As a society, we tend to look down on mental health problems and focus solely on the negative aspects of these issues. One psychiatrist at Amen Clinics says that’s the wrong approach. In fact, according to Daniel Emina, MD, in some instances, it’s better to think of specific challenges as superpowers. In an episode of Scan My Brain with Derek Clark, a motivational speaker known as the “Rapping Dad,” Dr. Emina explains why people with certain psychiatric issues are like superheroes. Before delving into this superhero concept, let’s look at how Clark went from being an emotional wreck to finding his superpowers.
In a session with Derek Clark, a motivational speaker known as the “Rapping Dad,” Dr. Emina explains why people with certain psychiatric issues are like superheroes.
As a child, Clark experienced horrific abuse and emotional distress prior to being abandoned at age 5. Growing up in the foster care system, he struggled with extreme anxiety, had learning disabilities, displayed aggression, and couldn’t concentrate. Filled with emotional stress, he withdrew from reality. Psychological assessments left him misdiagnosed and labeled in ways that negatively impacted his self-esteem. For many years, Clark lived with anger, bitterness, resentment, rage, and sadness related to his upbringing.
In 2021, Clark wanted to see how that childhood emotional trauma may have affected his brain, so he visited Amen Clinics for a brain SPECT scan. SPECT is a functional brain imaging tool that looks at blood flow and activity. SPECT reveals 3 important factors about the brain—areas with healthy activity, too little activity, and too much activity.
Like many people who experience trauma, Clark’s SPECT scan showed increased activity in the emotional centers of the brain. Overactivity in this brain region makes people more vulnerable to anxiety, depression, panic attacks, negativity, worry, and obsessive thoughts.
Seeing his brain scan helped Clark gain a better understanding of himself. He says it’s like “I’ve been emotionally fighting against my brain—fighting my thoughts, fighting my worries, fighting my stress, fighting my anxiety.” That’s how many trauma survivors feel as if they’re battling their automatic thoughts and feelings.
Turning Pain into Purpose
At age 16, when Clark was still mired in angst, he saw two kids doing a rap battle and was instantly enthralled. “I have to do this,” he thought. Rapping became a way for him to express himself and get his anger out in an artistic fashion. The creative outlet helped him turn his life around and change his outlook on life. By the age of 21, he discovered how to “divorce his story and go from a victim mindset to feeling like a victor.”
Going to therapy helped him build a psychological toolbox that allowed him to strengthen his emotional fortitude and gain better control over his anxious thoughts, anger, and emotions.
This set the stage for him to connect with other trauma survivors and become a motivational and inspirational speaker on the topics of childhood trauma and resilience. He’s also an author of 7 books and his viral rap videos have over 250 million views. These days, Clark likes to call himself a “hope dealer, not a dope dealer.”
At times, Clark channels his powerful emotions into his work, losing himself in what he calls the “Derek Zone.” When he’s working on a book, for example, he can write for 16-18 hours a day.
That’s what Dr. Emina says is one of Clark’s superpowers.
Turn Emotional Challenges into Superpowers
According to Dr. Emina, people with an overactive emotional brain like Clark’s are like superheroes. They have an ability to feel things—the good and the bad—more richly and more deeply. They can also be highly motivated and persistent.
“They have a superpower, but they have to learn to control it,” says Dr. Emina. “In those superhero movies, in the first half of the movie, the soon-to-be hero initially doesn’t know how to control their superpower. They’re shooting lasers out of their eyes, blowing things up, and breaking things. Learning to control your emotional brain can be like that.” But at a pivotal point in the movie, they discover their true power, their true self, and learn to harness it for good.
Just as Clark was able to gain control of his emotions and turn his pain into purpose, you too can access the tools needed to harness your superpower and make it work for you instead of against you. Engaging in psychotherapy and optimizing brain health will help you attain the emotional control you want, so you can unleash your superpowers in a positive way.
Emotional trauma and other mental health issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples.Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834or visit our contact page here. As much as everyone wishes discussions about the COVID-19 pandemic could be a thing of the past, the reality is that the consequences—not only of the virus but also from what we endured—will continue to be a part of the conversation for years to come.
Even though many places have returned to at least some semblance of “normal” as things reopen and everyone tries to get back on track, many people still struggle with the stress of the past year and a half. And there isn’t a more vulnerable population doing just that than the children and adolescents around the globe whose lives were greatly disrupted by the pandemic.
A study recently published in JAMA Pediatrics tells us just how profound the toll on the mental health of children has been. Through what is called a meta-analysis, meaning a review of multiple studies on a particular topic, the researchers analyzed 29 studies on anxiety and depression in children and adolescents from January 2020 to February 2021. Altogether, this encompassed 80,879 youth participants from North America, Europe, and other parts of the world.
The outcome of this study found that rates of anxiety and depression in children between the ages of 4 and 17 had nearly doubled during the above-referenced time period, compared to pre-pandemic levels. This means:
Cases of depression rose from 12.9% to 25.2%
Anxiety cases increased from 11.6% to 20.5%
According to the researcher’s data, 1 out of every 5 kids has experienced an increase in anxiety symptoms, while 1 in 4 teens are suffering from depression. The prevalence of both conditions was higher in females—although that is consistent with statistics from previous years.
