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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) gets a lot of press, especially regarding military veterans who return from combat. For example, it’s estimated that 11-20% of veterans who served in the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have PTSD in a given year.

However, you don’t have to see combat in the military to be vulnerable to PTSD, a potentially debilitating condition that can lead to intrusive thoughts and flashbacks, avoidance of reminders of the traumatic event, feelings of guilt, a sense of being on edge at all times, being easily startled, anxiety or depression, problems sleeping, as well as other symptoms.

You may be surprised to discover that PTSD can affect anyone—any ethnicity, nationality, or age—although women are 2-3 times more likely to develop the condition than men. Approximately 3.5% of adults in the U.S. are affected by the condition, and about 7-8 people out of 100 will have PTSD in their lifetime.

What’s even more surprising is that in some cases, you don’t even have to be involved first-hand in a traumatic event. Simply hearing about a traumatic event or repetitive viewing of violent news stories on television can increase the risk of PTSD.

10 Types of Traumatic Events That Can Lead to PTSD

  1. Military combat
  2. Rape or other physical assault
  3. Childhood abuse
  4. Natural disasters
  5. Automobile accidents
  6. Sudden death of a loved one
  7. Seeing someone get seriously hurt or killed
  8. Being held at gunpoint
  9. Terrorist attack
  10. Mass shooting

Not everybody who is exposed to a traumatic event will develop PTSD. Certain things can make you more vulnerable to the condition, including having little or no social support in the wake of a traumatic event, as well as coping with additional stresses due to injuries, the death of a loved one, or the loss of your home.

What the Media Gets Wrong About PTSD

Most media articles talk about PTSD as a psychological problem, but that isn’t accurate. Although it does cause psychological consequences, PTSD is, in fact, a brain disorder. Brain imaging studies using a technology called SPECT show PTSD is associated with changes in the brain. Without brain imaging, PTSD is often misdiagnosed because symptoms overlap with other conditions, such as traumatic brain injury. Research shows that brain scans help differentiate PTSD from TBI to help you get an accurate diagnosis and more effective treatment.

If you or a loved one has experienced a traumatic event and is experiencing symptoms of PTSD, it’s important to seek help. At Amen Clinics, we perform brain scans using a technology called SPECT as part of a complete evaluation to diagnose and treat PTSD with the least toxic, most effective solutions.

Don’t let PTSD steal your life. Call one of our brain health advisors at 888-288-9834 to see how Amen Clinics can help you or schedule a visit online.

Does your child get irritable and upset if they don’t get their Fortnite fix? Are you worried they might be addicted to video games? You could be right.

In a landmark 2019 decision, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that video game addiction is officially a mental health disorder. “Gaming disorder” has been added to the WHO’s International Classification of Diseases, putting it on a par with depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses.

Gaming Disorder Can Steal Your Life

Research shows that 97% of Americans 12 to 17 years old play video games, and as many as 23% of gamers of all ages show signs of addictive behavior. According to the WHO, these signs include impaired control over gaming and “continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.” And these repercussions can be seen in a person’s personal relationships, career, schoolwork, or daily life.

Gaming disorder also puts people at greater risk for other detrimental issues, including:

The link between gaming and ADD/ADHD goes both ways. In addition to gaming contributing to the condition, a 2019 study shows that people who have ADD/ADHD may be at increased risk for developing a gaming addiction.

The Risk for Addiction Lies in the Brain

It’s important to understand that gaming addiction is not a character flaw or personal failure. Brain imaging studies using a technology called SPECT show that addiction is, in fact, a brain disorder. The health of your brain plays a major role in your risk for addiction—whether it’s to alcohol, drugs, or video games.

In particular, it is your brain’s self-control circuit that helps you rein in your behaviors or that drives you to addiction.

The brain’s self-control circuit includes:

When this self-control circuit is in balance, you can be motivated, focused, goal-oriented, and have control over your gaming and other behaviors. In the addicted brain, the PFC is weakened, allowing the drive systems to take control.

A SPECT Scan Indicating Low PFC Function

Not All Gaming Addicts are the Same

Designating video game addiction as a mental health disorder is a powerful first step in encouraging people to seek treatment. But most healthcare professionals will view it as a single or simple disorder and will treat everyone the same way. This will never work because not all people with gaming addictions are the same. In fact, SPECT brain scans reveal that there are 6 types of addicts.

