the house? If so, you could be putting them at increased risk for attention problems and hyperactivity.

Kids with more than two hours a day of screen time by the age of 5 are almost eight times more likely to meet the criteria for ADD/ADHD than youngsters who spend less than 30 minutes a day looking at a screen, according to a 2019 Canadian study in Plos One.

Having untreated ADD/ADHD as a child can have lasting impacts into adulthood. Research shows that adults diagnosed with the condition as a child tend to:

• do more poorly in school
• have more trouble getting and keeping a job
• don’t make as much money financially
• are more likely to get divorced
• are at higher risk for substance abuse

This is why it is so important to get diagnosed and to get the right treatment. Brain imaging shows there are 7 types of ADD/ADHD and each type needs its own treatment plan.

Decreasing your child’s risk for the condition can help. The next time you’re tempted to use screen time as a sort of babysitter, think twice. You could be setting up your child for a lifetime of struggle. It’s best to limit your preschooler’s screen time to no more than 30 minutes a day. Here are three ways to do it.

3 Tips to Limit Your Preschooler’s Screen Time

1. Use parental controls.

Tablets and smartphones come equipped with control options that allow parents to monitor and limit screen time.

2. Set and enforce screen rules.

No screens at the dinner table. No screens in the car. No screens before bedtime. Whatever rules you set, be sure to enforce them. This will help preschoolers develop a healthier relationship with their tech gadgets.

3. Encourage physical activity.

Take your child to the park, swimming pool, or activity center or sign them up for group sports so they can burn off energy while having fun and learning new skills. Exercise increases blood flow to all parts of the body, including the brain, and it boosts focus and attention. In the Canadian study mentioned above, kids who spent at least two hours a week playing organized sports were less likely to have behavioral issues. When ADD patients play sports, such as basketball, which involves intense aerobic exercise, they tend to do better in school.

At Amen Clinics, we have helped thousands of children overcome ADD/ADHD. With the world’s largest database or function brain scans, we can accurately diagnose which of the 7 types of ADD/ADHD a child has and target treatment to their needs. We believe in taking a whole brain-body approach to healing that may include nutrition coaching, supplements, medication when needed, and other therapies.

If your child is struggling with inattention, lack of focus, or hyperactivity, reach out today to speak to a specialist at 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

Brian, age 6, was very excited the day he lost his first tooth and even more thrilled when he found a dollar under his pillow the next morning from the tooth fairy. He was so happy he secretly pulled out another tooth after school. Two days later, he tried to pull out a third tooth. Over the next month, Brian pulled out three more teeth. His mother was worried about why her boy was pulling out his teeth.

Denise was 13 when she pulled a knife on her mother. The teen had been having problems with her temper for a while, but this latest incident had escalated to a whole new level. Her mother was starting to feel afraid of her own daughter.

Bonnie, age 15, seemed to go out of her way to irritate her parents and teachers. She knew how to push all their buttons with her bad behavior and managed to get them to yell at her. It’s like she wanted to pick a fight. “I just start screaming at her because she says terrible things,” her dad says.

Why did these kids have behavioral problems? They all came from loving homes, and the parents were doing their best to find solutions.

You may be dealing with behavior issues in your own children—impulsivity, compulsive behaviors, anger or aggression issues, negativity, nervousness, disruptive talking, inappropriate actions, manipulation, or others. The answers, as these parents discovered, lie in the brain.

Behavior Problems are Brain Problems

Each of the parents in the examples above was so concerned they took their children for an evaluation that included brain SPECT imaging. SPECT measures blood flow and activity in the brain and shows three things: healthy activity, areas with too much activity, and areas with decreased activity. The results for these children showed abnormal activity.

Brian’s brain scan revealed marked increased activity in his frontal lobes. When this part of the brain is overactive, people may end up getting “stuck” on certain thoughts and behaviors. In Brian’s case, it was compulsively pulling out his teeth.

Brian’s Scan:

Denise had two SPECT studies—one at rest and the other during concentration. At rest, her brain showed mild decreased activity in the back half of her left temporal lobe. When she tried to concentrate, the activity in her left temporal lobe completely shut down. The temporal lobe is involved in emotional stability, and problems in this area are associated with anger and aggression issues.

Bonnie’s brain scan at rest showed normal activity, but during concentration, there was a decrease in activity in her prefrontal cortex, which is a sign of ADD/ADHD. This area of the brain is associated with impulse control, forethought, and judgment. When the activity is low here, children may be conflict-seeking as a way to stimulate the brain. Playing “I Bet I Can Get You to Yell at Me” is like an adrenaline rush for them.

Getting Help for Your Child’s Troubled Behavior

Many parents simply hope their children will “grow out of” their problem behaviors. But left untreated, these issues can cause lasting consequences that continue or even worsen in adulthood. For example, children who don’t get the help they need are more likely to drop out of school and to abuse drugs and alcohol. They also tend to have trouble getting a job and earn less money in their lifetime. The costs are emotional, physical, and financial.

Getting the right treatment is critical. As you have learned from the brain scan results of these three children, behavioral problems are not all the same. They are associated with different brain patterns, which means they have different treatment needs. Understanding what is happening in your child’s brain is the first step to finding the most effective treatment to improve their behavior. Amen Clinics has helped thousands of children—including Brian, Denise, and Bonnie—overcome a variety of behavioral problems to improve their success in school, enhance their ability to make friends, and create a happier family life. We use brain SPECT imaging to help find targeted solutions as part of a brain-body approach to healing. If you’re concerned about your child’s behavior, speak with a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

Here are 5 things that can help minimize autism symptoms:

1. Get an accurate diagnosis.

2. Consider going gluten-free.

3. Supplement with vitamin D₃.

4. Avoid dairy.

5. Seek help early.