Pandemic Stressors Contributing to Mental Health Problems
For instance, children need consistency in their lives in order for them to feel safe. However, the ongoing uncertainty prevented many from having the schedules and predictability they had been used to. In addition, changes to their lifestyles and home environments likely compounded the emotional strain that kids had to endure, including challenges such as these:
Social isolation and inability to interact with peers
Absence of extra-curricular activities
Missed milestones, like graduations and birthday parties
Household stress and financial problems
Also, many children get specific needs met at school, including support from teachers and coaches, as well as receiving services for mental health. The absence of having these buffering relationships was an added challenge to their resilience.
Signs of Anxiety and Depression to Watch For
When children or teens have anxiety, it often manifests as having uncontrollable worries and feeling fearful, as well as hyperarousal which can present itself as:
Isolating (intentionally) and not spending time or communicating with their friends as often
While there is more freedom to move about now, the ongoing unpredictability of the pandemic and the related stressors are destabilizing for many kids. This can lead to feelings of hopelessness, which is one of the primary indicators of suicidal thoughts.
To that point, in May of 2021, Jena Hausmann, the CEO of Children’s Hospital Colorado declared that they were in a youth mental health “State of Emergency.” The demand for the hospital’s in-patient and out-patient services exceeded its capacity. Very sadly, by that point in time, suicide had become the #1 cause of death for children in Colorado.
Supporting Children in the New Normal
Talking to your children about their concerns and fears, while validating their feelings can provide an element of safety and comfort for them. Getting them back into a daily routine for school, meals, homework, screen time, and sleep will help give them a sense of control and the much-needed structure that was lost for the past 18 months.
Most of all, if you notice new behavior problems or any of the symptoms listed above, be open and honest with your child and take the necessary steps to get them the help and professional support they need.
Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples.Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Peer pressure is nothing new, especially among teens and adolescents. The influence peers wield on their social circle has long been associated with driving behavior—both good habits and bad habits. For example, seeing a friend drink, smoke, use drugs, bully others, or binge eat increases the likelihood of engaging in that behavior oneself. Experts call this “social contagion.” Sadly, it also applies to self-harm.
This is especially alarming in light of the dramatic increase in self-injury among teens since the pandemic began. According to an analysis of healthcare claims by FAIR Health, claims for intentional self-harm as a percentage of all medical claims for adolescents aged 13-18 skyrocketed by 99.8% in April 2020 compared to April 2019. Experts suggest the number of teens engaging in nonsuicidal self-injury could continue to increase.
Seeing a friend drink, smoke, use drugs, bully others or binge eat increases the likelihood of engaging in that behavior oneself. Experts call this “social contagion.” Sadly, it also applies to self-harm.
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the act of purposely harming oneself without the intention of taking one’s own life. People who hurt themselves often have a history of adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse, being bullied, childhood neglect, or sexual assault. They may turn to cutting, skin-picking, burning, or other forms of self-mutilation as a way to numb their emotional pain.
NSSI is most frequently seen in adolescents and young adults. Research in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health indicates that 17% of adolescents report at least one incident of self-harm. That’s higher than the 15% of college students who say they have engaged in self-injury at least once, according to a 2011 study in the Journal of College Health. And it’s more than 3 times higher than 5% of adults reporting self-harm. Approximately 65% of those who engage in NSSI are female, but experts suggest the behavior is likely underreported in males.
STUDY FINDS SELF-HARM IS SOCIALLY CONTAGIOUS
Long-standing research shows that among adolescents, exposure to a peer’s suicidal behaviors raises the chances of dangerous copycat actions. Newer findings in a 2020 Canadian study in Acta Psychiatrica Scandanavica indicate that having knowledge of a friend’s nonsuicidal self-injury is significantly associated with an adolescent’s own involvement with self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts.
In this study, researchers administered the following 3 questions about NSSI and suicidal behavior to 1,483 Canadian adolescents ages 14-17.
In the past 12 months, did any of your friends deliberately harm themselves but not mean to take their life?
Sometimes people deliberately harm themselves but they do not mean to take their life. In the past 12 months, did you ever deliberately harm yourself but not mean to take your life?
In the past 12 months, did you ever seriously consider taking your own life or killing yourself?
Based on the responses, females indicated awareness of a friend’s self-harm at a rate of nearly 3-to-1 compared to males. Compared to boys, girls also reported higher rates of their own engagement in NSSI (girls 11.4%, boys 3.4%), suicidal thoughts (girls 8.5%, boys 4.3%), and suicide attempts (girls 4.8%, boys 2.3%).
SELF-HARM AND MENTAL HEALTH
A wealth of scientific evidence shows that NSSI is associated with other mental health conditions. Among people who engage in self-harm may also struggle with issues such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), borderline personality disorder, substance abuse, eating disorders, dissociative disorders, or obsessive compulsive disorder.
