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Feeling depressed or anxious? If you seek help from a primary care physician or a traditional psychiatrist, you’re likely to walk away with a prescription for antidepressants or antianxiety medication and not much else. But pills aren’t enough to deliver optimal mental health. In fact, because most conventional healthcare provides make diagnoses based on symptom clusters alone, it’s not uncommon to be misdiagnosed or given the wrong treatment. This can make your mental health problems worse. In order to have a healthy mind, you must first have a healthy brain. To do that you must optimize the 4 circles of a whole life—biological, psychological, social, and spiritual. Integrative psychiatry helps you do it. In order to have a healthy mind, you must first have a healthy brain. To do that you must optimize the 4 circles of a whole life—biological, psychological, social, and spiritual. Integrative psychiatry helps you do it.
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Integrative psychiatry, a form of integrative medicine or functional medicine, takes a whole-person approach to mental health by helping you enhance all these areas of your life to promote better psychological well-being and cognitive function. Integrative psychiatry is based on solid science, and as science advances, so does this form of mental health with more sophisticated diagnostic testing, more effective therapies, and more powerful solutions. Integrative psychiatrists assess, diagnose, and treat patients based on the most cutting-edge scientific findings. Treatment may include standard-of-care options in addition to science-backed complementary and alternative therapies to foster healing. One study in the journal Psychiatric Services found that 35% of people use at least one form of complementary and alternative medicine for mental health, and that was over 10 years ago. That percentage is estimated to be much higher now as integrative psychiatry continues to grow in popularity.

Here are 7 ways integrative psychiatry can help your mental health.

1. Discover brain health issues that are holding you back.

Many people who are experiencing psychological issues have underlying brain health problems that are contributing to their anxiety, depression, lack of focus, memory loss, or brain fog. Integrative psychiatrists who use brain SPECT imaging can help identify undetected issues, such as traumatic brain injury, areas that are overactive, and areas that are underactive. With these insights, an integrative psychiatrist can provide precision treatment plans to enhance brain health.

2. Identify biological causes for mental health problems.

Issues such as mood swings, short attention span, and anxiousness can be related to physical issues. With integrative psychiatry, diagnostic lab tests can help root out biological problems that cause mental health symptoms. For example, Lyme disease, hormonal imbalances, and blood flow problems have been linked to psychiatric symptoms. In addition, comprehensive testing can reveal if there are any toxic substances that may be affecting your brain and mental health.

3. Find the best healing foods and nutritional supplements for your needs.

The foods you eat can either drive depression and anxiety or they can promote positive moods and calm. Psychiatrists who take an integrative approach to treatment evaluate your diet and assess any micronutrient deficiencies and make food and supplement recommendations based on your individual needs.

4. Provide strategies to improve the health of your mind.

For many people, negative thinking patterns and an undisciplined mind can fuel symptoms associated with mental illness. As part of a whole-person treatment plan, trained integrative psychiatrists provide patients with scientifically proven strategies to challenge the ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) that steal your happiness and gain control of your mind. And sophisticated neuropsychological testing performed by integrative psychiatrists can provide valuable insights into your cognitive function.

5. Develop routines that help reduce stress.

A highly stressful lifestyle can keep you stuck in psychological hell. Integrative psychiatrists provide people with evidence-backed relaxation protocols that help your brain and your mind. Learning to manage stress is an important part of any integrative treatment plan.

6. Learn how to create a support network.

Integrative psychiatrists know that who you spend time with matters. If you surround yourself with people who are negative or conflict-driven, or who engage in bad habits such as heavy drinking or drug abuse, it can drag you down. Working with a professional to assess your social circle and identify the “accomplices” who harm your psychological well-being and the “friends” who support your brain healthy habits can make a big difference.

7. Find your “why.”

Experts understand that having a sense of purpose in life can provide the motivation to get and stay healthy. An integrative psychiatrist can work with you to pinpoint what gives your life meaning. When you have a personalized integrative treatment plan that addresses all of your needs—biological, psychological, social, and spiritual—it helps put you on a faster path to a lifetime of healing. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. When you think of memory loss, you probably think about elderly people in nursing homes with Alzheimer’s disease. But forgetfulness can affect younger people too. It’s not uncommon for people in their 30s or 40s to start feeling the effects of faulty memory. That’s what brought actress Jennie Garth to Amen Clinics. Jennie is the co-host of a podcast about Beverly Hills 90210, the wildly popular 1990s TV show she starred in with her podcast co-host Tori Spelling, as well as Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, and the late Luke Perry. The 90210MG podcast has earned a healthy following, but it has brought to light an uncomfortable truth for Jennie: “My best friend who’s doing it with me can remember everything, and I can’t remember anything. And it’s really frustrating, and it’s upsetting to me.” Throughout her long career, the actress has had to memorize thousands of scripts, which requires an excellent recall. But like many of the younger or middle-aged people who come to Amen Clinics for memory issues, Jennie says, “I feel like my short-term memory has taken over for my long-term memory.” “I can’t remember anything. And it’s really frustrating, and it’s upsetting to me.”—Jennie Garth, actress, and 90210MG podcast co-host, who visited Amen Clinics for a brain scan to learn what’s causing her memory problems.
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WHAT JENNIE GARTH’S BRAIN SCANS REVEAL

