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It’s one of the most gut-wrenching, horrifying, heartbreaking things you’ll ever see. The Netflix docuseries, “The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez,” chronicles the 2013 brutal torture and murder of the 8-year-old boy at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend.

The series details how the young boy was routinely beaten, forced to eat kitty litter, and shot in the face with a BB gun. Gabriel’s mother, Pearl, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, also repeatedly locked him a cabinet, pepper-sprayed him, burned him with cigarettes, called him “gay,” and performed other unconscionable acts. In the series, one of the first responders who arrived on the scene after Pearl called 911 on May 22, 2013, to report that her son had stopped breathing said it was the worst case of abuse she had ever seen.

It makes you wonder, how could anyone inflict such abuse on an innocent child?

Spoiler alert: The remainder of this article reveals information from later episodes of the docuseries.

A Dangerous Cycle of Abuse

In one of the episodes, viewers learn about Pearl’s turbulent background and discover that she herself had been a victim of abuse at a young age. She was beaten by her mother, gang-raped, and subjected to an attempted rape by one of her uncles. Pearl started using drugs (methamphetamine and crack cocaine) and drinking alcohol at a very young age, which likely altered her brain function.

Drug and alcohol abuse early in life interferes with brain development and a process called myelination. During this important maturation process that typically isn’t completed until a person’s mid-20s, a protective sheath coats neurons to help speed communication within the brain. It starts at the back of the brain and works its way forward. The prefrontal cortex (involved in judgment, empathy, decision-making, and impulse control), which is located behind the forehead, is the last area to gain this protective coating. When this process is disrupted, it can lead to lifelong dysfunction, poor decision-making, impulsivity, and a lack of empathy.

In fact, the series shows that according to a neurocognitive evaluation by a clinical psychologist, scans of Pearl’s brain showed abnormalities in the right frontal and parietal lobes. The evaluation also indicated that Pearl had a low IQ and no education beyond the 8th grade. In addition, she had been diagnosed with a litany of mental health disorders, including depression, eating disorders, developmental disability, PTSD, and possible personality disorder.

None of this excuses what she did to her sweet child, but it brings to light the fact that it is common for childhood abuse to repeat from one generation to the next.

Can this cycle be stopped?

Breaking the Cycle of Abuse

What brain imaging and clinical psychiatric practice have shown us is that there is hope for putting an end to this destructive cycle. Here are 3 important steps in the process.

1. Acknowledge childhood trauma.

If you remember the pain and trauma from the past, it can help you break it for future generations. If, however, you repress it, you are more likely to repeat it.

2. Seek treatment.

Some forms of psychotherapy, such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) can be very helpful to eliminate or decrease the pain from past traumas (see www.emdria.org to find a therapist near you). Addressing other mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, or PTSD, can help improve the overall quality of life and the ability to have healthy relationships.

3. Focus on brain health.

Because childhood trauma can get stuck in the brain’s emotional centers and prevent the brain from processing information normally, it is of the utmost importance to enhance overall brain function with a healthy diet, daily exercise, abstinence from alcohol and drugs, and other lifestyle strategies. Brain imaging studies show that you can change your brain and change your life, which in turn, will change the lives of your children and their grandchildren.

It’s impossible to know if Gabriel’s death could have been avoided if Pearl had sought treatment for her own abusive childhood and mental health problems and if she had adopted brain healthy habits. However, this tragic story should be a wake-up call for all of us to try to heal the traumas of the past that continue to haunt us today and that have a negative effect on our relationships with our children.

At Amen Clinics, we take a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating our patients. We perform sophisticated brain imaging to detect underlying brain dysfunction that may be affecting your quality of life and the ability to be an effective parent. We also perform lab work (when needed) and do an extensive assessment of your personal history to identify biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors that may be contributing to your symptoms. This allows our physicians to create a targeted treatment plan for your individual needs. 

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

 

There’s no question police officers have a very hazardous job. Every officer undergoes extensive training to be prepared for the possible dangers of dealing with an armed suspect, a hostage situation, or a robbery in progress. But they may not be fully aware of the threat associated with on-the-job concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

Over 2 million new head injuries occur in the U.S. every year, according to the CDC. Although there aren’t specific statistics available on the prevalence of TBIs among law enforcement personnel, a 2018 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine does show that officers are three times as likely to suffer a nonfatal injury than all other U.S. workers.

Even though most people are familiar with some of the physical effects of TBIs, very few know that they are also a major cause of psychiatric illness. Even in the medical community and the mental health field, this fact remains hidden. In large part, there are two main reasons why:

1. Traditional psychiatrists rarely ever look at their patients’ brains, so they don’t make the connection between mental health and brain health.

