Have you ever been friends with someone who is outwardly agreeable but then acts in ways that aren’t so kind? For example, let’s say you suggest going to a concert together and they enthusiastically agree. But when it comes time to buy the tickets they don’t respond to your messages. You go ahead and purchase them since they had initially said yes, but then your pal backs out at the last minute with a feeble excuse. Now you’re stuck with 2 tickets and have to scramble to find someone else to go to the show with you.
Or consider this common office scenario. In a meeting, someone brings up an idea for a new project. Everyone verbally agrees with the plan, but when it comes time to get the project underway, one person procrastinates, doesn’t hit their deadlines, and effectively sabotages the whole thing.
These are examples of passive-aggressive behavior. People who are passive-aggressive don’t express their anger, disagreement, or negative emotions directly, but rather through hostile or mean-spirited actions. These mixed messages leave others feeling confused, and this destructive trait can damage relationships at home, at work, or in love.
People who are passive-aggressive don’t express their anger, disagreement, or negative emotions directly, but rather through hostile or mean-spirited actions. This can damage relationships at home, at work, or in love.
Passive-aggressive personality disorder (PAPD) is not considered an official psychiatric diagnosis, but according to research published in the journal Psychiatry, some mental health experts contend that it should be. Within the field of psychiatry, PAPD has been viewed in a variety of ways, including a personality trait or syndrome, a dynamic behavioral pattern, or a negativistic personality disorder. Regardless of its classification, it is a real issue for many people that gets in the way of healthy relationships in all areas of life.
Outwardly, passive-aggressive people seem pleasant, but internally, they feel frustrated, angry, or negative. They are often insecure, have low self-esteem, or are afraid people won’t like them if they voice disagreement. Research shows that people who are passive-aggressive have an increased risk of the following:
Experts point to both genetic and environmental factors in the development of passive-aggressive personality disorder. A study on twins in the Journal of Personality Disorders suggests that heritability accounts for 50% of a person’s risk for this trait. Several research papers have looked into the environmental factors that contribute to this personality type and concluded that the following increase a person’s risk:
10 SIGNS OF PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE PERSONALITY DISORDER
How can you tell if you or someone you know has passive-aggressive tendencies? Here are 10 common behavior patterns associated with a passive-aggressive personality disorder.
The silent treatment: Passive-aggressive people may have a hard time discussing their anger or negative emotions, so they stop talking altogether as a form of punishment.
Negative body language: Rolling the eyes or crossing arms while others are speaking can be indirect signs of disagreement, resentment, or frustration.
Ghosting: Rather than ending a relationship—whether it’s with a romantic partner or a colleague—in person, the passive-aggressive type is more likely to ghost the other person. They simply refuse to communicate anymore to avoid conflict.
Making excuses: Individuals who exhibit passive-aggressive behavior are experts at coming up with excuses to get out of doing things.
Procrastinating: When the passive-aggressive person says yes to something they should have said no to, they will often put it off as long as possible.
Forgetful: These people tend to forget tasks, assignments, or promises they made that they didn’t want to do in the first place.
Being sarcastic: Individuals who are passive-aggressive frequently use sarcasm to subtly attack others while claiming they are “just kidding.”
Blames others: Passive-aggressive types are quick to say that their shortcomings are due to the fault of others.
Pouts or acts sullen: Saying things are “fine” while conveying a sour mood is a common trait among passive-aggressive people.
Being a complainer: Whining or complaining about things without taking any positive actions to change things is common in this personality type.
HELP FOR PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR
People with PAPD can get better. Recognizing the signs associated with this personality trait is one of the first steps. However, be aware that many of the signs listed above are similar to symptoms associated with other mental health issues, such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, schizophrenia, or substance use disorder. Ruling out these other conditions or identifying co-occurring disorders can be helpful in finding the right treatment.
Solutions for a passive-aggressive personality disorder may include beneficial forms of psychotherapy, training to improve the ability to resolve conflicts directly, increasing self-esteem, overcoming negativity, and addressing any co-existing disorders.
Personality disorders 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 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. Cancer. It’s one of the most dreaded words in the English language. It strikes fear in nearly all of us. It’s no wonder. The big “C” was the second leading cause of death in the U.S., according to 2019 statistics from the CDC. And depending on the type of cancer, treatment can involve painful surgeries and medications that have debilitating side effects. Despite this, many people suffering from psychiatric issues admit that they would rather have cancer than mental health problems.
Why would anyone prefer to have a horrible physical disease over a mental illness? As hard as it is to fathom, there are many reasons why psychiatric disorders are even worse than cancer.
As hard as it is to fathom, there are many reasons why psychiatric disorders are even worse than cancer.
When you have cancer, family members, friends, neighbors, and colleagues wrap themselves around you to offer support. People show up at your doorstep with homecooked meals. Parents offer to drive your kids to school or to after-school activities. They do your grocery shopping or drive you to medical appointments. When you have mental health issues, such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or bipolar disorder, people often shy away from you. They don’t know what to say or how to help, so they back off. This can leave you feeling like you’re completely on your own in your battle.