To address her concerns about her memory, Jennie had brain SPECT imaging studies at Amen Clinics, the global leader in brain health. As a way to help others who might be experiencing forgetfulness, the actress shared a video of her scan experience and evaluation with Daniel G. Amen, MD, the founder of Amen Clinics and 12-time New York Times bestselling author. SPECT is a technology that measures blood flow and activity in the brain that shows 3 things: Jennie underwent 2 SPECT studies, including a surface scan that shows blood flow, and an active scan that reveals activity levels throughout the brain. Here surface scan looked “beautiful” according to Dr. Amen, but it did show evidence of a possible head injury (perhaps from a past accident or fall?) and slightly lower blood flow near the hippocampus (an important region involved in memory). The actress’s active scan, however, revealed a very busy brain with too much activity in areas such as the basal ganglia (a region associated with anxiety). What does all of this mean in terms of memory?

CAUSES OF MEMORY LOSS IN YOUNGER PEOPLE

As Dr. Amen explained in his evaluation with Jennie, some things that can cause memory problems and brain fog regardless of a person’s age. Here are some of the most common.

SOLUTIONS FOR EARLY MEMORY PROBLEMS

In younger people who are experiencing brain for or memory issues, the following strategies may help. Memory loss, chronic stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your relationships and symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Cholesterol has been demonized. For decades, we’ve been hearing about “bad cholesterol” and how it’s related to heart disease. The medical community’s directive to lower cholesterol has been so strong that more than 1 in 4 American adults over the age of 40 take cholesterol-lowering statins. One of the most commonly prescribed drugs in America, statins are a $31 billion business. It’s as if our nation has become obsessed with pushing levels down in an effort to protect heart health. But they’ve got it all wrong. “Cholesterol is a poor predictor for heart disease,” says Dr. Jonny Bowden, a board-certified nutritionist known as the Nutrition Myth Buster and author of The Great Cholesterol Myth (with Steve Sinatra, MD), which has a new revised and expanded edition. Dr. Bowden recently appeared on the Brain Warrior’s Way podcast to bust some cholesterol myths. What traditional doctors don’t tell you is that low levels of cholesterol can have negative effects on the brain. “Your brain without cholesterol? You’re dead,” says Dr. Bowden. “It’s one of the most important compounds in the body, and it’s involved in memory and thinking and much more.” Mythbuster: What traditional doctors don’t tell you is low levels of cholesterol can have negative effects on the brain.
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WHY YOUR BRAIN NEEDS CHOLESTEROL

Do you know which part of the body has the highest concentration of cholesterol? Your brain! Cholesterol is a waxy type of fat found in every cell in the body, but it is most abundant in the brain. Your brain accounts for only 2% of your body’s weight, but it contains 20% of your cholesterol. Why is cholesterol so important? Cholesterol in the brain is involved in the communication process for neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin. It makes up the majority of myelin, the white fatty sheath that provides a protective coating on neurons to increase the brain’s processing speed. And they play a role in the development of “lipid rafts,” membranes that are involved in brain cell signaling. Bottom line? Approximately 60% of the solid weight of the brain is fat, so you need healthy levels of cholesterol for optimal function.

THE CHOLESTEROL-HORMONE-MENTAL HEALTH CONNECTION

In addition, cholesterol is a critical building block for the production of hormones. From cholesterol, your body makes a chemical called pregnenolone, a mother hormone, from which all the other hormones are derived. Hormones play a vital role in the health of your brain and how you think, feel, and act. If your cholesterol is too low, you won’t have the precursors to produce adequate levels of hormones. Hormonal deficiencies are linked to a number of psychiatric and cognitive health symptoms, including:

HOW LOW IS TOO LOW?

Cholesterol that is too low is bad for the brain. What’s considered normal? Normal total cholesterol levels are 135-200 mg/dL. However, be aware that several studies show that lowering total cholesterol levels below 160 mg/dL can increase the risk of depression, suicide, and homicide, so 160-200 mg/dL is optimal. Don’t go too low. Surprisingly, if you have cholesterol on the higher side of the healthy range later in life it could improve your cognitive performance, according to research in Psychosomatic Medicine. In fact, findings in the journal Neurology show that having higher levels of total cholesterol later in life decreases your risk of dementia. According to Dr. Bowden, the typical cholesterol tests that simply measure total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides are obsolete, and they’re missing the most important numbers that matter for heart health. “What’s important to understand is that cholesterol doesn’t travel in the blood. Cholesterol has to be in a container,” he says. “Those containers are the lipoprotein. Lipoprotein is the ship; cholesterol is the cargo. It’s the number of boats in the water that’s important, not the cargo.” When having your cholesterol levels tested, ask your healthcare professional to also test your lipoproteins and the particle size of your LDL cholesterol because larger particles are less toxic than smaller ones. If you want to find out more about cholesterol, read the revised and expanded editions of The Great Cholesterol Myth.