The team of Canadian researchers also analyzed mental health status and its effect on NSSI, assessing any diagnoses for major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, ADHD, oppositional disorder, or conduct disorder. They found that adolescents who met the criteria for an anxiety disorder or depression were more likely to say they knew a friend who had been involved in self-harming behaviors. Those with some form of anxiety—including certain phobias—ranked highest with 28.6% reporting knowing a friend who engaged in self-injury. Among teens with depression, 20.4% said they knew peers who tried to hurt themselves.
Engaging in NSSI as an adolescent also has detrimental effects on mental health in adulthood, according to findings in a 2020 study in European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. In this study, researchers followed students in grades 7-8 for 10 years. Compared to youngsters who did not engage in NSSI, those who repeatedly injured themselves as adolescents exhibited significantly higher rates of anxiety, stress, NSSI, and problems with emotional regulation a decade later.
HELPING TEENS PREVENT OR HEAL FROM SELF-INJURY
Preventing and healing from self-harm is possible. Recognizing that NSSI is socially contagious is an important step in identifying an adolescent’s risk for self-injurious behaviors. Providing teens with strategies to handle peer pressure—for example, saying no like they mean it, disagreeing respectfully, or asking questions—can be beneficial in the prevention of this increasingly common problem. It is equally critical for parents to know the warning signs of self-harm, including scars, frequent cuts or bruises, far-fetched tales about how an injury occurred, wearing long sleeves even in summer, carrying sharp objects, declining academic performance, and social withdrawal.
In addition, addressing any co-occurring mental health issues should be part of an NSSI treatment plan. Investigating brain health with functional brain imaging may also be beneficial as it can reveal underlying abnormal activity. A 2019 brain imaging study found decreased brain function in regions of the brain that play a role in emotional regulation. Finding solutions that enhance overall brain health and emotional well-being is key to overcoming nonsuicidal self-harm.
Self-harm, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, 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 888-288-9834or visit our contact page here. If you’re like most people you probably have 5 deep dark secrets stashed away in your brain that you’ve never shared with anyone else. That’s according to a 2017 study on secrecy that analyzed over 130,000 secrets. What’s your secret? Maybe it’s about your finances, a child’s adoption status, an illness or autoimmune disease, mental health issues, sexual orientation, gender identity, political beliefs, criminal behavior, past physical or sexual abuse, an extramarital affair, or any one of thousands of other things people keep to themselves.
What does all this secret keeping do to us? Thinking about those skeletons in the closet causes stress…lots of it! It’s the same for family secrets—hiding mounting debt and impending bankruptcy from the kids, enlisting a sibling in staying quiet about getting in trouble at school, asking a child not to tell when they catch you in a romantic embrace with someone other than your spouse, and the list goes on and on. In general, people stay mum about things in an effort to avoid punishment, shame, or judgment.
What’s so wrong with family secrets?
Keeping family secrets can be extremely harmful, leading to anxiety, shame, trust issues, resentment, stress, and sometimes to the use of addictive substances as a coping mechanism.
Keeping family secrets creates a toxic environment that poisons the whole family. It can be extremely harmful, leading to anxiety, shame, trust issues, resentment, stress, and sometimes to the use of addictive substances as a coping mechanism. An earlier study on secrets in the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that thinking about hidden confidences makes physical tasks seem harder. It’s as if the secrets you’re holding on to make you feel like you’re carrying a heavy burden that makes everything else more difficult. Keeping things to yourself can also lead to physical symptoms related to stress and anxiety, such as headaches, digestive issues, and muscle tension.
7 HARMFUL TYPES OF FAMILY SECRETS
Not all family secrets are the same. There are several types of secrets, and they can have different effects on your emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being. Here are 7 types of secrets and the consequences they cause.
1. Healthy secrets
Some family secrets are actually beneficial. Think about an inside joke with your dad, a secret handshake with your sibling, or planning a surprise party for your spouse. These types of secrets promote bonding and stronger relationships.
2. Unhealthy secrets
Confidential matters that stem from taboo topics, criminal behavior, moral or ethical violations, or breaking rules can cause a breakdown in the family dynamics.
3. Solo secrets
When one person alone hides something from the rest of the family—say you are in a forbidden relationship, have mounting credit card debt, or have an addiction—it builds walls around you.
4. Parents keeping secrets from each other
When spouses hide things from one another it throws off the family dynamic. Whether it’s an extramarital affair, a shopping or gambling addiction, or questioning one’s sexual orientation, it introduces an unwelcome element into the relationship. The fear of having the significant other discover the secret causes increased friction in the relationship and can lead to marital conflict.
5. Keeping secrets from the kids
Parents who try to hide things from their kids—a health condition, a pending divorce, the fact that the child is adopted—often aren’t fooling the little ones. Children are highly sensitive and intuitive, and they may sense that something is going on in the household. These secrets are especially troublesome. Although youngsters may not know what the secret is, they often think that they are somehow responsible for the tension in the air. They take the blame for the problems and are filled with guilt, but they feel powerless to change the situation.
6. Split-family secrets
When only some of the family members are in the know about something while others remain in the dark, it splinters the family unit. For example, think of a mom confiding in her teenage daughter that she’s considering filing for divorce but pressing her to keep it to herself. This makes the daughter feel uncomfortable in the presence of her father, feeling like she is being disloyal to him for not saying anything but at the same time feeling bound to keep her mom’s secret. This may cause the girl to distance herself from her father or create feelings of resentment toward her mother. In more painful instances, there may be secrets surrounding physical or sexual abuse that is kept from others.