2. Feeling ashamed.
No one is shamed for having cancer even though the disease is strongly linked to lifestyle habits. Conversely, in our society, there is a stigma attached to having psychiatric disorders. In fact, many people with mental health issues say the shame and ostracism they experience is worse than the psychiatric disorder itself, according to research in The Lancet. If you’re anxious or depressed, people may tell you to “get over it.” If you have ADD/ADHD, they may push you to “try harder” to concentrate or stay focused. Can you imagine someone telling you to “get over” cancer, or to “try harder” to make it go away? When others make you feel like you’re to blame for mental health issues, it makes you feel even more helpless and hopeless. No one should be shamed for panic disorders, addictions, schizophrenia, or any other mental or behavioral issue.
3. Fear of consequences at work prevents treatment.
Although changes at work can follow a cancer diagnosis, they don’t typically prevent people from seeking treatment for the disease. When mental illness is the issue, however, fears about potential workplace discrimination can get in the way of treatment. Approximately half of American workers are apprehensive to talk about mental health problems in the workplace, according to a 2019 poll by the American Psychiatric Association. More than one-third of are concerned that if they seek treatment for mental health issues, they may face consequences, such as being fired. These fears keep many people from getting the psychiatric help they need.
4. Conventional psychiatry diagnoses conditions with no biological information.
Getting a cancer diagnosis often involves a battery of tests, such as bloodwork, genetic testing, advanced imaging (such as CT or MRI), and surgical biopsy. This leads to a high level of accuracy in the diagnosis, subtyping, and staging of the disease. Not so in traditional psychiatry. Most mental healthcare providers continue to make diagnoses based on symptom clusters alone—the same way Abraham Lincoln was diagnosed with “melancholia” over 150 years ago. This leads to alarming rates of misdiagnosis and keeps you from getting to the root cause of your symptoms. For example, by the time people visit Amen Clinics, they have already received an average of 4.2 diagnoses. This is why it’s important to visit a psychiatric clinic that tests and evaluates biological health in conjunction with psychological health. At Amen Clinics, a comprehensive evaluation may include brain SPECT imaging, bloodwork, and additional testing as needed.
5. Traditional psychiatry uses cookie-cutter treatments.
Advances in cancer research, diagnosis, and care mean that patients can receive targeted treatments for their type of cancer. Unfortunately, in conventional psychiatry, most providers continue to take a one-size-fits-all approach to treat mental health conditions. This often involves antidepressants for depression, anti-anxiety pills for anxiety disorders, and stimulants for ADD/ADHD. Although these medications may work for some people, they can make others worse. Prior to coming to Amen Clinics, people have tried an average of 5 medications without getting relief from their symptoms. Finding the most effective treatment plan for your needs depends on an accurate diagnosis and is the key to getting well.
When you consider these issues, it’s easier to understand how someone could say they would choose cancer over depression, anxiety, or some other mental health condition. For people with this perspective, getting a proper diagnosis thanks to brain imaging and a comprehensive evaluation can lead to a treatment plan that helps overcome all of these factors so healing can begin.
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 888-288-9834or visit our contact page here. Our understanding of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has evolved and broadened since it was first added in 1981 to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the handbook of psychiatric illnesses widely used by clinicians and psychiatrists in the U.S.
Originally, the term trauma and symptoms of PTSD were ascribed only to a life-threatening occurrence such as what a soldier experiences in combat, a first responder in a crisis situation, or a victim of assault or abuse.
It later expanded to other life-threatening occurrences like natural disasters, automobile accidents, and child abuse. Today, researchers are discovering that nonviolent causes, such as emotional trauma or the accumulation of smaller stresses or traumas, can also lead to PTSD or what’s called Complex PTSD.
Researchers are discovering that nonviolent causes, such as emotional trauma or the accumulation of smaller stresses or traumas, can lead to PTSD or what's called Complex PTSD.
According to leading trauma researcher, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, trauma is prevalent and has untold impacts on human health and relationships. In his published article Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Nature of Trauma, he states that the human response to psychological trauma is one of the most important public health problems in the world.
Indeed, the effects of trauma extend beyond psychological functioning. Some childhood traumas have far-reaching health consequences later in life, increasing the risk of alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, suicide attempts, risky sexual behavior, and a number of diseases and health issues.
Having a better understanding of the nonviolent forms of trauma is important so that sufferers who need help can find it.
What Is Emotional Trauma?
Emotional trauma can result from any type of overwhelming, traumatic experience or series of distressing events that exceed an individual’s ability to process the emotions involved and cope adequately.
According to the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, experiencing a traumatic event can harm a person’s sense of safety, sense of self, and ability to regulate emotions and navigate relationships. Long after the traumatic event occurs, people with trauma can often feel shame, helplessness, powerlessness, and intense fear.
While emotional trauma can result from life-threatening events, it can also stem from situations where no physical harm is involved. That includes incidences of harassment or adverse childhood events such as neglect, verbal abuse, or parental separation.