WHAT TO FEED YOUR BRAIN

Low-fat diets are not good for your brain. Focus on healthy fats, such as avocados, nuts, seeds, and sustainable, clean fish. Fat is not the enemy. Good dietary fats are essential to your brain health. For example, omega-3 fatty acids have been found to reduce symptoms of depression. In a study from the Mayo Clinic, people who ate a fat-based diet had a 42% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease; those who ate a protein-based diet had a 21% percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s; but those who ate a simple carbohydrate-based diet (think bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, and sugar) had a 400% percent increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s. It’s the sugar, and foods that turn to sugar, not the fat, that’s the problem. However, not all fats are equal. Avoid trans fats (found in foods like processed crackers, baked goods, and frozen pizza), which are associated with an increase in depression. Also skip fats that are higher in omega-6 fatty acids, such as many refined vegetable oils, which are associated with an increase in inflammation, which also has negative effects on brain health. Memory problems, brain fog, depression, and other mental and cognitive health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk. Feeling anxious? Panicky? Fearful? Welcome to the club. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in America. Each year, an estimated 40 million American adults—over 18% of the population—experience anxiety, and those are pre-pandemic numbers! The rate of anxiety is skyrocketing. A review of recent studies on mental health and the pandemic show that the prevalence of anxiety is now 32%. If you head to a traditional healthcare provider and tell them you’re experiencing anxiety, you’re likely to walk out with a prescription for anti-anxiety pills. End of story. But there’s so much more you need to know.

9 Need-to-Know Facts About Anxiety

1. Your anxiety may be a family heirloom.

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

2. Your anxiety may be related to thyroid problems.

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

3. Progesterone imbalances may be contributing to your anxiety.

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

4. Not all anxiety is the same.

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

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

6. Oral contraceptives may contribute to anxiety.

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

7. What you put on your fork matters.

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

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

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

9. Some anxiety is good.

You may think anxiety is awful, but it isn’t all bad. In fact, it’s important to have a healthy level of anxiety. It’s what keeps you from engaging in death-defying feats, making poor decisions, or investing all your money in a pyramid scheme. Studies show that people with a “don’t worry, be happy” attitude tend to die earlier from risky behavior. Chill out: Try to embrace the good side of anxiety while keeping it from interfering with your everyday life. Anxiety, panic disorders, phobias, and other mental health conditions can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever, and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.

 

by Shane Creado, MD

If you work with people who are trying to lose weight, build lean muscle mass, or improve athletic performance, it’s critical to talk to them about getting adequate rest. Let’s look at just some of the many ways sleep can impact the ability to reach fitness goals.

1. Sleep deprivation tanks testosterone levels.

Anyone who is trying to build more muscle or get leaner needs healthy testosterone levels. Testosterone is an anabolic hormone that promotes muscle growth and strength in both men and women. It also plays a role in fat loss and preventing fat gain. For example, research shows that the testosterone levels of obese men are about 30% lower than those in men at a healthy weight.

Lack of sleep lowers testosterone levels. In a trial with healthy young men, sleeping just 5 hours a night for a week caused testosterone levels to decrease by 10-15%. Sleeping less means less testosterone, which results in less lean muscle and more fat.

2. Lack of deep sleep decreases growth hormone.

Deep sleep coincides with the release of growth hormone. Many of the body’s cells also show increased production and reduced breakdown of proteins during deep sleep. Since proteins are the building blocks needed for muscle growth, repair of damaged tissue, and bone-building, deep sleep is critical for athletic achievement and recovery from tough workouts. It is also vital for healthy growth and muscle development in children and adolescent athletes.

Unfortunately, 69% of high school students in the U.S. do not get adequate sleep. Because of this, children and teen athletes may potentially suffer from stunted growth as well as other direct impacts on sports performance.

Additionally, when a child or adolescent has growth hormone deficiencies, concentration and reaction times can be affected (frontal lobes), math and art skills can suffer (parietal lobes), and memory centers (temporal lobes) take a big hit.

3. Sleepless nights spike stress hormones.

Physical activity increases the production of cortisol and testosterone. Cortisol plays a central role in the body’s response to physical activity and the regulation of the immune system. The balance and timing of the release of anabolic (testosterone) and catabolic (cortisol) hormones are considered essential to muscle adaptation, especially muscle growth.