Type 1: Compulsive Addicts

Type 2: Impulsive Addicts

Type 3: Impulsive-Compulsive Addicts

Type 4: Sad or Emotional Addicts

Type 5: Anxious Addicts

Type 6: Temporal Lobe Addicts

Knowing your type is essential to getting the right treatment plan to help you regain control of your life.

4 Key Ways to Break Free from Addiction

The brain is the ultimate key to overcoming gaming addiction and other bad behaviors. Strengthening your PFC is one of the best ways to balance your brain’s self-control circuit. Here are 4 ways to boost your PFC.

1. Get your heart pumping.

Regular aerobic exercise boosts blood flow to the PFC and has been shown to improve focus and impulse control. Aim for 30-45 minutes a day of fast walking (walk like you are late for an important appointment.)

2. Practice saying no.

Every time you say no to extra gaming time, you train your PFC and help create new neural pathways that strengthen your control. Eventually, saying no to unhealthy gaming behavior becomes easier and can even feel automatic.

3. Eat a brain healthy diet.

Did you know that a sugar-filled junk-food diet can fuel your addiction? Getting a quick sugar rush from soda, cookies, or candy weakens the PFC and can make you more impulsive. Eating lean protein throughout the day and eliminating sugar can help stabilize blood sugar levels, which is beneficial for your PFC, moods, and impulse control.

4. Supplement your diet.

Nutritional supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, green tea, and Rhodiola can boost blood flow to the PFC and help you stay focused on your goals.

If you or your child is struggling with addiction to video games or any other substance, we’re here for you. At Amen Clinics, we have helped thousands of people overcome bad behaviors and improve every aspect of their life. We use brain SPECT imaging to help identify your addiction type in addition to assessing the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors that may be contributing to addiction. With this comprehensive evaluation, we are able to personalize treatment solutions for your needs.

Don’t let addiction steal your life. Speak to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

As a college freshman, Jenna was a competitive track and field athlete who loved spending her days in her running shoes. By the time she reached her sophomore year, however, things had changed. She was filled with sadness, felt like she had no energy, and had lost interest in training. When she mentioned it to her primary care doctor, she was diagnosed with major depression and given a prescription for antidepressants.

The medication boosted her mood—a lot! She felt like she was on top of the world. It also filled her with so much energy, she felt invincible and began training all day and staying up all night doing her homework. She also became sexually aggressive, hitting on the other track athletes even though she had a steady boyfriend. She even came on to her coach multiple times, which didn’t go over well and ended up with her almost getting kicked off the team.

What went wrong?

A Common Misdiagnosis

Jenna had been misdiagnosed. In reality, she had bipolar spectrum disorder (BSD), formerly known as manic-depressive disorder. People with bipolar disorder experience dramatic swings in mood, energy, and activity levels, going from depressive episodes to manic episodes in a cyclical pattern. The antidepressants Jenna took not only failed to work, but they were also making her worse by triggering a manic episode.

Jenna isn’t alone. Among people diagnosed with major depression, about one in three are estimated to actually have bipolar disorder. This is due to the fact that the two conditions share many of the same symptoms.

Shared Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder and Depression

Depressive episodes of bipolar disease are characterized by:

These symptoms are very similar to those typically associated with depression. Women with bipolar disorder tend to experience more depressive episodes, which may increase their risk of being misdiagnosed with depression.

Manic Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

On the other side of the spectrum in bipolar disorder are manic episodes.

Manic episodes are characterized by:

Some people with bipolar disorder don’t experience mania to this level. They have what’s called “hypomania,” which is a less severe form of mania. People may feel like they have better energy than usual and a brighter mood but not so much that they engage in risky behavior.

The Key to Healing

The good news is that bipolar disorder responds well to proper treatment. Getting an accurate diagnosis is key. Jenna had struggled for a few years before she decided to get a brain scan to find out what was really happening in her brain. The brain imaging test called SPECT, along with a complete personal history and other assessments pointed to bipolar II disorder.

There are at least 4 types of bipolar disorder, including:

Knowing her condition type helped develop a treatment plan personalized for her needs. And seeing her brain scan helped her understand that her condition was real, so it encouraged her to take her medication regularly. Compliance is a problem for many people with bipolar disorder because when they start to feel better, they don’t believe they have a problem at all and often stop taking their medication. For Jenna, seeing was believing.