7. All-in-the-family secrets
Many family secrets are shared among all the members but kept stashed away from any outsiders. Examples of this include a dad who drinks too much, a mom who has psychotic episodes, or a child who has a learning disability. The pressure placed on all family members to keep quiet about the issues may lead to social isolation or trouble developing friendships.
OPENING UP ABOUT FAMILY SECRETS
Living with family secrets can be hard. Dealing with them head-on can be even harder. If a hidden secret comes to light, it can cause even greater rifts within the family. On the other hand, if you want to air your family’s dirty laundry, tread lightly. Think about the goals you have for addressing long-hidden issues. Is it because you want to create a healthier, more honest relationship that will enhance the family unit? Or are you motivated by revenge? Or do you want to prove you’ve been right about something for years?
If a secret has been revealed or if you decide you want to have more openness with your relatives, you may want to consider doing it in a family therapy setting. With a professional therapist who can be a calming presence, you may feel safer exploring issues that have been stowed away for years or even decades. Traditional talk therapy may not be enough in all cases because there is one factor that can’t be fixed by simply hashing things out.
THE SECRET BEHIND MANY FAMILY SECRETS
The sad truth about many family secrets related to bad behavior or acting inappropriately is that parents, siblings, and children often blame each other for these issues. Or they view their family member with disdain because they assume they have a character flaw or personality defect. It’s easy to say someone is bad, it’s harder to ask why.
But investigating why can reveal so much. Over 30 years of brain SPECT imaging at Amen Clinics shows that bad behavior is typically related to underlying brain dysfunction, not to a moral failing. When family members see a loved one’s damaged brain, it promotes understanding and forgiveness. At Amen Clinics, we have seen thousands of families reconnect and find a healing path forward when they realize that the secrets they have been hiding actually lie in brain health problems.
Marital conflict and other relationship issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834or visit our contact page here. School programs in science, technology, engineering, and math—otherwise known as STEM—aim to prepare students for a future in the workforce that keeps pace with the constant advances being made in these fields. What is unique about this type of program is that rather than students learning each of these subjects separately, STEM integrates these four disciplines into a model that teaches the myriad ways the scientific method applies to many aspects of our lives.
To be successful in STEM, it’s necessary to be technologically literate and develop a unique combination of skills that include:
While they tend to have an incredible ability to concentrate on topics of interest, all people with ASD do not process information in the same way. Generally speaking, there are 3 types of “thinkers” in ASD, which reflect how an individual’s brain processes information. Usually, one type of thinking will predominate, although it’s quite possible for a person to be influenced by one or both of the other types:
Verbal thinkers tend to be very logical, have strong vocabularies, learn languages easily, like to make lists, and have a great memory for facts. These qualities help them to be very good at analyzing data and critical thinking.
Visual thinkers process information by seeing images in their mind or in the environment and make associations from them to form ideas or conclusions. Dr. Temple Grandin, the well-known author, and professor described her visual thinking process as similar to “a virtual reality computer program.” Visual thinking can be very innovative and help solve problems.
Pattern thinkers are more abstract and can find links or arrangements between certain things like numbers, concepts, and other objects or ideas from which they can create meaningful connections. This type of predominant thinking can help a person excel at mathematics and/or art and lead to creative discoveries.
More Ways ASD and STEM Fit Well Together
In addition to the unique types of thinking in ASD, their ability to focus on details is advantageous for the complex subject matter covered in STEM programs. They can synthesize details into a greater whole or idea by incorporating “bottom-up thinking” whereby associations between even the most minute details become the starting points that lead to the development of new concepts. Conversely, neurotypical thinking usually starts at the top and works down in a manner that is influenced by existing knowledge to analyze details, which can then limit innovation and novel ideas.
Another distinctive quality in ASD is that with their inherent social processing deficits, they are less concerned about the status quo or what others might think, which frees them to be more creative. They aren’t inclined to worry about their ideas being considered weird or odd. In addition, their naturally logical minds along with the diminished capacity for social influence allow people with ASD to use logic to form concepts and reach conclusions, without the interference of emotional thinking or bias.
Getting an Early Start
Increasingly, schools across the country are incorporating STEM programs into the curriculum. Therefore, paying attention to the preferential thinking style demonstrated by a child on the autism spectrum can be a great way to foster early interest in these subject areas. This can help to provide them with an avenue for brain development, building on their strengths and learning new skills that, over the course of time, can lead to meaningful employment and/or college programs later in their lives.
Autism spectrum disorder and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being—and that of your loved ones— is more important than ever.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.By Neha Kansara, MD
The month of May is marked by Mother’s Day, a time when we collectively celebrate the joys of motherhood. But for many women, being a mom or becoming one is fraught with emotional upheaval. As a specialist in women’s health and perinatal/reproductive psychiatry, I have seen that women can struggle at every phase of the process—fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum. Here are some strategies I use with my patients to help them achieve better emotional balance in their motherhood journey.