More nuanced and complex examples of emotional trauma might include relationships with others that have some sort of psychological abuse involved, such as a demeaning boss or controlling romantic partner. Divorce and profoundly humiliating experiences can cause emotional trauma, too.
Trauma From Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs)
Traumas experienced in childhood and their far-reaching PTSD effects have only recently begun to be understood.
In 1995, a landmark study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Kaiser Permanente sought to identify the extent of ACEs in a group of 17,337 adult participants as well as any potential long-term effects. The participants were surveyed using 8 specific questions that covered neglect, abuse, and household dysfunction—such as witnessing domestic violence. The results were astounding. Nearly 25% of those in the study had been exposed to 3 or more of the 8 ACEs that were being studied at that time.
The fact that the participants were primarily middle-class adults suggests that ACEs can happen in almost any household. Of course, we now understand that chronic poverty, community violence, and racism can also adversely affect a child’s mental and physical health and development.
How Trauma Affects Your Body
Trauma impacts your body in profound and lasting ways, particularly in childhood. The actual traumatic event or series of events triggers the body’s stress response.
When we are faced with a threat (real or perceived), this fight-or-flight system automatically kicks in and releases cortisol and other stress hormones into our brain and body. This causes our heart rate to go up and our muscles are alerted to either potentially run away from whatever could hurt us or to freeze. It is designed to increase our chances of survival.
In normal circumstances, the stress response turns off after the threat passes. However, when there’s trauma, parts of the brain turn off so that we can focus on escape and survival. When this happens, some of the memories about the trauma can get placed in the non-cognitive areas of the brain, such as the sensory system, or in the body. They essentially get hidden away.
With PTSD, the brain fails to process the trauma correctly. It doesn’t file the memory of the event as being in the past. The stress response stays engaged, and the brain stays alert to any potential danger, even when it is safe. Details like sights, sounds, or smells, get attached to the trauma memory, and they can become triggers.
What Are the Signs of PTSD?
There are many signs and symptoms that may indicate PTSD. Sleeplessness, anxiety, irritability, hypervigilance, being easily startled, difficulty concentrating, overwhelming guilt or shame, distressful memories, flashbacks, and nightmares are among the most common. Sufferers of PTSD are more likely to engage in self-destructive behavior such as drinking too much or driving too fast, as well as have suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Dr. Besser van der Kolk’s research article cited above makes note of additional symptoms that treatment-seeking patients experienced as a result of being exposed to a range of different traumatic events over their life span. These include affect dysregulation, aggression against self and others, amnesia and dissociation, somatization, depression, distrust, shame, and self-hatred.
A type of PTSD called Complex PTSD, commonly resulting from prolonged or chronic trauma, may have some of the traditional PTSD symptoms plus a few more. Complex PTSD may include problems with self-esteem, where the sufferers feel responsible for their trauma. Those who suffer childhood trauma from a caregiver (even verbal abuse and neglect) often blame themselves. They also have emotional dysfunction and relationship problems, often staying in unhealthy relationships because the situation is familiar.
How to Recover from Emotional Trauma and PTSD
If you have experienced any kind of trauma as a child or adult or are showing signs of PTSD, reach out to a mental health professional. There are treatments that have been shown to work.
A study published in Biological Psychiatry indicates that cognitive-behavioral therapy may help to reduce symptoms of PTSD, as well as reverses the underlying biology of the disorder within the brain. Additionally, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), a special psychotherapeutic technique, has been shown in studies to be an effective treatment for people who have been emotionally traumatized.
Trauma, PTSD, 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. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, as the saying goes. Not in the case of your brain. A diamond-shaped pattern of overactivity in the brain’s emotional centers is actually a sign of trouble. On brain SPECT imaging scans, the diamond pattern is associated with emotional trauma that has pushed the brain into overdrive.
The diamond pattern is one of the findings noted on the brain scans of Rachel Hollis, entrepreneur and author of the bestselling Girl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing. She recently sat down with Dr. Daniel Amen for an episode of the Scan My Brain video series to discuss her SPECT scan at Amen Clinics. When he asked Hollis about past emotional trauma, she revealed a horrific experience with her brother who had schizophrenia and depression.
“When I was 14, my brother committed suicide,” says Hollis, who found his lifeless body in their home. “I couldn’t understand what I was looking at. My brain could not process what I was looking at.”
Extreme emotional trauma like this can contribute to the diamond brain pattern.
A diamond-shaped pattern of overactivity in the brain’s emotional centers is actually a sign of trouble. On brain SPECT imaging scans, the diamond pattern is associated with emotional trauma that has pushed the brain into overdrive.
Amen Clinics has conducted several brain SPECT imaging studies on trauma survivors, including a 2015 study in Plos One, and the scans show significantly increased activity in the limbic, or emotional, areas in a pattern that looks like a diamond. The affected brain areas are:
Anterior cingulate gyrus: This region is the brain’s gear shifter and helps you go from one thought to another. Too much activity here is associated with a fixation on negative thoughts or behaviors
Basal ganglia and amygdala: These are the brain’s anxiety and fear centers, and overactivity is linked to heightened anxiousness and predicting the worst.