With the proper treatment and good compliance, Jenna’s moods stabilized, and she eventually became a successful and well-liked track and field coach at her alma mater. At Amen Clinics, we use leading-edge brain imaging technology called SPECT as part of an overall evaluation to accurately diagnose and treat bipolar disease. If you or a loved one is suffering from dramatic mood swings that are impacting your relationships or your performance at work or school, schedule a visit or reach out today to speak to a specialist at 888-288-9834.

David was struggling with his memory along with other issues and was growing concerned about it. Afraid his forgetfulness was a sign of dementia, he went for a brain imaging test called SPECT to see what was really happening in his brain. David’s brain scan looked toxic, and it turned out he was taking a cocktail of medications, including antianxiety pills (benzodiazepines), which have been found to harm the brain and accelerate memory problems. Making adjustments to his medications made a huge difference in his memory.

DAVID’S BRAIN

HEALTHY BRAIN

If you can’t remember where you left your keys, if you blank on your neighbor’s name, or if you forget to pick up bananas at the grocery store, you may be wondering if it’s a serious condition or just everyday forgetfulness. Many people worry that Alzheimer’s disease may be the underlying cause of their memory issues, but there are several causes of forgetfulness that are far more common…and far easier to fix.

Seven Causes of Forgetfulness

1. Not Enough Zzzzz’s

A number of studies link sleep problems to a higher risk of memory issues. Scientists have found that while you sleep, your brain cleans out toxins that build up throughout the day. Without adequate sleep, the brain’s waste management crew does not have enough time to do its job, and trash piles up, causing brain fog and memory problems. One study in Nature Neuroscience found that in elderly people, a lack of deep sleep caused a 55% drop in memory the next day. Other research in Nature Neuroscience shows that sleep, and especially slow-wave sleep, is critical for memory consolidation regardless of a person’s age.

Solution: Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Create a nighttime routine to help promote restful sleep.

2. Underactive Thyroid

SPECT scans of people with low levels of thyroid hormone show overall decreased brain activity, which can cause symptoms often seen in dementia, such as cognitive impairment and brain fog. In fact, research shows that more than 80% of people with low-grade hypothyroidism have impaired memory function. Brain imaging research, including a 2014 study in Thyroid, found decreased brain volume in the hippocampus in people with low thyroid levels. The hippocampus is a brain structure involved in memory and learning.

Solution: Get your thyroid levels checked and optimize them if necessary.

3. Too Much Multitasking

In some cases, forgetfulness may have less to do with memory problems and more to do with distractions. Research shows that juggling too many tasks takes a toll on the brain’s memory centers. If you’re watching TV while playing a game on your tablet while you’re having a conversation with your spouse, it’s no wonder you may be having trouble remembering what they say. A 2020 survey of 2,000 people in the U.S. shows that 6 in 10 Americans experience “multitasking-induced forgetfulness.” The top 3 things people forget, according to the survey, are passwords, items they need while grocery shopping, and where they put their keys.

Solution: If you want to have better recall, pay attention to the information you want to remember. Put your phone down, mute the TV, and listen.

4. Head Trauma

A single fall off your bike, a slip off a ladder, or a car accident that causes you to hit your head can have lasting consequences on your memory. Many people don’t connect the dots from a head injury that may have occurred weeks, months, or even years earlier to forgetfulness.

Solution: Healing the underlying brain trauma with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, neurofeedback, and other therapies can help restore cognitive function.

5. Your Medicine Cabinet

Many common medications—such as sleep aids, cholesterol-lowering drugs, or those anti-anxiety pills like David was taking—can mess with your memory. For example, sleeping pills act on brain pathways involved in the memory-making process. In findings released at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2019, older adults who said they used sleep medications “almost always” or “often” were 43% more likely to develop dementia compared with seniors who never or only rarely took them. Cholesterol is critical for healthy brain functioning and decreased levels can interfere with memory. And benzodiazepines for anxiety lower activity in areas of the brain involved in memory formation.

Solution: Talk to your doctor about treatment methods that don’t compromise brain activity and memory.

6. Untreated ADHD

A lack of focus is a common sign of ADD/ADHD, but many people don’t realize that forgetfulness can also be a symptom of the condition. Some of the hallmark symptoms of ADD/ADHD—including short attention span, distractibility, and disorganization—may contribute to problems with recall. Typically, people with this common condition struggle with short-term memory or working memory rather than long-term memory. A 2012 review in Clinical Psychology Review found that children with ADD/ADHD have statistically significant issues with working memory compared with healthy peers. Newer findings from a 2020 study suggest that it’s the attention-related encoding and retrieval processes that are compromised in individuals with ADD/ADHD. This results in an inability to prioritize important information.