Coping with the Stress and Anxiety of Fertility Issues
As I say to my patients who are feeling overly stressed or anxious about fertility problems, “It comes easy and very naturally to many, but you may not be one of those many.” I typically remind these women that even though becoming pregnant may not be as easy and natural as it is for others, believing in the power of being a woman and having the confidence that their body can create a human being should keep them going.
My recommendation to these women is to avoid letting the stress of infertility take over their life. Focusing on the stress creates even more stress and leads to feelings of anguish, frustration, and a sense of being a failure. This leads to grief and a sense of loss.
One of my favorite sayings is: “Always remember that difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations!” When a woman has faith and believes in the process, it enhances the ability to create the magic and have a miracle baby.
Dealing with the Emotional Ups and Downs of Pregnancy
Some women hit the pregnancy jackpot and feel like a million bucks from the day of conception until the time they deliver. They’re the lucky ones. However, there are so many others who are bedridden due to complications, such as first trimester morning sickness, spotting that leads to fears of losing a baby, second trimester gestational diabetes, third trimester fatigue or pre-eclampsia, and so on. When pregnancies don’t go smoothly, it can give birth to mood instability, anxiety, anticipated apprehension, and catastrophic thinking.
When I see patients like this, I suggest that they create an open line of communication with their obstetrician, so they feel assured that both they and their unborn fetus are in good hands.
Secondly, I recommend practicing positive affirmations, breathing exercises, prenatal yoga, and meditation because they are useful tools that help calm pregnancy-related fears and anxiety. Last but not least, mothers-to-be do not need to go it alone in this journey. It’s important for pregnant women to seek support from close friends and family and to ask for professional help if needed.
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
The first 3 months postpartum are the most difficult phase and time in a mother’s life. It’s so challenging, it has earned the term “the fourth trimester.” For some women, this stage may last much longer than a trimester, lingering on for 2 years or even more. During this phase when they are caring for a newborn, moms are trying to be the best version of themselves while also attempting to be attentive to everyone else’s needs the way they used to—all while dealing with sleep deprivation.
This is also a phase that can be particularly challenging for maternal mental health. Postpartum symptoms, also known as PMADs (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders), can include a constellation of symptoms that are negatively influenced by hormonal imbalances, sleep deprivation, pre-morbid conditions, lack of support, difficulties in breastfeeding, and much more. For some women, a sense of pressure to be the BEST IDEAL MOM adds even more stress and contributes to postpartum depression, anxiety, trauma, and more.
I always ask new moms to pose this question to themselves: “Will I be able to create the same balance I had achieved before, and if not, what’s the worst that can happen?” Helping women walk themselves through this process to unburden themselves of the pursuit of perfection and to believe in themselves helps them succeed in feeling more joy in motherhood.
Dr. Kansara’s 7 Healing Solutions for Perinatal Mental Health Issues
Here are 7 solutions I recommend to nearly all of my patients who are experiencing emotional challenges related to motherhood.
The golden rule to always keep in mind: DO NOT SUFFER IN SILENCE AS YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Take time out for yourself even if it is just 10-15 minutes a day. You need to breathe deeply and heal yourself first. Self-healing is extremely important in this journey.
Try to incorporate a healthy diet, adequate hydration, meditation, and exercise.
Take daily walks whenever possible.
Practice daily post-natal yoga.
Ask for help and remember that there is no shame in that. People will support you when you ask.
If your mental health is suffering and interfering with your daily life or your ability to bond with or care for your baby, you may benefit from professional help. Check the Postpartum Support International for resources and support or for more personalized treatment for perinatal mental health issues, contact Amen Clinics for the best quality of care.
Dr. Neha Kansara is a double board-certified psychiatrist at Amen Clinics specializing in women’s health and perinatal/reproductive psychiatry. She also serves on the panel of Postpartum Support International. To make an appointment with Dr. Kansara or to make a referral, contact us at 888-288-9834 or on our websitehere. Is your child or teen displaying physical aggression—fighting at school, pushing and shoving their siblings, hitting the dog, or biting you? It can be distressing and may leave you feeling scared of your own child. Many parents with aggressive, volatile, or hostile kids are at a loss to correct the behavior. You may have tried disciplining them using recommended parenting strategies but without success. When nothing seems to work in terms of overcoming physical aggression, it’s time to look for hidden causes.
Here are 8 underlying factors that can trigger aggression in children and teens.
1. ADD/ADHD
In kids and teens with ADD/ADHD, impulsiveness is a core characteristic that can lead to aggressive behavior. These youngsters act on impulse without thinking about the consequences of their behavior and are more likely to get into fights or altercations. Brain SPECT imaging studies at Amen Clinics, which has the world’s largest database of functional brain scans related to behavior, show that ADD/ADHD is associated with low blood flow in the prefrontal cortex. This brain region is involved with impulse control, and low activity here is linked to impulsivity.
Fix it: Children and teens with ADD/ADHD can benefit from increased blood flow to the brain with intense exercise, a higher-protein and lower-carbohydrate diet, and supplements that boost dopamine (such as green tea and rhodiola). In addition, it’s critical to know your child’s ADD/ADHD type. The brain imaging work at Amen Clinics has helped identify 7 types of ADD.