Thalamus: The thalamus acts as a sort of relay station for the brain, and increased activity in this region heightens sensory awareness.
In some people, the right lateral temporal lobe is also overactive. This area of the brain is involved in reading the intentions of other people. When activity here is excessive, people can misread cues from others.
Healthy “Active” Brain SPECT Scan
The most active areas are in the cerebellum at the back of the brain.
Diamond Pattern SPECT Scan
Diamond pattern shows increased activity in the anterior cingulate (top of diamond), basal ganglia/amygdala (middle), and thalamus (bottom).
Problems commonly seen in people who have suffered emotional trauma and who have the diamond brain pattern include:
For Hollis, it’s as if her emotional brain is on fire. “I have a really hard time controlling my emotions,” she says. “It’s affecting my ability to be productive and to do my work well and to be the kind of mom I want to be and the kind of human I want to be.”
GETTING THE RIGHT DIAGNOSIS AFTER EMOTIONAL TRAUMA
Whenever you go through emotional trauma or grief it can leave a lasting imprint on the brain, as is seen with the diamond pattern. In order to properly heal the brain, it is critical to get the right diagnosis.
Symptoms of PTSD (emotional trauma) often overlap with those seen in traumatic brain injuries (physical trauma), such as anxiety, depression, irritability, headaches, and insomnia. Although the symptoms are the same, the treatments for these conditions are very different. In fact, treating PTSD as if it were a TBI or vice versa can actually make people worse.
This is why neuroimaging studies are so important if conventional treatments for your symptoms are ineffective. In 2015, Amen Clinics published 2 studies in Brain Imaging and Behavior and Plos One on more than 21,000 patients, including veterans, demonstrating that SPECT can distinguish between PTSD and TBI with high levels of accuracy.
In addition, grief is often mislabeled as depression, PTSD, ADD/ADHD, panic disorder, and other psychiatric conditions. If grief is misdiagnosed, psychotropic medications can get in the way of or even prolong recovery.
HEALING FROM EMOTIONAL TRAUMA AND THE DIAMOND BRAIN
Even if emotional trauma has contributed to overactivity in the brain in a diamond pattern, there is hope for healing. One powerful psychological treatment that can help people overcome emotional trauma is called EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). This non-invasive therapy is based on research suggesting that experiencing trauma can change the way the brain processes information, causing events to get “stuck” in the brain’s processing center. EMDR is designed to eliminate the emotional charges associated with traumatic memories.
Scientific studies show that EMDR therapy can be beneficial for trauma survivors and that it can work more quickly than traditional psychotherapy. A 2014 review of studies found that 3 sessions of EMDR therapy led to relief from PTSD symptoms in 84%-90% of individuals who had experienced a single traumatic event.
The positive effects of EMDR can be amplified when combined with other therapies, such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and lifestyle changes that help calm an overactive brain.
Emotional trauma, PTSD, 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. Ever get angry? Who doesn’t? We all experience feelings of anger on occasion. For some people, however, irritability can escalate into rage or even violence. And it can happen in an instant. Anger that quickly gets out of control may be a sign of intermittent explosive disorder (IED), a mental health disorder. Talk about an ironic acronym, IED also stands for “improvised explosive device,” which is something that can detonate without warning and cause great harm. It’s similar to the way a person can explode in anger and cause lasting emotional (or physical) damage to anyone in their vicinity. IED can destroy relationships and kill careers.
If you can’t control your aggressive impulses, you may want to consider seeking professional help. Psychotherapy can be an important aspect of an IED treatment plan. Before you can work on gaining control of anger and aggression, you need to address any underlying issues that may be causing it.
ADDRESS POSSIBLE CAUSES OF INTERMITTENT EXPLOSIVE DISORDER
Researchers have spent decades looking into potential causes of and contributors to IED. Understanding what might be contributing to your anger issues and treating them is one of the keys to healing. Some of the most common treatable issues related to IED are emotional trauma, head injuries, other mental health conditions, and issues with brain chemistry.
Emotional trauma
One of the main findings from years of research into the causes of IED is that experiencing trauma is a common denominator among people with the condition. For example, a 2012 study in Psychiatric Research that looked at data on 5,575 individuals found that IED is associated with increased exposure to trauma, especially childhood trauma. Adverse childhood experiences that can contribute to IED include emotional or physical neglect, sexual or physical abuse, living with someone with an addiction or mental illness, and more.
Healing strategies: A non-invasive therapy that can aid in overcoming emotional trauma is called EMDR, which stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. This can be an important piece of the puzzle in understanding and coping with anger issues.