Solution: Treating ADD/ADHD, naturally or with medication, may improve focus, attention, and organization.

7. Untreated Depression

Research, including a 2018 study in Psychological Medicine, shows that untreated depression significantly increases the risk of memory problems. In fact, depression doubles the risk of cognitive impairment in women and quadruples it in men, according to findings in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Some researchers believe that late-life depression may, in fact, be a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease. One-third of all patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are reported to suffer from depression, which then accelerates the progression to full-blown dementia, according to a 2017 study in JAMA Psychiatry. 

Solution: Treating depression is critical to keep your memory sharp. Understand that depression is not just one thing. There are 7 types of the condition that each requires their own unique treatment plans. Knowing your type is key to finding the solutions that will help you feel happier and more hopeful.

Memory loss 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. We also offer a comprehensive Memory Rescue Program to find the root causes of memory loss and treat them accordingly. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.

 

Pop quiz!

  1. In which organ are 75% of the neurotransmitters in your body produced?
  2. Which organ contains 2/3 of your immune tissue?
  3. Which organ has 10 times more cells than the total number in the rest of your body?
  4. Which organ houses an army to protect your body from harmful invaders?
  5. About 70% of people have problems with which organ?

The answer to all these questions?

Your gut.

The health of your gastrointestinal tract is directly tied to the health of your brain, which is why it is so important to feed it high-quality fuel. The food you eat has a major impact on your overall health as well as your mental wellbeing.

Just look at Victor. He had been depressed for 30 years and tried multiple treatments without relief. He even had electroconvulsive therapy, but it didn’t help. Finally, he went for a full brain-body assessment that included brain health nutrition coaching and was put on an elimination diet, which meant he gave up eating foods that are common allergens, such as gluten, dairy, sugar, soy, and corn.

After he stopped eating these foods, his mood improved dramatically. Then he re-introduced each food one-by-one. When he ate gluten, nothing happened. When he ate dairy, nothing happened. It was the same with sugar and soy. But when he ate corn, it was a different story. Within 20 minutes, he had a vision of putting a gun in his mouth with his hand on the trigger.

By giving up corn, he helped heal his GI tract, decrease his depression, and regain his life.

In a special 4-part series of the Brain Warrior’s Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen explore the importance of nutrition and gut health. Here’s just some of what you’ll discover:

Listen to the Brain Warrior’s Way Podcast series on nutrition and gut health.

If you think gut problems may be contributing to your own mood issues, focus problems, or brain fog, understand that Amen Clinics has helped thousands of patients, including Victor, to heal their GI tract as part of a targeted treatment plan to heal their symptoms. Amen Clinics takes the guesswork out of psychiatry by performing comprehensive brain-body evaluations that include looking at biological issues that contribute to mental health issues. Schedule a visit online or call 888-288-9834 to speak to a specialist.

 

Erin was just 9 years old, but she had already been plagued by depression and other issues for years. She had taken antidepressants and other medications, but they hadn’t helped her. In fact, they made her worse. When Erin started talking about suicide, her parents knew they had to do more for their daughter. They took her for a brain imaging test called SPECT that looks at activity and blood flow in the brain.

Erin’s brain scan did not look healthy. It showed notable overactivity, which can be an indicator of inflammation. Blood tests and lab work revealed that the young girl had Lyme disease as well as other issues. Antidepressants would never heal the underlying infection.

Lyme Disease in the Brain

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is transmitted through the bite of an infected deer tick. Untreated, Lyme disease and other infections can interfere with the immune system and lead to inflammation. They can also cause changes in the brain that impact moods, learning, and more.

On SPECT brain scans, infectious diseases like Lyme disease can make the brain look like it has been exposed to toxins. A toxic appearance is a sign of a troubled brain.

The Lyme-Mental Health Link

Many people are surprised to learn that infectious diseases, including Lyme disease, are a major contributor to mental illnesses and cognitive issues. Research shows that children who have had an infectious disease are significantly more likely to have mental health problems as they grow up. In a study that followed over 3.5 million people, scientists found a 62% increase in the risk for mood disorders if a person had been hospitalized for any type of infection.

Why Don’t Most Doctors Test for Lyme?

Unfortunately, few healthcare professionals are aware of the connection between infections like Lyme disease and psychiatric problems like depression. If you go to your doctor and tell them you have symptoms of depression, you’re likely to walk out of the appointment with a prescription for antidepressants. But it is unlikely that they will do testing for infectious diseases or brain imaging. Because of this, Lyme disease often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, allowing the immune system disruption, systemic inflammation, and brain changes to worsen.

