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Are you filled with dread at the thought of going home? Is your family constantly at war with each other? Do you feel neglected or worry about a possible violent outburst? You may think you’re the only one whose family life is filled with tension, strife, and emotional chaos. You’d be wrong. Far too many people are living in families where communication, emotional support, and love are in short supply.

Growing up in a dysfunctional family can leave you emotionally scarred and set you up for a lifetime of issues. Not all dysfunctional families are the same though, and each type can create specific problems that carry on into adulthood.

Here are 5 types of dysfunctional families:

1. The Substance Abuse Family

Over 8 million children under the age of 18 live with a parent who has a substance use disorder, according to research in Social Work in Public Health. When one or more parents abuse drugs or alcohol, it can lead to chaotic family life. Children of alcoholics or drug addicts may not have their basic needs met. The addicted parent may forget to pick up the kids from school, neglect to fix lunch or dinner, and skip important health checks. Unreliable and inconsistent parenting causes children to feel insecure and leads to issues with trust and pent-up anger that may linger for decades.

Living in constant fear, being blamed for problems the parent creates and feeling ashamed impact the ability to form healthy relationships later on in life. Children of alcoholics are prone to develop overactivity in the amygdala, the brain’s fear center, and can contribute to mental health conditions, such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression. And research in Drug and Alcohol Dependenceshows they are at heightened risk of developing substance use disorders.

2. The Conflict-Driven Family

Is your family life filled with heated arguments, hurtful disputes, and long-running feuds? When family members are constantly picking fights or pressing each other’s buttons to create conflict, it creates a highly stressful environment. When one family member feels threatened, they may retaliate with even more hateful actions. It doesn’t really matter what the conflicts are about—money, personal style, where to go to dinner, or what to watch on TV—it’s the inability to communicate and resolve issues peacefully that causes lasting damage. Children in conflict-oriented families often develop stress disorders and have trouble with attachment.

3. The Violent Family

Each year, approximately 4.5 to 15 million children are exposed to some form of physical violence in the home. Growing up in a volatile or violent family is a horrific experience that no one deserves. Family violence is not only physical. It can also include verbal, sexual, or psychological abuse or any other behavior that makes you feel unsafe. For children, simply witnessing domestic abuse can have the same devastating effects as experiencing abuse oneself, according to 2018 research in JAMA Network Open.

Childhood trauma causes physical changes in the developing brain that are associated with an increased risk of psychiatric disorders and substance abuse. For example, brain imaging research shows that children who grow up in an abusive environment tend to have:

4. The Authoritarian Family

Authoritarian parents act like dictators, making great demands but giving little positive feedback. Mistakes are often met with severe punishment, which can include yelling, spanking, or other forms of corporal punishment. In these households, the authoritarian sets the rules and it’s “my way or the highway.” Children learn to follow rules but don’t gain valuable experience in making their own decisions or learning from their own mistakes.

When they grow up, these youngsters tend to have poor self-esteem, may be overly aggressive or excessively shy in social situations, may be prone to anxiety or depression, and may be vulnerable to substance abuse due to an inability to control their own behavior.

5. The Emotionally Detached Family

In some families, signs of affection and warmth are missing. Emotional unavailability and a lack of hugs, handholding, and other physical signs of love teach children to repress their emotions. This causes little ones to bottle up their feelings and have a hard time opening up to others, which can lead to a series of failed relationships.

In some cases, it creates problems with self-esteem and feelings of unworthiness. Without loving parents, children are more likely to have a fear of abandonment, school problems, and psychological issues, such as a lack of identity or personality disorders.

Overcoming the Dysfunctional Family Curse

Whichever form of family dysfunction affects your home life, understand that you can overcome these issues. You don’t need to let them ruin your life. Here are some powerful steps that can help you heal from a dysfunctional upbringing.

If you’re struggling with issues that stem from growing up in a dysfunctional family or you’re still caught up in an unhealthy family dynamic, Amen Clinics can help. At Amen Clinics, we can help you—and everyone in the family unit—achieve better brain health and a stronger, more fulfilling relationship. We use brain SPECT imaging to help diagnose mental health conditions and to identify areas of the brain that may benefit from optimization. We believe in using the least toxic, most effective solutions, including psychotherapy, natural supplements, nutritional coaching, medications (when necessary) and more.

To find out more about how we can help, call 888-288-9834 to talk to a specialist today or schedule a visit.

Did you know that the foods you eat can either fire up overactivity in your brain’s limbic system (emotional center), which brain scans show is linked to depression, or it can calm activity to promote more positive moods? Increasingly, researchers are concluding that people with mental health disorders, such as depression, are consuming diets that are lacking in key nutrients for brain health. A growing body of evidence suggests that nutritional treatment—aka, eating targeted foods—may help prevent, treat, or improve depression, as well as other conditions, such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, or ADD/ADHD.