Head injuries
At Amen Clinics, which has built the world’s largest database of functional brain scans related to behavior, it has become clear that head injuries increase the risk of anger issues and IED. In a 2018 study in The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, researchers looked at the relationship between mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) and IED. Among 1,634 individuals involved in the analysis, those with IED were more likely to have experienced a mTBI compared with healthy controls and those with other psychiatric disorders. On SPECT scans at Amen Clinics, damage to the temporal lobes (located on either side of the temples behind the eyes) is often associated with anger, aggression, and violence.
Healing strategies: If your brain is injured, it makes it difficult to follow through on anger management techniques. To enhance brain function, put the brain in a healing environment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), eating a healthy diet, eliminating environmental toxins, and avoiding alcohol and drugs.
History of mental health disorders
People with ADD/ADHD, borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and other psychiatric conditions are at increased risk of IED.
Healing strategies: Seeking treatment for these mental health problems can help make it easier to follow anger management strategies.
Brain chemistry issues
Some research suggests that abnormal levels of neurochemicals may play a role in IED. Specifically, low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin have been cited as a possible contributor to the condition.
Healing strategies: To boost serotonin naturally, eat a diet that is lower in protein and higher in complex carbohydrates. Natural supplements such as saffron and 5-HTP also increase the feel-good neurotransmitter.
PSYCHOTHERAPY STRATEGIES FOR INTERMITTENT EXPLOSIVE DISORDER
In addition to addressing any underlying causes of IED, a comprehensive treatment plan for IED will usually include psychotherapy and anger management. A number of techniques may be helpful, such as:
Cognitive restructuring: Learning to change the way you think about frustrating and stressful situations that typically trigger aggression can be beneficial.
Relaxation strategies: Engaging in a relaxation practice that includes deep breathing exercises, yoga, self-hypnosis, or guided imagery can help keep you calm when your blood starts to boil.
Coping skills: Therapists can help you develop a toolkit of coping strategies to help you deal more effectively with situations that typically set you off.
Group therapy: In a 2018 study, researchers concluded that “structured cognitive behavioral group therapy, with a focus on anger management and cognitive coping, may be a promising approach to the treatment of IED.”
Intermittent explosive disorder, head injuries, 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. Are you interested in self-awareness, personal growth, and self-improvement? Don’t we all want greater insights into what makes us tick, so we can become the best version of ourselves? Trent Shelton does. The former pro football player who now inspires millions with his books, motivational speaking, and podcast—has been on a journey of self-exploration and personal development ever since his football career ended prematurely after suffering a concussion. In the decade since then, he has looked inward to better his life and encouraged others to look inside themselves to enhance their lives. But after all that reflection, there was one thing Shelton still hadn’t seen—his brain.
“How can you know yourself if you don’t know your brain?”
That’s the rhetorical question Shelton asked Dr. Daniel Amen when he visited Amen Clinics to get a brain SPECT scan as part of the Scan My Brain video series. Shelton was curious about a few issues he was experiencing—short-term memory problems, social anxiety, and focus. “I’m a last-minute person,” he admitted with a laugh. He also wanted to take the opportunity to share his brain scan experience with his followers as a way to educate and encourage them.
“How can you know yourself if you don’t know your brain?” — Trent Shelton, former pro football player and founder of Rehab Time, upon seeing his brain SPECT scan at Amen Clinics
The former football player’s brain scans provided clues to his concerns. The scans showed signs of previous brain trauma, likely due to the multiple big hits and blows to the head he took as a wide receiver in college and the NFL.
Another finding on his brain scans? Decreased blood flow in the prefrontal cortex, which may also be related to those concussions. This pattern is commonly seen in people who tend to procrastinate, miss deadlines, or be late. Individuals with this brain pattern often need a little bit of stress to get motivated to get ready, such as a spouse telling you in no uncertain terms that you’re going to be late. This helped Shelton understand why he’s a last-minute kind of person and how he could benefit from simple ways to boost focus.
Shelton had been prepared to see brain trauma due to all those football-related head injuries he’d suffered. What he didn’t expect to see was low activity in the cerebellum, an area involved in processing speed and coordination. As a professional athlete who continues to be active with hiking and HIIT training, he’s highly coordinated. Dr. Amen recommended taking up a racquet sport—such as tennis, table tennis, or pickleball—to help activate the cerebellum and the frontal lobes. These sports require the brain to coordinate hands and feet while calculating spins and choosing shots. Think of it as aerobic chess for the brain. Another bonus of picking up a racquet? A 2018 study in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings shows that people who play racquet sports live longer.
Perhaps most surprising to Shelton was the overactivity in his emotional brain. Most people intuitively understand how a concussion can harm the brain, but few of us realize that emotional trauma can inflame the emotional centers of the brain, which is associated with an increased risk of anxiety and depression. In the past, Shelton lost a friend to suicide, and he recently grieved the death of his mother. As Dr. Amen explained, something called ancestral trauma can also be passed down from your parents or grandparents. For example, Shelton’s dad was robbed at gunpoint and shot at. Experiences such as this can alter the genes in a person’s offspring, pre-loading them with generational trauma.