This needs to change.

Getting a comprehensive evaluation that includes brain imaging and lab screening tests helps provide a more accurate diagnosis, which is key for zeroing in on the proper treatment. As more people in the medical community become aware of the problem, infectious disease psychiatry is likely to emerge within the next 30 years as a major discipline of psychiatry.

Targeting the Infection to Help Treat the Depression

When it is caught early, Lyme disease can usually be treated effectively with antibiotics. When it has been present in your system for months or years and is accompanied by depression or other psychiatric or cognitive problems, additional treatments may be necessary. A comprehensive treatment program worked for 9-year-old Erin, who went from having depression and suicidal thoughts to experiencing a remarkable turnaround.

At Amen Clinics we have treated hundreds of patients with treatment-resistant psychiatric symptoms like depression who tested positive for Lyme disease. When their treatment plan included targeted solutions for the infection, they finally got the help they needed. If you or a loved one has symptoms of depression that aren’t responding to treatment, speak to a specialist about getting a full brain-body evaluation to discover if infection like Lyme disease might be the root cause. For more information, call 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

 

 

Veterans with PTSD are over four times more likely to have suicidal thoughts as those who don’t suffer from the condition. And those who have suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries are twice as likely to consider suicide compared with those who have experienced a single TBI or no brain trauma. These conditions also increase their risk of homelessness, incarceration, and substance abuse.

In 2008 Capt. Patrick Caffrey was deployed in Afghanistan with the Second Battalion, Seventh Marines (2/7) Combat Engineer Platoon. The combat engineer officer was tasked with an intense mission—detect and clear mines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from roads so the infantry and convoys could pass through safely. Helping protect Caffrey and his platoon were new, specially armored vehicles. “They could take an enormous blast, and you’d be able to walk away unscathed—or so we thought,” he says.

While in Afghanistan, Caffrey experienced three blasts and sustained three concussions, but he walked away each time. He was no stranger to concussions; he had already had five or six of them from playing sports and other injuries. But he felt okay, so he thought everything was fine.

It wasn’t.

Over time, Caffrey’s personality began to change. “I was more irritable than ever, I had intense headaches, trouble focusing and concentrating (particularly listening to what people were saying), trouble with memory, and an inability to sleep,” he says. “I was rude and nasty to people and the worst part was that I didn’t really know just how much I had changed.”

When he sought help, the diagnosis wasn’t clear-cut. His symptoms pointed to two possibilities: posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Problem with Overlapping Symptoms

Caffrey isn’t alone. Since 2000, more than 500,000 veterans and active military personnel have been diagnosed with PTSD, TBI, or both. Unfortunately, these debilitating brain issues can be difficult to distinguish because they share many of the same symptoms, including:

In the field of psychiatry, diagnoses are typically made by looking for symptom clusters. For this reason, PTSD and TBI can be misdiagnosed, which can have dire consequences.

The Consequences of Guesswork

Although the symptoms are similar, the treatments for PTSD and TBI are vastly different. More importantly, the treatments for PTSD can be harmful to those with TBI and, likewise, remedies for TBI could be detrimental to those with PTSD.

Misdiagnoses and treatment failures mean our nation’s veterans can spend years trying to get relief for their symptoms. In the meantime, haunting memories and debilitating symptoms can hold them captive and get in the way of work, relationships, family life, and life itself.

Although our society has engineered advanced robotics that is helping troops heal from the physical damages of war, we as a nation are failing our veterans on the mental health front.

The Veterans Administration, like most in the field of psychiatry, continues to diagnose and treat people based on symptom clusters, the same way mental health professionals have been practicing for over 100 years. In terms of treatment, they are basically throwing darts in the dark at the problem.

The current administration has established a task force on veteran suicide that will research ways to prevent and treat the problem. This sounds promising, but if we continue to throw money at an outdated treatment model, we will lose the battle.

We can do better.

Brain Imaging Offers a New Model

“The traditional model isn’t working. The system that is supposed to be supporting our veterans is failing them,” according to Dr. Jomar Suarez at Amen Clinics Northern California, who is involved in research that is looking at how brain imaging technology called SPECT can help reverse these devastating trends.