Sleep deprivation can lead to more cortisol production, which can worsen stress, accelerate muscle breakdown, and further contribute to insomnia/excessive wakefulness, setting up a bad feedback loop.

4. Poor sleep can make you fat.

If hormones are the gatekeepers of your cells, then sleep deprivation is a Trojan horse. Short sleep duration is one of the strongest risk factors for obesity. In one massive review study, children and adults with short sleep duration were 89% and 55% more likely to become obese, respectively.

Possible mechanisms include:

To quantify this, approximately 4 hours of sleep deprivation results in a perceived deficit of 900 calories, which means your body will think you need 900 more calories for every 4 hours of sleep you lose. Eating an extra 900 calories can quickly add up to excess fat on the body.

Many of the patients I see tell me that they rarely lose 4 hours of sleep in a week. But I explain to them that the brain needs 9 hours of sleep a night, so even if someone is getting what they think is a “healthy” 7 hours of sleep a night, at the end of the week, it adds up to 14 hours of sleep deprivation. When you help patients or clients think about it this way, they begin to see how their lack of sleep may be holding them back from reaching their fitness goals.

It’s our job as clinicians to help people who are trying to lose weight or trying to build muscle understand that getting quality sleep is just as crucial to their fitness goals as nutrition and exercise.


About the Author: Shane Creado, MD, Amen Clinics Chicago 

Dr. Shane Creado is a board-certified sleep specialist, who works not only on the treatment of sleep disorders but also on perfecting and optimizing sleep. He is the host of the Overcoming Insomnia course, which teaches the best evidence-based strategies to improve sleep. Dr. Creado is also the author of Peak Sleep Performance: The Cutting-Edge Sleep Science That Will Guarantee A Competitive Advantage, available on Amazon.

This book is primarily geared toward coaches, trainers, and elite athletes, but this step-by-step guide to sleep optimization can also be beneficial for anybody who wants to boost their brain health and productivity. For updates about the book, free sleep tips, as well as special offers, follow @peaksleepperformance on Instagram.

 

 

What does sleep have to do with sexual performance? A lot!

Before we dive into the connection between them, let’s review the basics about the sex hormones testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.

Testosterone and Sleep

A lack of sleep can interfere with the production of testosterone. One study showed that when healthy young men get 5 hours of sleep every night for a week, their testosterone levels drop by 10-15%. Considering that the average drop in testosterone levels each year is 1-2%, sleep loss can compound the decrease and result in a level of testosterone typically seen in someone 10 years older than you. Therefore, a lack of sleep will age a man by a decade in terms of that important aspect of health. And perhaps even more alarming, research shows that men who sleep 5 hours a night on average have significantly smaller testicles than those who sleep 7 hours or more.

The drop in this vital hormone can impact a man’s sex life, as low testosterone is associated with low libido and erectile dysfunction.

Estrogen, Progesterone, and Sleep

We see equivalent drops in female reproductive health caused by a lack of sleep. It has been well-established that reductions in the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone in women trigger symptoms of menopause. Decades of research also show that women experiencing menopause suffer from sleep fragmentation. I have long speculated that these are linked: aging results in a drop in hormone levels, which causes sleep loss, which in turn decreases hormone levels, which further disrupts sleep, resulting in an aging snowball effect.

In terms of sexual activity, low estrogen is linked to a decrease in sex drive and an increase in vaginal dryness, which can make intercourse painful.

How Bob Overcame Erectile Dysfunction

Bob, a golfer in his 40s, came to see me. He led a healthy lifestyle, trained regularly, and looked younger than his actual age. Why did he need help? He had been dealing with impotence (erectile dysfunction) for a couple of years. He puzzled over what could be causing it and had worked with his primary care doctor and a urologist without success. He didn’t want to simply take medication for erectile dysfunction, so he and his wife even went to couples’ therapy.

Together, Bob and I went through a checklist of some of the common issues that can contribute to erectile dysfunction (ED).

Bob wasn’t overweight, was a light drinker, didn’t take any drugs, and was still in love with—and attracted to—his wife. But Bob did admit that he was one of those people who can get by on just 5 hours of sleep.

When I explained to Bob that there is a link between sub-optimal sleep and testosterone levels, he said his testosterone levels were normal. However, when I reviewed his lab results, I realized they were low-normal, which a decade ago, would have been considered low. Sadly, every decade, testosterone levels in men have been reducing, and what is considered ‘normal’ for one man, may be ‘low’ for another.

Although he was not convinced that sleep was a problem, he agreed to follow my recommendations. I advised him to aim for 8-9 hours of sleep a night and to track his sleep in a journal. I also suggested helpful supplements—including magnesium, vitamin B6, GABA, L-theanine, 5-HTP, and melatonin (found in BrainMD’s Put Me to Sleep)—and asked him to let me know how he was doing in 1-2 months.