Just because a person inherits ancestral trauma, it’s still possible to offset that genetic coding. For example, Dr. Amen suggested that whenever Shelton is feeling anxious that he writes down what he’s thinking and challenges the thought. Practicing this kind of mental hygiene can help turn off—or at least tone down—those genes.
How Seeing the Brain Changes Your Mindset
For Shelton, seeing his brain ushered him into a whole new level of personal growth that increased his understanding. “I’m connecting the dots,” he said. “I don’t feel like there’s something wrong with me, with the thoughts that I think, or how I felt in the past. I’m seeing my brain and understanding, okay, this is why. So, it just helps me put 2 and 2 together.”
Shelton is one among tens of thousands of people who have visited Amen Clinics for a SPECT scan to better understand their emotional, cognitive, and behavioral issues. In general, with that understanding comes greater self-awareness as well as a stronger commitment to enhancing brain function. And with a better brain comes a better life.
As Shelton learned, no self-exploration journey is complete without a view inside the brain.
No self-exploration journey is complete without a view inside the brain.
Anxiety, focus problems, 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. At year-end 2019, the total prison population in the U.S. numbered a staggering 1,430,800. And of these prisoners, 8% were serving time for a violent offense, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. What makes some people violent? If you’re like most people, you may think it’s due to poor parenting, a character flaw, or just being a “bad” person. Brain imaging shows there may be another reason.
Mounting scientific evidence shows that traumatic brain injury—even a mild one that doesn’t cause loss of consciousness—can lead to aggression or violent behavior in some people. Someone who has experienced a TBI may erupt with anger with little provocation. Something that seems inconsequential may set them off, and the severity of their reactions can range from irritability to verbal abuse to physical assault. Rather than writing off these individuals as bad people, it’s important to look at what’s happening in their brain.
What makes some people violent? If you’re like most people, you may think it’s due to poor parenting, a character flaw, or just being a “bad” person. Brain imaging shows there may be another reason: head injuries.
Aggression following head trauma is more common than you might think. Research in The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences conducted a study in 2009 to evaluate 67 individuals who had suffered a TBI for the first time. Within 3 months of the injury, over 28% of them displayed post-TBI aggression (primarily verbal). In most cases, the aggression was associated with the onset of depression among other psychosocial problems.
Among violent inmates, the prevalence of TBI is even higher. In a 2020 study in Frontiers in Psychiatry on violent offenders, over 77% reported experiencing one or more head injuries in their lifetime. Aggressive antisocial behaviors and substance use disorders were more common in those prisoners with a prior TBI.
Other findings in The Journal of Neuropsychiatry found that people with intermittent explosive disorder, a condition associated with impulsive aggression, are significantly more likely to have experienced a mild TBI compared with healthy people or those with psychiatric disorders. Such was the case with a 5-year-old boy who stabbed 3 members of his family over a juice box.
Although that case made national headlines, there are many more cases of domestic violence that go unreported and unseen. And expressions of violence can be quite frequent in some people. In a fascinating study in Brain Injury involving 46 people in a TBI neurobehavioral program, the researchers noted 3,914 acts of aggression over a two-week period. Of those acts, 443 were physical assaults while the rest were verbal.
Post-TBI Self-Harm and Suicide
The violent behavior some people experience after a concussion isn’t always directed at others. In some cases, it manifests in the form of hurting oneself. Research in the American Journal of Public Health shows that head injuries increase the risk of suicide. And findings in a 2009 study reveal that self-harm is more prevalent in those with a prior head injury. Experts suggest that feelings of depression that emerge or worsen after a TBI can increase the risk of self-harm and suicidal behaviors.
Related Consequences Associated with Head Injuries
A wealth of research shows that TBIs also increase the risk of depression, substance use disorders, ADD/ADHD, and more. These issues may indirectly contribute to violent behavior. For example, depressive symptoms are linked to an increase in the incidence of self-harm as you saw above. Drug or alcohol abuse impair thinking and judgment, increasing the chances of making poor decisions in relation to aggressive or violent behavior. ADD/ADHD, which is characterized by problems with impulse control, is associated with a tendency to act without thinking. Head trauma has also been linked to an increased risk of incarceration. In the U.S., 25-87% of all inmates say they have suffered a TBI compared with 25-38% in the general population.
How Even Minor Head Injuries Negatively Impact the Brain
Brain SPECT imaging, a well-respected technology that shows how the brain functions, reveals that suffering a TBI can have serious impacts on the brain. Amen Clinics has built the world’s largest database of functional brain scans related to behavior—over 170,000 scans and growing. These SPECT scans show that head injuries decrease blood flow to important brain regions that have been damaged. Some brain areas that are commonly impacted due to head trauma include:
Frontal Lobes
The brain’s frontal lobes are involved in impulse control, judgment, empathy, and more. When there is damage in this area it can increase the risk of aggression and violent behavior. Many people may think about committing violence or saying something abusive, but the vast majority of us work through the potential consequences of doing so and choose not to act out on those dark thoughts. When the frontal lobes are underactive, there’s a greater chance of acting out impulsively. In addition, decreased activity in the frontal lobes due to damage from a TBI is associated with a lack of empathy, meaning people don’t take others’ feelings into consideration. Instead, they blurt out hurtful things or lash out physically.