2. Mood disorders
Young people with bipolar disorder frequently exhibit aggression when they are in the manic phase. Similarly, high levels of aggressive behavior have been noted in adolescents with depression, according to research in the Journal of the American Academy of Adolescent Psychiatry.Fix it: Seeking treatment for major depressive disorder and other mood disorders is essential, but be aware that there are multiple types of depression. Knowing your child’s type can help you get the right treatment plan.
3. Conduct disorders
This is a serious emotional and behavioral problem that is characterized by aggression, violence, and hostility. These kids may bite, hit, push, or bully others. They may also set fires, exhibit cruelty to animals, or vandalize property.
Fix it: Conduct disorder can be manageable with the right treatment plan and family support.
4. Learning disorders and communication problems
Adolescents with learning disabilities or communication issues, such autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or Asperger’s syndrome (now referred to as high-functioning autism), can become anxious or frustrated when they can’t express their feelings. This can lead them to lash out.
Fix it: Address learning issues and seek treatment for ASD. Diet can be very important for children with autism, so be sure you know the 5 foods that make autism worse.
5. Head injuries
Children and teens who have experienced a concussion or repetitive blows to the head (such as from tackle football or heading soccer balls) may have underlying damage to the brain. From 2010 to 2015, concussion diagnoses in kids ages 10-19 jumped by 71%, according to a 2016 study by Blue Cross Blue Shield. Areas commonly damaged include the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in impulse control, empathy, and judgment, as well as the temporal lobes, which are involved in mood stability and temper control. Damage to these areas is associated with impulsivity and temper problems.
Fix it: Getting a functional brain SPECT imaging scan can help identify areas of damage that can be optimized. Healing the brain after a concussion is possible with a variety of therapies, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), neurofeedback, nutritional supplements, and more.
6. Being the victim of physical or sexual abuse
A 2016 study in the Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma found that 72% of childhood abuse victims engaged in physical aggression.
Fix it: Talk to your children and let them know it’s okay to open up to you about any abuse they may be experiencing. If you suspect an issue but can’t get them to share what’s going on, have them talk to a mental health professional.
7. Drug or alcohol use
Consuming alcohol or doing drugs negatively impacts brain function and can interfere with healthy brain development. This can contribute to poor decision-making, impulsivity, and lack of empathy, which can combine to create aggression.
Fix it: If your child has a problem with addiction, get them into a brain-centered addiction treatment plan.
8. Food allergies
In some children and teens, food sensitivities can lead to a wide range of issues, including aggressive behavior, irritability, hyperactivity, anxiety, low moods, fatigue, and more. Some of the most common food allergens include gluten, dairy, sugar, corn, and soy, as well as artificial dyes (such as red dye 40), sweeteners, and preservatives.
Fix it: Put your child on an elimination diet by removing these potential allergens for one month. Then re-introduce them one at a time to see if any of them cause a reaction.Aggression and the underlying mental health factors that contribute to it 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 888-288-9834or visit our contact page here. At the beginning of 2020, Brenda and Craig, both in their mid-60s, were loving life as empty nesters, and the world seemed wide open with possibilities. The couple started taking road trips—something they couldn’t do when their kids were living at home and had to be shuttled to their sports events and school activities.
When COVID-19 began spreading across the globe, they didn’t really feel much concern. In their midwestern town, they didn’t know anybody who had gotten sick, so they continued road tripping. A few months into the pandemic, however, they started getting frantic calls from their youngest daughter Rachelle, 32, who was a New York City attorney living on her own in a Manhattan apartment. She had gotten laid off and was anxious about the spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths in her area. She felt stressed about her dwindling finances, lack of job prospects, and aching loneliness.
On one of those phone calls, Rachelle blurted out, “I can’t take it anymore! I’m moving back home!”
Brenda and Craig were thrilled to have their daughter move back home and welcomed her with open arms, but the new living situation wasn’t as smooth as they anticipated. And it was equally trying for their daughter. Understandably, their youngest child felt bad about losing her job, her apartment, and her independence. Brenda and Craig also felt like they’d lost their freedom too. And Rachelle fell back into old patterns, expecting her mom to do everything for her—the laundry, cooking, and cleaning—which made Brenda resentful.
Craig was concerned about his daughter’s behavior. She watched the news or scrolled the internet for pandemic information 24/7, which just ramped up her anxiety. He thought she was overreacting and suspected that her constant handwashing and sanitizing might be a sign of obsessive compulsive disorder. Their mismatched anxiety levels created a lot of tension that led to arguments.
That’s when Brenda and Craig reached out to Amen Clinics for help. They’re not alone. A growing number of families have been coming to the clinics for help coping with the stress of adult children moving back home. You may be struggling with the same situation whether you’re the parent or the adult child.
RECORD NUMBERS OF ADULTS MOVING BACK IN WITH PARENTS
Since the pandemic hit in 2020, millions of Americans have made a major change they didn’t anticipate—moving back home with their parents. According to the Pew Research Center, show that by July 2020, 26.6 million 18- to 29-year-olds were living with their folks, an increase of 2.6 million since February of that same year. It’s the highest percentage of young adults living with their parents since the Great Depression.