The scientific community is finally beginning to see how food is so strongly linked to mood and mental health. In 2015, a group of 18 scientists concluded that “the emerging and compelling evidence for nutrition as a crucial factor in the high prevalence and incidence of mental disorders suggests that diet is as important to psychiatry as it is to cardiology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology.”

Here are 8 foods you should include in your diet if you want to boost your mood and reduce symptoms of depression.

1. Berries: The Antioxidant Answer

Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries are “smart” carbohydrates that are packed with nutrients that balance your blood sugar and reduce cravings. Colorful berries are also full of mood benefits, providing nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. A 2009 study on the impact of antioxidant therapy on depression found that people who had been treated with antioxidants for two years significantly lowered their depression score.

2. Water: The Secret Mood Booster

Your brain is comprised of 80% water and research shows that being even mildly dehydrated can negatively impact moods. In both women and men, it can make you feel more anxious, tense, depressed, or angry, in addition to sapping your energy levels and lowering your ability to concentrate. Staying adequately hydrated can help optimize moods, motivation, and energy levels. And according to a 2018 study in the World Journal of Psychiatry, drinking plain old H20 is associated with a decrease in depression and anxiety,

3. Lean Protein: Building Blocks for Neurotransmitters

Lean protein—such as chicken, turkey, beef, fish, and lamb—provides essential amino acids, which are precursors for neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine, which play an important role in mental health. A 2019 study on nutrition and depression in adolescents shows that low intake of amino acids has been linked to reduced synthesis of these neurotransmitters and consequently, low moods and aggression. For optimal brain health, choose hormone-free, antibiotic-free, free-range, and grass-fed animal proteins.

4. Salmon: A Healthy Dose of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Did you know that 60% of the solid weight of your brain is fat? Low-fat diets are not good for your brain or your mood. Salmon is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, and a wealth of research has shown that these fats can reduce symptoms of depression. A 2009 review of three studies on the effects of omega-3 fatty acids in major depression in adults, depression in children, and depression in bipolar disorder found that EPA (a form of omega-3s) reduced symptoms in all three types of depression with no side effects. When shopping, opt for wild salmon, not the farm-raised variety.

5. Kimchi: Probiotic Power

Kimchi supports healthy gut bacteria, which is tightly linked to mood. The gut—your gastrointestinal tract (GI)—is often called the second brain because it is lined with about 100 million neurons. And 75% of the body’s neurotransmitters—including feel-good ones like serotonin— are produced in the gut. A 2017 review of the existing research suggests that treatment with probiotics can alleviate depressive symptoms.

6. Saffron: Nature’s Antidepressant

Herbs and spices are as powerful as medicines. In multiple studies, a saffron extract was found to be as effective as antidepressant medication in treating people with major depression.

7. Avocados: Oleic Acid Attacks Bad Moods

This popular green fruit contains healthy fats that fuel brainpower and is high in oleic acid. A 2009 study that followed 4,856 adults for a decade found that women who consumed the most oleic acid were less than half as likely to suffer from severe depression.

8. Dark Leafy Greens: Anti-Inflammatory Action

Whether you prefer kale, spinach, or broccoli, be sure to fuel up on these nutrient-dense vegetables. In addition to being chock-full of vitamins and minerals, they fight inflammation, which has been linked to depression, according to research in JAMA Psychiatry.

At Amen Clinics, our brain imaging work has helped us see the powerful impact food has on brain function and on conditions, such as depression. We take an integrative approach to diagnosis and treatment that includes looking at the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of your life to identify areas that can be optimized. This includes nutritional coaching, natural supplements, and many other of the least toxic, most effective solutions.

If you’re suffering from symptoms of depression and want a whole-person approach rather than just pills, call 888-288-9834 to talk to a specialist today or schedule a visit.

Report card time can be stressful for everyone involved. Kids and teens may be wracked with anxiety and dread. And when you see your child’s report card, you may experience frustration, disappointment, and sometimes anger. How you react to those grades can greatly impact your child’s self-esteem, motivation, and mental health.

1. When your child gets bad grades even though they’re working hard.

Wrong reaction: How can you get such bad grades when you spend so much time studying?

Better reaction: If your child spends hours studying but still isn’t doing well at school, it may be time to investigate if a condition, such as ADD/ADHD or another learning problem is keeping your child from performing up to their ability. To make sure your child is getting the support needed, you may want to check into a 504 or Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

2. When grades are good, but not good enough in your child’s opinion.

Wrong reaction: Don’t be silly, this is a good report card.