A study led by Amen Clinics that appeared in 2015 issue of PLOS One found that SPECT brain imaging technology, which measures blood flow and activity in the brain, could effectively distinguish PTSD from TBI with a 94% accuracy rate. By comparison, MRI and CT scans often show “normal” results, which makes veterans think they are imagining their symptoms.

According to the SPECT research study, which was ranked #19 on Discover Magazine’s Top 100 discoveries of the year in 2015, patients with TBI show decreased activity in certain areas of the brain. In PTSD patients, however, there is increased activity in some brain regions.

In an effort to get an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment, Caffrey decided to undergo the brain imaging test. His SPECT brain scan revealed damage to his right temporal lobe, which explained his behavioral and cognitive changes, headaches, decrease in ability to focus and concentrate, and memory issues. There was also too much activity in some regions. The SPECT findings, combined with his personal history and symptoms, indicated that he had both PTSD and TBI.

“Boy, did I underestimate the value of actually looking at the brain when you have a brain problem!” he said.

Capt. Caffrey’s Brain Scans

TBI: damage to right temporal lobe and decreased activity.

PTSD: Increased activity.

Hope for Suicide Prevention

Additional research is currently underway to investigate if adding SPECT brain imaging to the traditional model practiced at the VA could improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment effectiveness within the veteran population for other conditions, such as depression, as well as suicide prevention.

Preliminary data from a 2019 SPECT research project being undertaken by Amen Clinics and No Vet Alone on a small group of veterans showed promising results. Among the participants who were taking medication and still experiencing disabling symptoms, “75% had SPECT scans that suggested a different medication might be more effective,” says Suarez. “This suggests that with SPECT, we can avoid a lot of the trial-and-error involved in the traditional model and target and treat brain imbalances more effectively.”

This most recent project, which Suarez hopes to expand to a larger research study, showed other potential benefits of brain imaging. For example, among the veterans who were opposed to taking medications due to past treatment failure, seeing their brain scans opened their mind to taking medication targeted to their needs.

In addition, in 100% of the veterans involved, SPECT brain scans suggested additional therapies beyond medications that might help, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, neuromodulation, EMDR, nutritional supplements, and more.

Suarez says one of the overarching goals of the project is to identify brain imaging biomarkers that may help predict veterans who are suicidal and ultimately prevent suicide.

A Path to More Effective Treatment

In Caffrey’s case, the brain scan helped create a rehabilitation program that was targeted to treat both conditions. “I felt a dramatic difference right away,” he says. “I felt more mentally sharp and focused than ever.” Caffrey has continued to improve and says, “Ultimately, the scan was my gateway tool to a set of brain healthy strategies that I still use to have a better brain and a better life.”

Capt. Caffrey’s brain scan was performed at Amen Clinics, which has the world’s largest database of functional brain scans and is where the 2015 PLOS One brain imaging study was conducted. Amen Clinics has treated hundreds of people, including veterans, with TBI, PTSD, and other co-existing conditions and is able to tailor more effective treatment plans based on SPECT brain imaging technology.

If symptoms of PTSD, TBI, or co-existing conditions are impacting your life or you aren’t responding to treatment, call 888-288-9834 to speak to a specialist or schedule a visit online.

 

 

Unfortunately, we hear news stories every day about another young person who has taken their life. To most people it is unfathomable someone who has so much to live for would feel such despair to want to die. But often we hear that the person who has taken their own life had head trauma.

Could a concussion make a person want to commit suicide?

After Dr. Daniel Amen, Founder and CEO of Amen Clinics, wrote a column on head trauma in a Northern California newspaper, he was contacted by a woman who told him a very sad story.  The woman said her daughter had been a model child up until the time she had a bike accident when she was about 18. She hit a branch, flew over the handlebars, landed face-first on the street, and momentarily lost consciousness. Since then, everything changed. The young woman went from being happy and cooperative to angry and moody. Therapy didn’t help, and the young woman eventually took her own life when she was just 20 years old. Her mother was heartbroken, especially when she discovered the connection between concussions and suicide and that there are things you can do to help heal the brain after a concussion. If only she had known earlier, she said.

What is a Concussion?

Concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury that temporarily interferes with normal brain function. Most people think that concussions always cause a person to black out or lose consciousness, but this isn’t the case. Many people who experience a concussion are never diagnosed and don’t even realize they’ve experienced one.

Concussions on the Rise

More than 2 million people each year suffer a head injury. And the number of concussions in the U.S. is rising, especially among younger people. The number of Americans diagnosed with a concussion rose 43% from 2010 to 2015. But among people between the ages of 10 and 19, it jumped up by 71 percent.