The Gen Z crowd, Millennials, and Gen Xers are discovering that life with the ’rents comes with a host of stressors and new struggles. And on the flip side, the Baby Boomers who are welcoming them back home are facing their own set of challenges. A loss of independence, unresolved issues from the past, and a lack of privacy are just some of the factors that can make you bristle, regardless of whether you’re the adult child or the parent. Feelings of anxiety, depression, and worry about the pandemic, finances, and health can compound the stresses and make you feel like you’re living in a pressure cooker.
How can you cope with the issues that arise from suddenly living in a multigenerational household? As Brenda, Craig, and their daughter learned at Amen Clinics, one of the best ways to improve relationships is with a communication strategy psychiatrists call RELATING. Here’s how to put it into action.
RELATING FOR A STRESS-LESS LIFE
R for Responsibility
This is the ability to respond to any situation. In all your dealings with the people living in your household, ask yourself what you can do to respond in a healthy, positive way.
E for Empathy
Having the ability to feel what others are feeling enhances relationships. Before blurting out something that may be hurtful to others, take a breath and think about where they are coming from and what they may be feeling. If you or your family members are struggling with anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, drug or alcohol problems, or other mental health issues, keep that in mind and encourage them to seek treatment if necessary.
L for Listening
Being a good listener and having effective communication skills is so important in getting along with family members, especially when you’re all living under the same roof. Put down your phone and actively listen to what others are saying.
A for Assertiveness
Expressing thoughts in a firm yet reasonable way is one of the keys to creating healthy boundaries at home. Firm doesn’t mean being aggressive or yelling. Be firm while also being kind, calm, and clear.
T for Time
To strengthen your relationships at home, you need to devote actual physical time to it. In these unprecedented times, however, you may find you have too much time together. If this is the case, find ways to get some alone time by taking a walk outside or scheduling quiet time for reading or meditating. Create a family schedule where you can note your “me time,” and be sure to respect others’ self-care time.
I for Inquiry
Questioning and correcting negative thoughts and thinking patterns regarding your family members is critical to creating a less stressful living situation. If your mind is filled with a lot of ANTs (automatic negative thoughts)—such as mind-reading ANTs (assuming you know what others are thinking without asking them), fortune-telling ANTs (predicting the worst), or blaming ANTs (blaming others for your situation)—it’s time to rethink your thinking.
N for Noticing
Make an effort to notice what you like about family members more than what you don’t like about them. When you direct your mind to look for the positive, it will help create a happier environment.
G Is for Grace and forgiveness
If you have trouble getting over past hurts or unresolved issues, find healthy ways to move forward. Giving grace and forgiving others isn’t about letting them get away with something, it is more about helping you heal and feel better.
Family issues, anxiety, depression, 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 888-288-9834or visit our contact page here. Although Damion is almost 21, he isn’t interested in staying long at a regular job. He finds them either boring or unmotivating. Instead, he aspires to be a star on YouTube with his singing and dancing. Ironically, even though he believes he has the talent to become successful on social media, he makes minimal effort to even work on his pipedream.
He blames his failure to launch on his mother and stepfather for not understanding and supporting his dreams and their refusal to buy him the equipment he wants to make music. Instead, Damion stays up all night watching YouTube, sleeps until 1:00 pm, and then plays video games and vapes all day long—which is definitely not helping him. Brain images have shown that vaping lowers activity in the part of the brain involved with focus, attention, and other important aspects of executive function.
Damion’s mother, Carrie, loves him very much and felt sorry for him because when he was younger, his father was in jail and wasn’t able to be in his life very much. She also felt guilty for frequently needing to move for new jobs she got trying to make ends meet. Because of this, Damion had to change schools regularly and there was limited stability in his life. He also had a terrible anger problem and often fought with other kids, resulting in suspensions from school. When Damion was mad, he would punch walls and throw chairs if he didn’t get his own way—and is still prone to anger when his demands aren’t met.
Because of her guilt about Damion’s unstable childhood, whenever he would act out, Carrie would bribe him into good behavior by giving or buying him whatever he wanted. She continues to do this, and even still buys his vape cartridges for him.
Special, Spoiled, and Entitled Dragons
Damion has what Dr. Daniel Amen refers to as the “Special, Spoiled, or Entitled Dragons.” And this is a big problem for the family. However, Damion’s sense of entitlement didn’t develop in a vacuum.
In his newly released book, Your Brain is Always Listening, Dr. Amen teaches us about the dragons that breathe fire onto our emotional brain and steal our joy and contentment while driving unhealthy behaviors. He describes 13 different “Dragons from the Past” that stem from the personal stories we tell ourselves based on our experiences earlier in life.