Better reaction: Don’t discount your child’s feelings. If your child has a meltdown and feels like a failure because they didn’t get all A’s on their report card, they may be a perfectionist. These students place so much pressure on themselves and often set unrealistic goals, so they never feel good about their achievements. This can take a toll on their self-esteem and mental health. Perfectionists are at increased risk of anxiety, depression, and chronic stress. Help your child by modeling healthy coping strategies, sharing your own stories of how you handle failure and praise them for things other than academic achievements and grades.

3. When classwork isn’t the problem, but the behavior is.

Wrong reaction: Why do you ruin everything with your bad attitude?

Better reaction: When disruptive, inappropriate, defiant, or aggressive behavior is skewing grades in the wrong direction, you may be tempted to blame them for their attitude or wait for your child to simply grow out of it. But if behavioral problems persist, it can lead to serious trouble, including eventual suspension or expulsion. Checking with a mental healthcare professional to see if these problems are serious enough to need treatment can help put your student on the path to better behavior and better academic achievement.

4. When homework is good, but tests are a problem.

Wrong reaction: Tests are no different than homework. It’s all in your head.

Better reaction: Some young people are very smart and diligent, but they struggle on exams due to test-day anxiety. Shaming them just makes them feel worse. Rather than telling them not to worry or that there’s nothing to be anxious about, acknowledge their feelings and teach them some simple strategies to help them overcome exam jitters. Deep breathing is one of the most powerful anxiety tamers and it calms nerves almost instantly. Teaching youngsters how to eliminate ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) is another tool that can help them get past performance anxiety.

5. When grades are bad due to lack of effort.

Wrong reaction: I’m taking your phone away until your grades improve!

Better reaction: If you know your child hasn’t been doing their homework or has been slacking in the studying department, it’s time for a heart-to-heart about effort. Ask your child if they have a plan to improve and let them know that there will be consequences. Make the consequences more immediate and tie them to their effort. For example, tell them they can’t use their phone until their homework is completed.

6. When grades have gone down dramatically.

Wrong reaction: What’s wrong with you? You used to be so smart.

Better reaction: Don’t be furious about a bad report card, be curious. A sudden drop in grades, especially in teens, may be a cause for concern. Take stock of your teen’s lifestyle habits to determine if a lack of sleep, too many extracurricular activities, or too much time on social media may be preventing them from hitting the books. Be aware that this may also be a warning sign of a more serious problem, such as substance abuse, depression, or being bullied. Talk to your teen about what might be the underlying reasons for the change in grades and consider setting up a meeting with their teacher. Remember that solving the root cause of the problem is far more important than the actual grades, so be sure to support your teen rather than scolding them.

7. When grades are good.

Wrong reaction: You got a great report card, so we’re giving you a new phone.

Better reaction: You may be tempted to reward good grades with money, a shiny new object, or a big celebratory dinner. But doling out gifts sends the wrong message. It tells children that your love is tied to how good their grades are. This can fuel a sense of perfectionism, anxiety, and a fear of failure. Rather than focusing your attention on the letter grades or GPA, pay attention to the effort that went into the grades.

At Amen Clinics, we have treated thousands of children and teens for school problems, including anxiety, behavioral issues, ADD/ADHD, addictions, and more. We use brain SPECT imaging as part of a comprehensive evaluation to diagnose and treat children. This helps our Child & Adolescent Psychiatrists identify any dysfunction or damage in the brain, as well as any co-existing conditions, that need to be addressed. Based on this information, we are better able to personalize treatment for your child using the least toxic, most effective solutions for a better outcome.

Speak to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

Did you know that up to two-thirds of people who suffer from depression don’t find relief from the first antidepressant they try? And even after four courses of antidepressants, one-third of people with depressive symptoms still don’t get better? Neuroimaging and AI may be able to change that, according to a pair of recent studies in the American Journal of Psychiatry and Nature Human Behavior.

The new research from scientists at UT Southwestern shows that brain imaging can identify activity patterns in the brain that indicate if a person is likely to respond to a certain medication. The two studies are part of a national trial called EMBARC that is working to establish better ways to treat depression based on objective, biological evidence. They are hoping it will lead to less trial and error and more targeted, effective treatment.

“We need to end the guessing game and find objective measures for prescribing interventions that will work,” said Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, who oversees EMBARC and is founding Director of UT Southwestern’s Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care. 

The scientists are looking forward to a day when brain imaging, blood testing, and genetic testing will be standard practice in selecting a treatment plan for major depressive disorder.

What the New Research Shows

In the two new studies, which each involved over 300 participants, imaging tests measured brain activity at rest and during emotional processing. While in the brain scanners, study participants viewed photographs of angry or happy faces that were labeled with words that they had to read aloud. What made this tricky is that the words didn’t always match the emotion shown in the image. For example, a happy face might have had “Fear” written on it.