When Bob checked in with me about 6 weeks later, he let his wife do the talking for him. She informed me about the “hard facts” of their improved sex life and told me how they were going on dates again. As the saying goes, “happy wife, happy life.”

Bottom line: When a man has issues with erectile dysfunction, one of the first things clinicians need to look into is optimizing the quantity and quality of his sleep. Similarly, when women have a low sex drive, it’s a good idea to inquire about her sleep habits.


About the Author: Shane Creado, MD, Amen Clinics Chicago 

Dr. Shane Creado is a board-certified sleep specialist, who works not only on the treatment of sleep disorders but also on perfecting and optimizing sleep. He is the host of the Overcoming Insomnia course, which teaches the best evidence-based strategies to improve sleep. Dr. Creado is also the author of Peak Sleep Performance: The Cutting-Edge Sleep Science That Will Guarantee A Competitive Advantage, available on Amazon.

This book is primarily geared toward coaches, trainers, and elite athletes, but this step-by-step guide to sleep optimization can also be beneficial for anybody who wants to boost their brain health and productivity. For updates about the book, free sleep tips, as well as special offers, follow @peaksleepperformance on Instagram.

If you find this information helpful, please pass it on. Share it with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or wherever you connect with the people you care about.

 

 

With the pandemic upon us and anxiety through the roof, who can sleep? An increasing number of people are having a tough time dealing with anxious, racing thoughts that keep us from getting the quality sleep we so desperately need. It’s causing hordes of people to turn to prescription pills for relief.

According to an April 2020 report, there has been a 34% increase in the number of prescriptions filled for antianxiety medications during the pandemic. New prescriptions filled for the most popular anti-anxiety drugs—Xanax, Valium, and Ativan—jumped 38% during stay-at-home orders. At the same time, the number of prescriptions filled for sleep disorders rose by 15%.

“This is a disaster waiting to happen,” says Dr. Shane Creado, a psychiatrist and sleep medicine physician at Amen Clinics in Chicago and the author of Peak Sleep Performance for Athletes. Here’s why.

THE TROUBLE WITH SLEEP AND ANXIETY MEDS

Anti-anxiety medications (such as Valium, Xanax, Ativan, and Klonopin) are benzodiazepines that are quick-acting and can be beneficial on a very short-term basis for acute anxiety. However, they have several drawbacks. Brain SPECT imaging studies show that “benzos” reduce overall blood flow and activity in the brain and are harmful to brain function. “They can cause memory problems, daytime drowsiness, confusion, addiction, and severe withdrawal syndrome if they are abruptly discontinued,” says Dr. Creado, who does sleep consults and who is the creator and host of an online course called “Overcoming Insomnia.”

Trying to go off these drugs can increase anxiety to higher levels than before you started taking the medication. Benzos are also dangerous when combined with alcohol or other sedating drugs. From 1999 to 2013, overdose deaths quadrupled, according to research in the American Journal of Public Health.

Sleep drugs, such as Ambien and Lunesta, have similar risks. To understand how they work, it’s important to know that “insomnia is not the lack of sleep, but instead, excessive wakefulness of the brain,” according to Dr. Creado. These drugs are effective because they calm an overactive mind and causing you to become unconscious, but they also have many downsides.

“They may limit REM sleep and that can lead to morning grogginess, which is also known as the ‘hangover effect,’ as well as brain fog and memory problems,” says Dr. Creado. In addition, some people experience episodes of sleepwalking, sleep-driving, sleep-eating, and other behaviors while taking these drugs and have no memory of their actions the following day. Stopping the pills can cause rebound insomnia, making it even harder to get the rest you need.

In addition, benzodiazepines and these sleep drugs carry a black box warning, the FDA’s most stringent warning given to medications with the most serious side effects. This all adds up to a growing number of people who are going to need help to stop their prescription drug habit and to learn how to overcome insomnia and anxiety without these medications.

THE IMPENDING SLEEP DISRUPTION TSUNAMI

Although many experts have been pointing to a post-pandemic mental health crisis, “there hasn’t been enough focus on the sleep disruption epidemic that is headed our way,” says Dr. Creado. This will have dire consequences on mental health, physical health (such as inflammation, heart attacks, strokes, lowered immunity), work productivity, relationships, and more. To avoid becoming a sleep-deprived victim of the second wave of the pandemic, you need to take action now.

Here are some tips to improve sleep quality.

Sleep disorders, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting to get treatment until the pandemic is over is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time.

At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples, as well as in-clinic brain scanning and functional medicine evaluations to help our patients. 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.

 

While most people are focusing on ways to fight the coronavirus pandemic, few are prepared for the other pandemic that is already spreading more rapidly around the nation and across the globe—a mental health pandemic.