Temporal Lobes
The temporal lobes, located on either side of the eyes and underneath the temples, are involved in mood, emotional stability, and learning. Abnormal activity in this important brain region is associated with temper problems, anger, and unpredictable moods and behaviors.
Pituitary Gland
The pituitary gland is a pea-sized structure that lies in the back of the brain that is involved in hormone production. The pituitary gland sits in a bony area of the skull called the sella turcica, making it vulnerable to damage, especially from whiplash injuries. Damage to the pituitary gland can result in hormonal imbalances that increase the likelihood of a wide range of symptoms, such as anger, temper outbursts, depression, and more.
Where’s the good news in all this? People who display aggression or act out violently may have a hidden brain injury. And there is hope for healing a damaged brain. When you put the brain in a healing environment, it can boost brain health and improve emotional stability and behavior.
Violence, aggression, head injuries, and other brain 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. If you’ve ever gone through something traumatic, such as childhood abuse or neglect, a natural disaster, a violent assault, a hate crime, or a pandemic, you know that you don’t just shake it off and move on. Trauma has a way of sticking in your brain, seeping into your unconscious mind, and sparking your nervous system. Adverse childhood experiences or traumatic events in adulthood can have a lasting negative impact on your life and can lead to the development of internal “Wounded Dragons.”
In his book Your Brain Is Always Listening, Dr. Daniel Amen writes that these inner “dragons from the past” arise from trauma. They breathe fire on the emotional brain (amygdala), driving anxiety, panic, depression, anger, negative thinking, numbness, and irrational behavior. The Wounded Dragons can take a devastating toll on your emotional well-being as well as on your relationships. In fact, unresolved trauma can create a host of challenges that lead to marital conflict.
Trauma has a way of sticking in your brain, seeping into your unconscious mind, and sparking your nervous system. Unresolved trauma can create a host of challenges that lead to marital conflict.
No matter what type of trauma you have experienced, it can affect your ability to develop and maintain a loving relationship. And if trauma occurs during adulthood, it can negatively impact your marriage. Three of the most common relationship challenges facing people who have lived through trauma include the following.
1. Trust issues
People who have lived through traumatic events often lose their sense of security and safety. It’s common to feel like danger is lurking around every corner, which can make it difficult to trust people, even those you previously trusted. This may cause you to create walls in relationships in an effort to protect yourself from getting hurt. But this can backfire. Shying away from emotional or physical intimacy can make your partner feel left out or unfulfilled and can create a source of tension.
2. Triggered reactions
Anything that remotely reminds you of the past trauma—such as to scents, sights, or sounds—can dredge up painful memories and cause involuntary reactions. Something as seemingly innocuous as hearing a song can trigger a trauma survivor to react with anger, sadness, or anxiousness. You may lash out at your spouse, retreat from them, or tune out mentally. For your romantic partner, this may seem to come out of nowhere. In fact, the reaction may be unconscious and automatic, meaning you may not even realize why you’re behaving this way. It can leave your partner feeling confused, attacked, abandoned, rejected, or unloved, which may lead them to respond in kind. It creates an unhealthy cycle in which arguments and marital conflict become a common occurrence.
3. Fight, flight, or freeze response
When you have unprocessed trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), reminders of past trauma may trigger your brain’s stress response. This internal survival mechanism kickstarts whenever you encounter a real or imagined threat. It is due largely to the amygdala, a region deep in the brain that is responsible for our “fight, flight, or freeze” response. This can be a lifesaver if you’re ever chased by an angry bear, but it can be counterproductive if it occurs in everyday situations that your brain erroneously interprets as dangerous. Here’s how these responses can impact your relationship.
Fight: Automatically reacting by screaming at your significant other, picking fights, blaming them for your issues, bringing up past problems, or getting physically abusive can damage the relationship.
Flight: If you automatically run the other way in stressful situations, it can have a detrimental effect on your marriage. Being conflict avoidant or pretending problems don’t exist can cause issues to fester and become insurmountable. In other cases, you may feel the urge to run away from a relationship at the first sign of trouble.
Freeze: In some stressful instances, you may shut down and withdraw from your partner. This can create a disconnect between the two of you that leaves your significant other feeling isolated and unwanted.
3 Ways to Heal Past Trauma and Improve Relationships
Past trauma doesn’t have to get in the way of a happy marriage. Working through the emotional pain of traumatic events can be helpful in preventing or overcoming relationship problems. Some of the most helpful therapies include:
Consider trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). Developed in the 1990s by a trio of professionals, TF-CBT can be effective for children, teenagers, and adults who have experienced trauma. This therapy aims to help trauma survivors overcome anxiety, depression, guilt, anger, powerlessness, self-abuse, and acting out. When you gain greater control over your emotions, it can help you cope more effectively with the normal ups and downs of married life.