The researchers used AI to observe activity throughout the entire brain rather than just the emotional centers of the brain. The results found that people who had abnormal activity in the prefrontal cortex (an area involved in judgment, planning, and focus) were less likely to respond to treatment with SSRIs, a common type of antidepressant.

These studies further validate the use of neuroimaging in finding the best solutions for depression.

Brain Imaging Already Being Used in Depression Treatment

People with treatment-resistant depression who aren’t responding to antidepressants don’t need to wait for this type of technology to help them find the most effective solutions. Amen Clinics, with 8 locations nationwide, has been using brain SPECT imaging for 30 years, as well as lab testing, genetic testing, and a deep dive into the other areas of your life that might contribute to depressive symptoms.

The brain imaging work at Amen Clinics has identified 7 different types of depression and anxiety based on brain patterns. This helps explain why taking a “one-size-fits-all” approach to depression treatment will never work.

“Think of your brain patterns as a fingerprint,” said Dr. Jay Faber of Amen Clinics on CBS News, when asked about the new brain imaging and depression studies. “Everybody has their unique signature.”

When developing a patient’s treatment plan, the Amen Clinics Method takes those specific brain patterns into consideration, along with all the other factors that influence depression. And according to Dr. Faber, when patients who weren’t having a good response to antidepressants have a SPECT scan and are treated based on their brain patterns and other diagnostic information, “up to 78 to 80% are better.”

What Amen Clinics and these new studies out of UT Southwestern show are that neuroimaging is the future of psychiatry. While most psychiatric clinics are still years away from incorporating this technology into their clinical practice, at Amen Clinics, the future is now.

If you’re suffering from depression and aren’t getting relief, take advantage of the next-generation diagnostic testing available at Amen Clinics. We use brain SPECT imaging, as well as blood testing, genetic testing, and a comprehensive 4-circle approach that looks at all the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors that can contribute to depression symptoms. Based on all of this valuable information, we can create a targeted, personalized treatment plan that includes the least toxic, most effective solutions for your needs.

 To learn more or to schedule your comprehensive evaluation, please visit us online or call 888-288-9834.

 

When people are seriously hurt in horrific car accidents, burned in fires, or injured in violent crimes, first responders rush in to treat injuries and to offer emotional support. But who provides support to the first responders? Repeated exposure to gruesome injuries or loss of life can lead to emotional trauma for these everyday heroes.

It is estimated that 1 in 10 first responders will develop a trauma-related problem. And this puts firefighters, law enforcement personnel, paramedics, and others at increased risk of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, marital conflict, sleep disturbances, trouble concentrating, anger, and suicide. It is estimated that 30% of first responders will develop mental health conditions compared to 20% of the civilian population.

In addition, first responders are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty, according to the Ruderman White Paper on Mental Health and Suicide of First Responders. This study reported that in 2017, 140 police officers and 103 firefighters died by suicide compared to 129 police officers and 93 firefighters who died on the job. However, the research suggests that not all suicides are reported, so the numbers could be even higher.

What Brain Imaging Reveals about Suicide

Amen Clinics has done brain imaging studies on more than 300 people, including some first responders, who have attempted to take their own life. Some of the common traits found in these people include past head injuries, exposure to trauma, impulsivity, anger, and negativity.

Change Your Brain, Heal Your Mind

The good news is you are not stuck with the brain you have. You can make it better. If you’ve had a head injury and been exposed to trauma, or if you struggle with impulsiveness, anger, or negative thinking, there are numerous therapies that can help you change your brain and heal your mind.

Our first responders deserve more support. Helping them understand that “mental health” problems are really “brain health” problems is an important step in ending the stigma associated with seeking treatment. Thinking of these issues as biological rather than psychological may encourage more of these heroes to get the help they need so that heartbreaking suicides may be prevented.

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

At Amen Clinics, we have treated hundreds of people who have attempted suicide, including first responders, and many more who have considered taking their own life. We use brain SPECT imaging to help identify underlying brain abnormalities that increase the risk of suicide and offer personalized treatment plans to optimize the brain so you can have a healthier outlook on life.

If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal tendencies and would like more information on how to heal your brain and save a life, call us at 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

 

The holidays are supposed to be the most joyous time of the year to spend with family. But not everybody has one of those perfect Hallmark families. For some people, the holidays are filled with drama, chaos, and arguments, and the mere idea of heading home triggers painful memories and emotional distress.