Recent reports show:

And that’s just the beginning.

An article in the April issue of JAMA Internal Medicine warns of an impending mental health epidemic due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors write, “These consequences are of sufficient importance that immediate efforts focused on prevention and direct intervention are needed to address the impact of the outbreak on individual and population-level mental health.”

The outlook for our mental wellbeing is grim with spikes expected in anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorders, and other issues.

What can you do now to avoid falling victim to this impending crisis? Start taking care of your brain and body by addressing your BRIGHT MINDS risk factors.

Change Your Brain, Heal Your Mind with BRIGHT MINDS

In Daniel G. Amen’s book The End of Mental Illness, he reveals that it’s time to discard the term “mental illness” and recognize that these conditions are actually brain health issues that steal your mind. When you understand that your brain is the organ that creates your mind, you can take the necessary steps to change your brain and heal your mind.

B is for blood flow.

Low blood flow is the #1 brain imaging predictor of Alzheimer’s disease. It’s also associated with depression, schizophrenia, and ADD/ADHD. Did you know that as blood pressure goes up, blood flow to the brain goes down?

BRIGHT MINDS Strategy: To boost blood flow, exercise, eat foods that enhance blood flow to the brain (such as beets, cayenne pepper, oregano, and rosemary), and take supplements like ginkgo biloba.

R is for Retirement/Aging.

When you stop learning your brain starts dying. The older you get the more likely you are to struggle with your memory, and as the brain deteriorates with age it leads to a greater risk of mood problems, anxiety, irritability, temper flare-ups, and irrational behavior.

BRIGHT MINDS Strategy: The older you are the more serious you need to be about your physical, cognitive, and emotional health.

I is for Inflammation.

The word inflammation comes from the Latin “Inflammare” which means “to set on fire.” When you have inflammation in your body, it’s like a low-level fire that’s destroying your organs, including your brain. Inflammation has been linked to depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), schizophrenia, personality disorders, and Alzheimer’s disease.

BRIGHT MINDS Strategy: Increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids (take a high-quality supplement like Omega-3 Power), try probiotics to promote better gut health (ProBrainBiotics), and floss your teeth to avoid gum disease.

G is for Genetics.

If you have a family history of mental health problems, understand that your genes are not your destiny. Think of it as a wakeup call.

BRIGHT MINDS Strategy: Don’t use genetic vulnerabilities as an excuse to give in to bad habits, such as overeating or excessive drinking.

H is for Head Trauma.

Mild traumatic brain injuries are a major cause of mental illness, but nobody knows it because traditional psychiatrists never look at the brain. Head injuries are associated with depression, anxiety and panic disorders, psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), drug and alcohol abuse, ADD/ADHD, memory problems, and more.

BRIGHT MINDS Strategy: If traditional treatment for a psychiatric condition isn’t working, consider brain SPECT imaging to see if you have underlying brain trauma that is contributing to your mental health symptoms.

T is for Toxins.

Drugs, alcohol, mold, chemicals in household cleaners, and other toxins are major causes of brain health/mental health issues that traditional psychiatrists almost completely ignore. Exposure to toxins increases the risk of depression, ADD/ADHD, memory problems, autism, temper outbursts, psychotic behavior, dementia, and more.

BRIGHT MINDS Strategy: Detoxify your home as much as possible. Read the labels of the disinfectants you’re using during the pandemic and choose products that aren’t toxic.

M is for Mind Storms.

Abnormal electrical activity in the brain has been associated with temper outbursts, depression, suicidal thoughts, panic attacks, distractibility, and confusion.

BRIGHT MINDS Strategy: Avoid things that increase mind storms, such as high stress, lack of sleep, drug and alcohol abuse, and skipping meals.

I is for Immunity and Infections.

Things like Lyme disease and autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis) cause multiple brain health/mental health issues.

BRIGHT MINDS Strategy: Strengthen your immune system and seek treatment for chronic infections like Lyme disease.

N is for Neurohormones.

Hormonal imbalances of key neurohormones, such as thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone can cause symptoms—such as depression, anxiety, attention problems, and psychosis—that mimic mental health conditions.

BRIGHT MINDS Strategy: Know and optimize your hormone levels.

D is for Diabesity.

Being obese and/or having diabetes is detrimental to brain health and leads to a greater risk of depression, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, addictions, agoraphobia, and more.  

BRIGHT MINDS Strategy: Many obese people with type 2 diabetes are able to overcome the condition with a brain healthy diet, increased physical exercise, and supplements like berberine that help support healthy blood sugar levels.

S is for Sleep.

Over time, sleep problems lead to an increased risk of depression, ADD/ADHD, panic attacks, memory problems, and dementia.

BRIGHT MINDS Strategy: Make sleep a priority and aim for 7-8 hours a night.