Some of the most common causes of concussions include:

The Hidden Dangers of Concussions

Concussions often cause headaches, nausea, confusion, fatigue, or amnesia about the event. These symptoms may last days, weeks, or even longer. But there are many other symptoms tied to concussions that may not appear until weeks or months after the incident.

Healthy Surface SPECT brain scan:

Surface SPECT brain scan of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI):

For example, head injuries often damage the pituitary gland, an area within the brain that is involved in the production of hormones, including thyroid, estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, and more. When the pituitary gland is damaged, it can result in hormonal imbalances that cause mood and energy problems, as well as other issues.

Having a head injury also increases the risk of many mental health conditions, including:

Sadly, many people do not associate new symptoms of mental illness or suicidal thoughts with a head injury they suffered months or years earlier. Because of this, they may receive treatment for depression and anxiety, for example, but they often do not get the help they need to heal the underlying traumatic brain injury. Too often, this results in someone taking their own life like the woman’s daughter you read about at the beginning of this blog.

Healing Concussions

To complement other treatments, there are ways to help heal the brain after a head injury or concussion, including:

If you are having suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

At Amen Clinics, we have helped thousands of people with traumatic brain injuries or concussions to heal their brain and improve their quality of life. We use a combination of the least toxic, most effective therapies, which may include neurofeedback, HBOT, talk therapy, and medications, in addition to small lifestyle changes that can make a big difference. If you or someone you love 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.

 

 

Ever wonder if the media your tweens and teens are watching influences their moods and mental health? Consider this. In the month following the release of the critically acclaimed but controversial Netflix show “13 Reasons Why” the suicide rate among Americans ages 10-17 jumped by nearly 30 percent! The series, which began streaming on Netflix in 2017, follows the story of a teenage girl who took her own life and left behind 13 audiocassettes for her friends that unravel the reasons why she did it.

The study, which was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and appeared in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, analyzed five years of suicide rates among people between the ages of 10 to 64. Although there was no change in suicide rates for adults in the month after the show’s release, the rate among those under 18 rose dramatically. And it was particularly evident among boys.

These findings are troubling and should be a wake-up call for parents.

Young Brains Still Under Construction

Young people’s brains are still developing until their mid-20s, with girls’ brains typically developing faster than boys’ brains. In particular, the prefrontal cortex is the last area of the brain to mature at about age 25.  

This brain region is involved in judgment, planning, forethought, and impulse control. So, you can understand why teens—and especially male teens—are more likely to make rash decisions. Even car insurance companies know this. It’s why they charge more until a driver reaches their mid-20s.

Troubled Teen Brains

Sadly, suicide is a growing problem in our society. The overall rate of suicide has increased 33 percent since 1999. It is the second leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 34. And teens today are more likely to have suicidal thoughts or to suffer from depression compared with Millennials when they were the same age.

Reducing the Teen Suicide Risk

There are many things parents can do to help protect their kids from falling victim to suicide.

1. Monitor their media consumption.

Parents need to understand that what your kids and teens watch on television, online, and on social media can play a role in the development of their brain. Set limits, use parental controls, and talk to your kids about what they’re watching.

2. Don’t let adolescents smoke marijuana.

Research shows that using cannabis as an adolescent raises the risk of depression and increases suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts when they become young adults.

3. Encourage healthy sleep habits.

Did you know that teenagers who average just one hour less of sleep at night are 38 percent more likely to feel sad and hopeless, 42 percent more likely to consider suicide, and 58 percent more likely to attempt suicide?

4. Protect their brain.

Head injuries and concussions—even mild ones that are never diagnosed—increase the risk for suicide. Make sure young people always wear a helmet when riding a bike and don’t let your kids hit soccer balls with their heads.

5. Seek help for mental health issues.

If your child is experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or ADD/ADHD, it’s critical to seek help for those issues. Be aware that medications don’t always work, and in some cases, they can make a teen worse. Getting a comprehensive evaluation is key to finding solutions that work.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

At Amen Clinics, we have helped thousands of teens and tweens overcome feelings of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, as well as to gain control over impulse control issues. We believe in using the least toxic, most effective treatments based on comprehensive evaluations that include brain imaging, lab work, and cognitive testing. If you have concerns about your teen, reach out today by calling 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

 

Did you know that Abraham Lincoln suffered from depression? Historians discovered that our 16th president actually considered suicide and couldn’t even get out of bed on some days. Does this sound like you or someone you love? You may take heart in knowing that as Lincoln aged, he learned to use laughter to help overcome his dark moods. He found that when he told jokes and laughed, it helped him keep the bad feelings at bay. It turns out that new science shows Lincoln was right. Laughter alters neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, which can help people with depressed moods. And like Lincoln, you can take advantage of simple ways to push sadness and negativity away. 