Jenna hated going home for Christmas, and she started stressing about it weeks before her annual trip. She was a successful attorney with a nice condo and lots of friends, and she thoroughly enjoyed her life. But it was never good enough for her parents. As soon as Jenna walked through the door of her childhood home, her mother would start up with the needling questions: Why aren’t you married yet? Am I ever going to have grandkids? Did you gain weight again?

Her dad was even worse. He always drank too much and then start yelling at everyone. For Jenna, this triggered traumatic memories of Dad punching his fist through a wall when she hadn’t graduated as class Valedictorian, of him shaking her mother violently when they had shouting matches, and of him throwing a plate of mashed potatoes at the wall one Christmas day when she was just a kid.

Back in this toxic family environment, Jenna’s self-confidence and joie de vivre would immediately start to plummet, and she would revert back to the anxious, depressed, scared child she used to be.

She isn’t alone.

The holidays can be less than merry for many people. For those who suffered trauma or abuse as a child, family festivities can cause old emotional wounds to surface. People who are struggling with alcohol abuse may have trouble staying sober when there is so much focus on holiday cocktails. Anyone with an eating disorder may feel the familiar urges to binge or purge when faced with holiday meals. And individuals who have anxiety or depression may find that their symptoms intensify when the holiday season approaches.

6 Reasons Why Holidays are So Triggering

Aside from family feuds and underlying mental health issues, there are many factors that contribute to seasonal struggles. With a little planning, however, you can overcome these holiday hazards for a more joyous season.

1. ’Tis the Season to be Stressed

Buying gifts, hosting lavish feasts, decorating—there’s a lot that goes into making the holiday season perfect. All of this added stress can take a toll on brain health and lead to increased vulnerability to mental health symptoms.

Holiday Helper: Stay grounded with a few minutes of daily meditation or prayer and don’t take on more projects than you can handle.

2. No Silent Nights

The excitement of the season and holiday parties often lead to less shut-eye and more disrupted sleep. When you aren’t getting your usual 7-8 hours a night, it impacts your moods and cognitive function. Just one night of bad sleep can leave you in a brain fog and make you more irritable, anxious, and depressed.

Holiday Helper: Stick to your sleep schedule as much as possible.

3. Hectic Travel

Sold-out flights, overcrowded airports, and jam-packed highways can mess with your mental well-being.

Holiday Helper: Leave early for your destination, bring some soothing music, and give yourself an attitude adjustment. Put yourself in a “We’ll get there when we get there” mindset.

4. Too Much Feasting

Starting in October, it’s like there’s a free-for-all in the food department. People toss out all their good eating habits and dive into unhealthy dishes that leave you feeling spacy, fatigued, and bloated. The food you eat has an almost immediate effect on your brain function and giving in to cravings around the holidays lowers your ability to handle stress and family drama.

Holiday Helper: If you know that your family is going to be feasting on unhealthy foods, bring some good-for-you snacks with you or offer to prepare a few brain healthy side dishes for the festivities. And if you are going to indulge in something decadent, follow the 3-bite rule.

5. Holiday Cheers

Alcohol lowers activity in the brain’s prefrontal cortex, the area involved in judgment, forethought, and impulse control. Boozing it up at holiday parties or family gatherings sets the scene for drama and discord.

Holiday Helper: To avoid drinking altogether, volunteer to be the designated driver or ask the bartender or host for a non-alcoholic drink that looks festive. If you are going to drink, set a limit and be sure to eat something beforehand to minimize the effects of alcohol.

6. Couch Potato Syndrome

Sitting on the couch watching football with your extended family drains your energy and deprives you of the feel-good endorphins you get when you get your blood pumping with exercise.

Holiday Helper: Start your day with a morning walk or suggest playing a game of touch football (never tackle football!) during halftime.

If you dread the holidays and need help coping with the emotions that surface, Amen Clinics can help. If you want to join the tens of thousands of people who have already enhanced their brain health and overcome their symptoms 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.

 

 

Delusions, hallucinations, distorted thinking—these are some of the frightening symptoms of schizophrenia, a condition that affects a person’s ability to distinguish reality from fantasy. Getting diagnosed with this chronic condition generally means you’re in for a never-ending battle, a lifetime of medication, and possible hospitalizations. It also puts you at greater risk of substance abuse, homelessness, and suicidal thoughts and behavior.

But what if that diagnosis was wrong? That’s what happened to Adrianna.

From Healthy to Hallucinations in Just 10 Days

Adrianna, age 16, was a healthy honor roll student when she went with her family on vacation to Yosemite National Park. When they arrived at their cabin, they were surrounded by 6 deer. It was a beautiful moment.