Anxiety can’t wait. Depression can’t wait. Addiction can’t wait. Your mental health can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever, and waiting to get treatment until the pandemic is over is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time.

At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples, as well as in-clinic brain scanning to help our patients. 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.

Advanced age, obesity, smoking—these are some of the biggest risk factors that make you more likely to develop a severe illness or to die from COVID-19, according to emerging research. They are also many of the same risk factors that attack brain health and contribute to mental illness and memory problems. BRIGHT MINDS is a mnemonic for the 11 major risk factors that steal your mind, and as researchers are discovering, they may also raise the risk for more severe illness or death from the coronavirus.

Know how many of these risk factors you have and follow the tips to minimize your risk.

B is for Blood flow.

The World Health Organization reports that people with high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease are among those at highest risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19. Statistics compiled by the state of New York show that hypertension, coronary artery disease, and high cholesterol are among the top 10 co-morbidities among patients who died from COVID-19.

BRIGHT MINDS Tip: Even though you may be sheltering at home, it’s still critical to exercise to get your blood pumping.

R is for Retirement/Aging.

Research in Clinical Infectious Diseases shows that people of old age are at the greatest risk for poor outcomes from COVID-19. Having dementia, which is typically seen in older people, was listed as one of the top 10 co-existing conditions in people who died from COVID-19, according to statistics from the state of New York.

BRIGHT MINDS Tip: New learning keeps your brain young. When quarantined or self-isolating, keep your mind active.

I is for Inflammation.

A study in Clinical Infectious Diseases found that people with high levels of C-reactive protein—a marker for inflammation—are more likely to have severe coronavirus illness.

BRIGHT MINDS Tip: Avoid pro-inflammatory foods, such as sugar and refined carbohydrates, that drive inflammation.

G is for Genetics.

Researchers suggest the reason why some younger people with no underlying health conditions become seriously ill from COVID-19 may have to do with their genes.

BRIGHT MINDS Tip: Know your genetic risks and be proactive about minimizing them.

H is for Head Trauma.

Although research has yet to show a direct connection between head trauma and coronavirus outcomes, having a head injury increases the likelihood of mental health issues, such as depression, which has been linked to inflammation and immune system dysfunction. In addition, people who have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are also more likely to suffer from addictions to toxic substances that may impact pulmonary health. (See T is for Toxins below.)

BRIGHT MINDS Tip: Protect your brain—wear a helmet while biking, avoid climbing ladders, hold the handrail when you walk down stairs.

T is for Toxins.

Smoking anything—cigarettes, marijuana, or methamphetamine—poses a greater risk for severe COVID-19 illness. According to a release from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Because it attacks the lungs, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 could be an especially serious threat to those who smoke tobacco or marijuana or who vape.” NIDA also suggests that people with addictions who abuse opioids or methamphetamine may also be at increased risk because these substances negatively affect respiratory and pulmonary health. In addition, kidney disease ranked among the top 10 co-occurring conditions in people who died from COVID-19 in New York state. The kidneys are one of the body’s 4 organs of detoxification—the other 3 are the skin, gut, and liver. Environmental toxins can harm these organs. This damage reduces your detoxification system’s ability to do its job, creating an even greater buildup of toxins.

BRIGHT MINDS Tip: During highly stressful times like during a pandemic, eliminate alcohol and drugs and support your 4 organs of detoxification—liver, kidneys, gut, and skin—by minimizing your exposure to environmental toxins.

M is for Mental Health.

Having depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions can interfere with immune system function and make you more susceptible to viral infections.

BRIGHT MINDS Tip: Seek treatment for mental health issues but be sure to see a healthcare provider who looks at the brain and treats the root causes of mental illness, rather than just treating symptoms.

I is for Immunity and Infections.

Having a chronic infection, such as Lyme disease, may increase vulnerability to COVID-19 and may worsen outcomes, according to Mark Filidei, D.O., the director of integrative and functional medicine at Amen Clinics in Costa Mesa, California.

BRIGHT MINDS Tip: Shore up immunity with vitamin D, zinc, therapeutic mushrooms, and garlic.

N is for Neurohormones.

A recent report in The New York Times shows that men are dying from COVID-19 at nearly twice the rate as women. Science suggests it may be due, in part, to hormones. Research shows the female sex hormone estrogen stimulates the immune system, giving women more robust immunity, while the male sex hormone testosterone inhibits the immune system.

BRIGHT MINDS Tip: As a general rule, it’s a good idea to check your hormone levels regularly and optimize them if necessary.

D is for Diabesity.

The word “diabesity” combine diabetes and obesity, both of which are associated with poorer outcomes from COVID-19. Obesity is one of the biggest risk factors for hospitalization and critical illness, according to a pre-print study (which means it is not yet peer-reviewed) of over 4,000 people in New York who had tested positive for COVID-19. Having diabetes doesn’t increase the risk of becoming ill from COVID-19, but an analysis in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation reports that people with diabetes could be up to twice as likely to die from coronavirus.