Carrie placated her son’s anger by giving in to him, which taught Damion that he was entitled to whatever it is that he wanted. The Special, Spoiled, or Entitled Dragons cause people to believe they are extra special—even more special than others. People who harbor this type of dragon have a strong need for attention, lack empathy for other people, and tend to blame others for their shortcomings. They respond with tantrums, anger, or rudeness when:
They don’t get what they want
They don’t feel they are being treated as special as they should be
When someone tries to make them take responsibility for themselves
Carrie, on the other hand, has her own “untamed” Dragons from the Past that largely led to the development of Damion’s unremitting sense of entitlement. According to Dr. Amen, she is dealing with Responsible Dragons and Should and Shaming Dragons.
Responsible Dragons
Those with the Responsible Dragons feel a sense of responsibility for the pain of others and are easily triggered when they perceive someone is in need of their help. Their inclination to be the fixer, caretaker, or codependent person causes them to do too much for other people, who then become dependent on them. This in turn breeds entitlement for the recipient as well as resentment and long-term stress for the person with Responsible Dragons.
Should and Shaming Dragons
The Should and Shaming Dragons arise when a person grows up in a culture of guilt where they might have been humiliated, belittled, judged, or criticized. This can happen if a person was raised in an environment with strong moral teachings, rules, and laws, as well as in certain religions. In these situations, shaming is often used as a strong motivator to get people to comply.
Those with Should and Shaming Dragons tend to be triggered by disapproval from someone important to them, such as a family member or a boss. When that happens, it can cause feelings of guilt, distress, and a need to be submissive—among other problems.
There is hope though! Once Carrie learns how to “tame” her own Dragons from the Past using the strategies Dr. Amen specifies in the book, she can teach Damion how to tame his too. With the support of her husband, it is possible to make positive changes in their lives and help Damion become more comfortable with acting his age and taking greater responsibility for himself.
Your Brain Is Always Listening is written by psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and New York Times bestselling author Daniel G. Amen, MD. In this book, Dr. Amen equips you with powerful weapons to battle the inner dragons that are breathing fire on your brain, driving unhealthy behaviors, and robbing you of your joy and contentment. Order your copy here.If you want to join the tens of thousands of Amen Clinics patients who have already tamed their dragons and overcome their behavior problems, symptoms of addiction, anxiety, depression, trauma, and more, speak to a specialist today at 888-609-4318 or visit our contact page here. Being sexually abused as a child is one of the most horrific experiences a human can be forced to endure. Yet this heinous act is far too common, and it often occurs in the home. Research in the Journal of Adolescent Health shows that among children under the age of 18, 1 in 9 girls and 1 in 53 boys will experience sexual abuse or sexual assault. And 75% of adolescents who have been sexually assaulted were victimized by someone they knew well, according to a 2003 National Institute of Justice report. Sadly, the emotional pain of childhood sexual trauma lasts long after the abuse has ended and can have a negative impact on mental health, brain health, and cognitive function.
Sadly, the emotional pain of childhood sexual trauma lasts long after the abuse has ended and can have a negative impact on mental health, brain health, and cognitive function.
Suffering from sexual abuse has a detrimental effect on a person’s mental health throughout their lifetime. According to findings in the Journal of Psychology, 20%-40% of people with psychiatric disorders have a history of childhood sexual trauma. Experiencing sexual abuse during childhood is associated with a wide range of mental health disorders in adulthood, including:
Not only does childhood sexual abuse take a toll on mental health, but it also impacts brain health and cognitive function. A 2017 study in Industrial Psychiatry Journal found that childhood sexual trauma is associated with negative changes in the structure and volume of brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, superior temporal gyrus, corpus callosum, parietal lobes, hippocampus, and cerebellum. Two of these brain regions are particularly troubling:
Prefrontal cortex (PFC): This region of the brain is the last to reach full maturation and continues to develop throughout adolescence and young adulthood. This area is involved in planning, attention, executive function, organization, and impulse control. It also plays an important role in keeping other areas of the brain in check, such as the amygdala (fear centers) and limbic system (emotional centers). The changes in the PFC seen in sexual trauma survivors may open the gateway to hypervigilance, paranoia, attention problems, and poorer academic performance.
Hippocampus: Problems in the hippocampus, which is involved in mood and memory, can also have a major impact on quality of life. Issues with depression as well as memory problems can occur. Interestingly, brain imaging studies on childhood abuse survivors show more abnormalities in the hippocampus in adults compared with children. Research on the neurobiological toll of child abuse and neglect suggests that changes to the hippocampus due to childhood abuse may be gradual and don’t appear until adolescence or adulthood.
This same 2017 study mentioned earlier found decreases in cognitive function and memory in those who suffered childhood abuse. In addition, abnormalities in the functioning of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin (a feel-good neurochemical), as well as abnormal hormonal responses have been noted in abuse victims.
Early Intervention and Treatment Can Help
One of the most promising findings in the research is that intervention and therapies can help. Early reporting of sexual abuse and early intervention can be effective in warding off structural changes in the brain and psychological issues. But it’s critical to know that it is never too late to seek treatment for abuse that occurred during childhood.
At Amen Clinics, thousands of patients who were sexually assaulted have improved their brain health, cognitive function, and mental well-being with targeted treatment. Our brain imaging work shows that you can change your brain and change your life… for the better.
Depression, anxiety, memory problems, and other issues related to childhood sexual trauma 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.