Just 10 days later, Adrianna became agitated and started having auditory hallucinations, one of the hallmark symptoms of schizophrenia. Her parents sought help for their daughter, who was admitted to a psychiatric hospital and prescribed antipsychotic medications. But the pills didn’t help. The next three months were a torturous road of 25 doctors and multiple medications—all at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars. But nothing was working, and Adrianna had become a shadow of her former self.

A doctor at Stanford University told her mother, “Your daughter will be schizophrenic for the rest of her life and will need medication for as long as she lives.”

Looking for Another Path

Unwilling to accept that diagnosis and desperate for a different path forward for her daughter, her mother, Deb, learned how brain SPECT imaging could offer more information about what is happening inside the brain and how it could help diagnose and treat psychiatric patients more effectively. She was hoping it could shed some light on what was really happening to her daughter Adrianna, so she took her for a brain scan.

What Adrianna’s Brain Scan Revealed

Adrianna’s brain scan wasn’t consistent with the patterns typically seen in people with schizophrenia. Instead, it showed evidence of inflammation with areas of unusually high activity. This suggested there might be other potential causes of her symptoms, such as an infection or autoimmune system disorder.

After performing bloodwork and other lab testing, the results confirmed that Adrianna didn’t have schizophrenia. She had Lyme disease, an infection caused by deer ticks. A single tick bite during that trip to Yosemite is likely what triggered her symptoms.

Lyme disease can cause a host of symptoms that mimic those seen in a variety of mental health disorders, including hallucinations, disorganizations, memory problems, short attention span, impulsiveness, addictive behaviors, violence, and suicidal thoughts.

Treatment with antibiotics helped Adrianna get her life back. She subsequently graduated from Pepperdine University and then the Queen Mary University of London with a master’s degree in international human resource management. Now, she’s living a happy life.

Imagine if no one had ever tested her for Lyme disease. It’s quite possible she would still be living in a psychiatric hospital.

In an amazing twist of fate, Adrianna’s uncle had been committed to Napa State Hospital for 27 years for paranoid schizophrenia. It turned out he also had Lyme disease, which was only discovered after Adrianna’s mother had to fight the hospital administration to have him released so he could be tested. Treating Lyme for her brother did not get rid of his hallucinations, but on a small dose of an antipsychotic medication, he has been able to live with his family and is doing well as a free man.

The Link Between Lyme Disease and Schizophrenia

For more evidence about the connection between infectious diseases and psychiatric illness, look at the two maps below. In the top image, you’ll see the highest incidence of schizophrenia in the U.S., and in the bottom image, you’ll see the greatest risk for Lyme disease. It doesn’t take an expert cartographer to see that the maps are nearly identical.

Source: Schizophrenia Bulletin

The medical community needs to wake up to the link between chronic infections and mental health. In 2016,33 scientists from around the world wrote a joint editorial in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease suggesting the medical community was overlooking infectious diseases as a root cause of many memory problems and dementia.

In a “lifelong” psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia, it’s important to rule out infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders as causes of mental health symptoms. Your life depends on it.

At Amen Clinics, we have seen hundreds of patients, including Adrianna, with psychiatric symptoms or cognitive issues that weren’t responding to treatment who tested positive for Lyme disease. Many of them had been infected years or even decades previously, but nobody had ever thought to test them for infectious diseases. With the proper treatment, their symptoms improved significantly.

If you (or a loved one) are suffering from symptoms of schizophrenia or other mental health disorders and aren’t responding to treatment, it’s time to do additional testing to search for the root cause. For more information on how we can help, call us at 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

 

Do you love scrolling through your social media feed and seeing all your friends and family, but hate seeing pictures of yourself? Do you immediately zero in on your weight, crooked nose, or crow’s feet? Almost everybody has something we’d love to change about the way we look, but most of us don’t spend hours obsessing about it and don’t let it interfere with our day-to-day lives.

How can you know if you just have normal body dissatisfaction—everyone can feel a bit self-conscious in a bathing suit—or if you’re one of the approximately 1 in 50 people in America suffering from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)?

BDD is a mental health condition that involves an obsessive preoccupation with physical imperfections that others view as minor or imperceptible. It can happen at any age but is most likely to develop during the teenage years or early adulthood. And contrary to what you might think, it’s almost as common in men as it is in women.

These perceived flaws often center around the face, such as the nose (too big, too pointy, too long), teeth (too crooked, not white enough, that gap), skin (big pores, pimples, too blotchy), or wrinkles (those lines above the lip, laugh lines, forehead creases). Other common areas of concern include body weight, breasts, or hair. If you have body dysmorphic disorder, you likely find the all-consuming thoughts about your appearance distressing and may be filled with anxiety.