Stop ignoring past trauma. It’s normal to experience painful emotions related to past trauma, but many people attempt to block out those emotions. This is counterproductive, as scientific research shows that avoidance increases the risk of psychological issues, such as PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders, and more. When you are struggling, try talking to your significant other rather than shutting them out. Couples therapy may be beneficial in helping you develop or rebuild trust in your relationship, so you feel more comfortable sharing your fears and anxiousness.
Try EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). This helpful form of psychotherapy can minimize the emotional pain associated with trauma. EMDR, which involves moving the eyes from side to side while bringing up traumatic memories, helps remove the emotional charges connected to those memories. Processing traumatic memories with this therapy aids in rewiring and calming the brain, which can help you react in healthier ways to everyday stresses.
When you address past trauma and learn to process it in a healthy way, it provides a path to less stress with your partner and a deeper, more intimate, and more fulfilling relationship.
Past trauma, PTSD, 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. With the onset of the “Me Too” movement in 2017, the extent of sexual abuse and harassment was brought onto the public stage. As notable celebrities and other high-profile people began to openly share their stories, it provided a forum for “everyday” people to also open up about their experiences of abuse. Being able to recognize they had the support of so many others created a greater sense of safety in talking about this far-too-common type of trauma that adversely affects millions and millions of people.
Most of those who spoke about surviving sexual abuse were women. In fact, 1 out of every 3 women in the U.S. will experience some form of sexual violence during their lives. Although these statistics are staggering, what many people don’t know is that 1 in every 4 men will be subjected to sexual violence at some point in his life, with 1 out of every 6 boys being sexually assaulted before age 18. These men often suffer in silence due to feelings of shame or the stigma attached to such abuse.
The Prevalence of Male Sexual Abuse
According to a report from the Division of Violence Prevention at the CDC, 25% of males targeted by sexual predators during childhood were raped before the age of 10, and another 25% between the ages of 11 and 17. Many more are molested. And, though people are often under the impression that sexual abuse is largely perpetrated by strangers, 90% of those who commit these heinous crimes are known to the child (or the family). Children are often groomed by those who target them, which among others, can be a coach, teacher, clergy member, neighbor, relative, or those who have befriended them through social media or gaming platforms.
Men Often Don’t Disclose Their Sexual Abuse
It can be very difficult for men who were sexually abused as children—or even as adults—to talk about what happened to them. In a culture that promotes masculinity as being tough and resilient, it can be very uncomfortable for men to not only express the painful emotions and vulnerability related to sexual trauma, but also to see themselves as victims. What further complicates some of these terrible experiences—and can be psychologically confusing—is the automatic physiological sexual response that can occur, despite the trauma of the assault.
It is often difficult for men who were sexually abused as children—or even as adults—to talk about the trauma of what happened to them.
Quite often, boys and men who are sexually abused do not report the crimes against them. Feelings of shame and/or a sense of self-blame can make it very difficult for them to say anything to anyone. And some might try to talk about it but end up feeling invalidated if people they trust do not believe them or cannot understand how a male could be raped or forced to do something against his will. Because of this, boys and men might compartmentalize the experience and bury the painful memories of it.
Coping Can Be a Challenge with Unprocessed Trauma
It’s not unusual for sexual trauma to lead to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, and/or difficulty controlling anger—especially when memories get triggered or they feel otherwise threatened.
While not every survivor of unprocessed sexual trauma will struggle in life, many guys develop unhealthy coping mechanisms to help them manage the anguish and emotions about what happened to them. In addition to addiction mentioned above, these compulsive behaviors might include:
Some men may also struggle with relationships. They might find it hard to trust another person or be emotionally or sexually available to their partner. Some may have an abnormal need for control in relationships as a way to protect themselves. For others, it may be difficult to stay with someone when things feel too close.
Men Don’t Have to Suffer in Silence
If you’re a survivor of sexual trauma and have been keeping the painful memories to yourself, it’s important to know that there are experienced psychotherapists who can provide a safe environment for you to talk about what happened—a place where you will not be judged, but rather listened to and validated. Some therapists incorporate EMDR, which stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and is a method that can be very effective when working through trauma.
There are also peer support groups for male survivors of sexual assault which can be very helpful. Groups like these help you to understand that you are not alone, and because they don’t have a hierarchy it can alleviate any concerns about a power differential when talking about your experience(s).
After years of carrying the secret of their trauma, men often find that having a trusted person to help them work through their sexual abuse feels like a huge burden has been lifted from them. Recently, author and podcast host Lewis Howes talked with Dr. Daniel Amen about how life-changing it was for him when, 25 years after he was raped at age 5, he worked with a psychotherapist to process his trauma.
Many men find that the more they are able to talk about what happened to them, the less control the memories have over them—and the more they are able to find healthy ways to cope as they move forward in their lives.
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 couplesFind out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.