BRIGHT MINDS Tip: Eat healthy foods—lean protein, colorful vegetables and fruits, and smart carbs (ones that don’t spike your blood sugar)—not just what’s left on the store shelves during the pandemic.

S is for Sleep.

Even though sleep has not been directly associated with worse outcomes from coronavirus, it is tightly linked to immunity. Research on identical twins in the journal Sleep shows that chronic sleep deprivation lowers immune system function.

BRIGHT MINDS Tip: Sleep is often the most affected during a crisis, but you need to make sleep a priority. Aim for 7 hours a night.

If you’re struggling with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, or other mental health issues, you aren’t alone—45% of Americans say the coronavirus pandemic has impacted their mental health. Just because you’re sheltering at home doesn’t mean you have to wait for the pandemic to be over before seeking help. In fact, during these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever, and waiting to get treatment is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time.

At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples, as well as in-clinic brain scanning to help our patients. 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.

In the 4-part Hulu docu-series “Hillary,” former President Bill Clinton says that the affair he had with then-intern Monica Lewinsky was a way of “managing my anxieties.” Evidently, his stress-management strategy backfired and caused him a lot more anxiety considering the scandal eventually led to a grand jury investigation and his impeachment in 1998.

Clinton isn’t the only American to turn to unhealthy ways to deal with anxiety. Every day, millions of people self-soothe or self-medicate by taking drugs (whether they’re illegal, prescription, or over the counter), drinking excessively, overeating, engaging in compulsive spending, binge-watching TV shows, smoking, guzzling caffeine, or (like Clinton) having extramarital affairs.

There are better ways to cope with stress, pressure, and anxiety!

Here are 10 brain healthy ways to calm your nerves and soothe your soul:

1. Meditate or pray

Decades of research have shown that meditation and prayer can calm stress and anxiety. Loving Kindness Meditation, in which you repeat words like “May I be safe and secure, may I be healthy and strong, may I be happy and purposeful, may I be at peace” can develop feelings of goodwill and warmth.

2. Use self-hypnosis

Using self-hypnosis can quickly decrease the stress-induced fight-or-flight response and can lower anxiety. One simple technique involved focusing on a spot, taking slow and deep breaths, relaxing your muscles, envisioning yourself riding down an escalator, enjoying a feeling of tranquility when you reach the bottom of that escalator, then imagining yourself riding back up the escalator and opening your eyes. It should leave you feeling refreshed and relaxed.

3. Practice diaphragmatic breathing

Every time you take a breath, it brings oxygen to your blood cells. When you exhale, your body releases waste products, such as carbon dioxide. When there’s too much carbon dioxide in your system, it can cause stressful feelings of anxiety, disorientation, and panic attacks. Breathing deeply from your diaphragm calms the brain’s basal ganglia, the area that controls anxiety. Whenever you’re feeling anxious or stressed, take 5 deep breaths, taking twice as long to exhale to settle.

4. Consider calming supplements

There is strong scientific evidence for several nutritional supplements that can support a sense of calm and relaxation.

5. Eat anti-anxiety foods

Focus on foods that promote calm and relaxation, including:

6. Kill the ANTs

Learn to challenge the automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) that pop into your head and make you feel anxious, nervous, and stressed. Every time you have an anxious thought, write it down and ask yourself if it is true.

7. Create an anxiety rescue playlist

Music can soothe you when you’re stressed or under a lot of pressure. Create a playlist or try Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” or Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune.”

8. Check hormone levels

Hormonal imbalances can mimic symptoms of anxiety and nervousness. Have your healthcare provider check your thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels to see if they are out of whack and optimize them if necessary.

9. Try HRV training

A 2014 study in Frontiers in Psychiatry shows that anxiety is linked to low levels of heart rate variability (HRV), the time interval between heartbeats. You can biohack your way to a healthier HRV with biofeedback apps to help you deal more effectively with stress.

10. Limit caffeine, alcohol, and sugar

These substances may temporarily mask feelings of anxiety and stress, but they actually worsen anxiety and lower the body’s ability to respond to stress. Limit or eliminate them completely from your diet.

At Amen Clinics, we take a unique brain-body approach to diagnosis and treatment that includes brain SPECT imaging, as well as laboratory testing to check physical health, and other important factors that could be contributing to symptoms. By getting to the root cause of mental health conditions, such as anxiety and panic attacks, we can create a more effective, personalized treatment plan for you. We believe in using the least toxic, most effective solutions for anxiety and other mental health problems.

If you want to join the tens of thousands of people who have already enhanced their brain health, overcome their symptoms, and improved their quality of life at Amen Clinics, speak to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.