Signs and Symptoms of Body Dysmorphia

Look at the following signs and symptoms of BDD and see if you recognize yourself:

Obsessive preoccupation with perceived flaws

Do you spend hours thinking about what’s wrong with your face or body? Do repeatedly look in the mirror, think your physical defects make you ugly, feel like others judge you negatively because of your imperfections, or seek reassurance that your flaw isn’t as bad as you think?

Repeated attempts to camouflage your flaws

Do you engage in excessive grooming, pick at your skin, try to hide your imperfections with makeup, repeatedly change your clothing, frequently change your body position, or get repeated plastic surgery or cosmetic procedures?

Comparing yourself with others

Are you constantly judging yourself and sizing yourself up compared with others?

Your life suffers

Is your obsession with your body taking a toll on your job performance, relationships, or home life? Do you avoid social situations?

Emotional distress

Does your obsession with your flaws cause you to experience feelings of anxiety, depression, disgust, shame, or low self-esteem?

If these sound like you, it’s a good idea to seek an evaluation.

What Does BDD Look Like in the Brain?

Brain imaging studies reveal that people with BDD may have abnormal activity in one or more of the following areas of the brain:

Treating Body Dysmorphia

Research shows that with proper treatment, the recovery rate for people with BDD is good. In one study in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 76% of those with the body dysmorphia achieved a full recovery and had only a 14% chance of recurrence. Unfortunately, most people with BDD don’t seek treatment from a mental health professional.

Instead, they turn to sometimes costly fixes for their flaws only to discover that their feelings of anxiety, depression, and inadequacy remain. Understanding that the problem doesn’t lie in the perceived flaw but rather in the brain is the first step to getting the treatment you need.

In order to treat BDD effectively, it’s critical to know if there are brain imbalances and co-occurring mental health conditions at play, such as anxiety, depression, or OCD. That’s why it’s so important to look at the brain to identify underlying patterns associated with these issues.

Treatment for BDD often involves helpful forms of psychotherapy, as well as other solutions to optimize brain health, such as nutraceuticals, learning to eliminate the ANTs (automatic negative thoughts), and medication (when necessary).

 At Amen Clinics, we take a unique brain-body approach to evaluation to make an accurate diagnosis of body dysmorphic disorder and any other co-occurring mental health conditions. We use brain SPECT imaging as part of a comprehensive assessment to diagnose and treat our patients. We also assess other factors—biological, psychological, social, and spiritual—that can contribute to symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder. If you would like help finding integrative solutions for your symptoms, call 888-288-9834 today to speak to a specialist or schedule a visit online.

 

As if the breakdown of a marriage wasn’t stressful enough, now comes research showing that getting divorced also increases your risk of developing dementia. A new study out of Michigan State University found that people who are divorced are twice as likely as their married counterparts to experience the cognitive dysfunction associated with dementia. And those at highest risk? Divorced men.

Published in The Journals of Gerontology, the study tracked more than 15,000 people aged 52 and over who weren’t hitched. They fell into four groups—never married, living together but not married, widowed, and divorced or separated. The Michigan State researchers assessed their cognitive function every 2 years and found that all of the unmarried groups had a significantly higher chance of getting dementia than married people, and it was the divorced group that suffered the most.

This study makes it clear that marital conflict is bad for your brain.

Divorce as a Risk Factor for Dementia

Divorce or separation should be viewed as a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common form of the condition. Alzheimer’s currently affects 5.8 million Americans, and it is the 6th leading cause of death in the nation. And the numbers keep rising.

Loneliness may be a contributing factor. Being separated from a spouse can increase a sense of loneliness, which can have a major impact on mental well-being. Unfortunately, one-third of seniors between the ages of 50 and 80 say they feel a lack of companionship, and 25 percent of them feel socially isolated, according to a 2018 University of Michigan poll. For seniors, living alone was associated with feelings of loneliness, with 41% of solo dwellers reporting feeling isolated.

The loneliest among us experience cognitive decline 20 percent faster than people who are connected to others, and loneliness has been associated with depression, social anxiety, addictions, even hoarding.

Saving a Troubled Marriage

Considering these new findings, if your marriage is on the rocks, you may want to make a concerted effort to rekindle your relationship. This means you need to stop blaming your partner for marital problems and start looking for the underlying reasons why your relationship isn’t working. There are a number of brain health issues that can threaten a marriage.

1. Mental Health Issues

If you or your partner develop anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, or adult ADD/ADHD, it can make it hard to connect in a meaningful way as a couple. People who struggle with focus and concentration may find it hard to follow through with plans and may space out on your anniversary or birthday. Likewise, people who are feeling depressed may isolate themselves. It doesn’t mean they don’t care about you, it’s just that their brain isn’t functioning optimally.

Solution: Getting an accurate diagnosis and a targeted treatment plan can help you (or your partner) get back to feeling like yourself again.