Simple Ways to Push Sadness and Negativity Away

1. Eliminate foods that drag you down.

Although the term “nutritional psychiatry” is only recently becoming more common as experts in the psychiatry field realize the power of food on mental health, the team of neuropsychiatrists at Amen Clinics has been incorporating food and diet recommendations in treatment plans for over 30 years. One patient at Amen Clinics named Jeff, 53, had spent years suffering from depression as well as other issues. After attempting suicide, he went to several healthcare professionals and was put on a variety of medications, but they weren’t helping. On the advice of his Amen Clinics physician, he eventually eliminated potential allergens—such as gluten, soy, corn, dairy, sugar, and MSG–from his diet.

When he added the foods back one by one, he realized that one of them was triggering his suicidal thoughts. When he ate corn—popcorn, tortilla chips, corn chips—he almost immediately got an image of putting a gun in his mouth and pulling the trigger, something that had not happened since before he went on the diet. By kicking corn out of his life, he greatly improved his moods.

Beat the Blues: To fight depression, do an elimination diet for 3 weeks, eliminating sugary food, gluten, dairy, corn, soy, and other categories of potentially allergenic foods. Then add these back one at a time and be alert for reactions to them, which would indicate that you should permanently avoid that food. In general, it’s advisable to keep the sugar out of your diet on a permanent basis.

 2. Eat foods that boost your moods.

On the flip side, getting your diet right can help you feel better. For example, omega-3 fatty acids—found in foods like wild salmon or in nutritional supplements— have been found to reduce symptoms of depression. Similarly, over a decade of studies—including a randomized controlled trial in the Journal of Affective Disorders—have found that a saffron extract is as effective as antidepressant medication in treating people with mild to moderate depression.

Beat the Blues: Consider brain health nutrition coaching to improve your diet and focus on eating mood foods that promote more positive feelings.

3. Start every day by saying, “Today is going to be a great day” and end every day with “What went well today?”

Where you direct your attention matters. Your mind makes happen what it visualizes. When you start the day by saying “Today is going to be a great day,” your brain will find the reasons it will be a great day. This is a simple way to start training your brain to focus on things that are going right in your life rather than on things that are going wrong in your life. It also sets a positive tone for the remainder of the day.

When you start the day by saying “Today is going to be a great day,” your brain will find the reasons it will be a great day.
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At the end of the day, ask yourself, “What went well today?” This helps you end the day on a positive note. Research in The American Psychologist has shown that people who did this exercise were happier and less depressed at 1-month and 6-month follow-ups than at the study’s outset. Right before bed, write down 3 things that went well that day; then ask yourself, “Why did this happen?” In a 2017 study in BMJ Open, this simple exercise was found to help people in stressful jobs develop more positive emotions.

Beat the Blues: Practice starting and ending your day with these strategies, which will take only about 3 minutes out of your day.

4. Check for biological issues.

Did you know that there are many biological issues—such as hormonal imbalances and blood flow problems—that can cause mood issues? One of the most common hidden causes of depression is a past traumatic brain injury. Evidence in Frontiers in Psychiatry shows that head trauma increases the risk of depression. At Amen Clinics, brain SPECT imaging shows that 40% of patients have experienced a significant head injury.

One of the most common hidden causes of depression is a past traumatic brain injury.
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Beat the Blues: Seeing an integrative (or functional) medicine physician for a complete evaluation that includes lab work is one of the keys to determining the root cause of your depression. With this important information, you are more likely to find the right treatment for your specific needs. Taking care of underlying physical issues can decrease depression symptoms.  

5. Tailor interventions to your depression type.

Things that help one person feel less depressed may not work for someone else. To find what works best for you, you need to know which type of depression you have. The brain imaging work at Amen Clinics shows that depression is not a simple or single disorder. Giving everyone with depression the same treatment plan will never work.

Giving everyone with depression the same treatment plan will never work.
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Beat the Blues: Get to know the 7 types of depression. When you know your type, you are much more likely to find the targeted solutions that will work for your specific needs.

Depression, as well as anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other mental and cognitive issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time.

At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.