2. Head Trauma

If you or your loved one falls off a ladder, gets whiplash from a car accident, or flies head-first off a bike, it can have devastating consequences for your mental health…and your marriage. Head injuries increase the risk of anxiety, depression, ADHD, addictions, psychosis, suicide, and more—all of which can ruin your marriage. Many people who experience a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) don’t experience these mental health problems until months or even years after an incident, so they don’t see the connection.

Solution: Detecting past head trauma with brain SPECT imaging can be the first step to healing the brain and mending a broken relationship.

3. Neurohormone Issues

Many marriages disintegrate due to hormonal imbalances. Hormones are chemical messengers produced in the body that control and regulate the activity of certain cells or organs. Neurohormones—such as thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone—have an important impact on the brain. When they’re healthy, you tend to feel young and energetic. When they’re out of balance, you can feel tired, cranky, moody, or anxious. This can sabotage a formerly happy union.

Solution: Check your hormone levels and consider replacement therapy to optimize your levels.

4. Exposure to Toxins

Being exposed to toxins can damage the brain and change your (or your spouse’s) personality. One couple was going to marital therapy and was on the brink of divorce because, over the years, the husband had turned into a jerk with a bad temper. After scanning his brain, it became clear that the guy wasn’t trying to be conflict-oriented, his brain showed damage from toxic exposure. It turned out he had been working in a furniture factory where he was inhaling harmful chemicals that were harming his brain. When he changed jobs, he was able to follow through on the marital therapy recommendations, and they saved their marriage.

Solution: Looking at the brain with brain SPECT imaging can reveal evidence of toxic exposure.

5. Addictions

It’s easy to blame a partner for a problem with drinking or drugs. But it’s harder to ask yourself why they are engaging in excessive drinking or substance abuse. In many cases, people with addictions are using substances as a way to self-medicate their underlying negative feelings or mental health issues.

Solution: By finding and treating the root causes of their distress and optimizing their brain health, they may be better able to follow a recovery plan and remain sober. This can help your marriage.

At Amen Clinics, we have helped thousands of couples overcome marital conflict and mental health/brain health issues so you can mend relationships and heal past hurts. If you and your significant other need help, call 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

 

When you hear about bullying, you probably think about kids or teens getting teased or tormented at school. But did you know that bullying can also occur between adults in the office? And it’s more prevalent than you might think.

According to a survey by the Workplace Bullying Institute, 27% of employees say they’ve been bullied in the workplace, and 21% say they’ve witnessed bullying. The main culprits? Bosses are the most common workplace bullies. What’s really surprising is that 72% of employees get in on the act by denying it happened, downplaying it, rationalizing the behavioral problems, or even encouraging the perpetrator.

Is someone willfully sabotaging your performance, giving you unwanted and undeserved harsh criticism, spreading rumors about you, humiliating you in front of coworkers, or intentionally excluding you from work activities? You could be the victim of bullying.

Workplace bullying can take a toll. People who have been targeted by a bully in the workplace are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to a 2019 study in European Heart Journal. with people complaining of headaches, nausea, insomnia, and burnout. Being targeted at work can also lead to anxiety and depression.

When Bullying Leads to Anxiety Disorders

People who are victimized at the office can experience a variety of anxiety disorders that remain long after the intimidation has stopped. The main forms of anxiety that affect victims include:

Unfortunately, exhibiting anxious behavior makes victims more vulnerable to continued abuse, which compounds the problem, according to a 2015 study in Anxiety, Stress, and Coping: An International Journal.

When Bullying Makes You Depressed

Depression is another unwanted outcome of bullying at work. People who have been subjected to intimidating or aggressive behavior at work are more than twice as likely as their peers to develop the condition. Among those who have experienced frequent bullying? They’re 10 times more likely to become clinically depressed, according to a 2014 study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Depression—which can drain your energy, make it hard for you to concentrate, and make you feel irritable and cranky—can prevent you from performing at your best on the job. This creates a downward spiral that can negatively impact your career and your life.

When to Seek Help

Every company has its own policies regarding bullying in the workplace. You may want to speak with someone in your HR department to discuss how to put an end to the behavior. But if your feelings of anxiety or depression are getting in the way of your daily life, or if the aggressive behavior has ended and you’re still reeling from its effects, it’s time to seek help.

At Amen Clinics, we have helped thousands of people learn to overcome feelings of anxiety and depression. The Amen Clinics Method takes an integrative approach to diagnosis and treatment that includes brain SPECT imaging as well as looking at the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of your life to identify areas that can be optimized.

If you want to stop suffering and start feeling better, call 888-288-9834 to talk to a specialist today or schedule a visit.