2. The brain imaging tools medical professionals typically use to assess a TBI, such as MRI or CT scans, look only at the brain’s structure, not its function. This results in many people with TBIs being told their results are normal, even though they may be experiencing symptoms that are anything but normal.

Common Causes of TBIs in Law Enforcement

Police officers are vulnerable to a wide range of head injuries. Some of the common causes of TBIs among police officers include:

Research on military veterans shows that repetitive low-level blasts can cause TBIs even if they didn’t experience symptoms associated with a concussion. Tactical law enforcement personnel are also repeatedly exposed to low-level blasts and need to be aware of the consequences.

What Happens in the Brain After Physical Trauma?

Many people think the brain is rubbery and fixed within the skull, but it isn’t. In fact, the brain is soft, about the consistency of soft butter, tofu, or custard—somewhere between egg whites and gelatin. It floats in cerebrospinal fluid and is housed in a very hard skull that has many sharp bony ridges. As such, it is easily damaged.

Whiplash, falls, and blows to the head can cause the brain to slosh around, slamming into the hard ridges inside the skull. In the event of a blast, a sharp rise in atmospheric pressure sets off shock waves within the brain. These temporary effects can lead to long-term harm.

This can cause a cascade of brain injuries, including:

In addition, the pituitary gland, which regulates hormone production, is located in a vulnerable part of the skull and is often damaged in head injuries. This can cause major hormonal imbalances that are also linked to mental health issues.

Functional brain scans, such as brain SPECT imaging, can reveal signs of TBI in the brain. Typically, SPECT findings in TBIs include areas of decreased activity from the injury in addition to injuries in a contra-coup (opposing area) pattern. In some cases, there may be excessive activity seen in the site of an injury.

Recognize the Signs and Symptoms of TBIs

In some people, the signs and symptoms of a TBI or concussion develop immediately. In others, it may be days, weeks, months, or even years before symptoms emerge. In still other people, no symptoms surface until a second or third head injury triggers a problem.

It’s important to understand that there are physical, sensory, mental, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms associated with head injuries.

Physical and Sensory Symptoms:

Mental and Cognitive Symptoms:

Behavioral Symptoms:

When symptoms persist, they can lead to other consequences. Cognitive problems, aggression, impulsivity, and other issues can put officers at serious risk of other injuries, including additional head injuries.

Head Injuries and Mental Health

Law enforcement personnel need to be aware that TBI has been linked to depression, anxiety, panic attacks, ADD/ADHD, learning problems, memory problems and dementia, school failure, job failure, homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, psychosis, borderline personality disorder, murder, and suicide.

The problem is most people don’t connect the dots between their psychiatric symptoms and a head injury that may have happened years earlier. In fact, many people forget they’ve suffered a significant head injury as amnesia surrounding an accident is common.

Getting Help for TBIs

Unfortunately, trying to treat the psychiatric symptoms alone doesn’t work and won’t until the underlying brain injury is healed. However, adopting a brain optimization program that includes taking measures to protect your brain from future injuries, good nutrition, regular physical exercise, targeted supplements, and new learning is a good place to start. Other treatments that help heal the brain include neurofeedback and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

At Amen Clinics, we have helped thousands of people with concussions or TBIs to heal their brain and minimize their symptoms. We use a combination of the least toxic, most effective therapies, which may include neurofeedback, HBOT, nutraceuticals, and medications, as well as simple lifestyle changes that can make a big difference.

If you have suffered a concussion or head injury, find out how we can help. Talk to a specialist today by calling 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

 

 

By Mark Filidei, DO

When patients present with anxiety, depression, attention problems, fuzzy thinking, irritability, insomnia, or other issues, most traditional psychiatrists simply dole out prescription medications to try to treat these problems. But these issues are just symptoms, and using a Band-Aid to mask symptoms without investigating and addressing their underlying causes will never work. Clinicians need to think like detectives and look at symptoms as clues to the real culprit.

Let’s look at two case studies.

Case Study #1

Joe was 65 years old when he came to see me with his wife Rita (not their real names) for couples counseling. Rita complained that Joe was “not himself anymore.”  He had abruptly changed two years earlier and started making very poor decisions. Rita was unhappy and wondered what had happened to the man she had married.

The traditional treatment route would have been to give Joe medication, such as Provigil, for his fuzzy thinking. But was it really cognitive impairment, the onset of Alzheimer’s, or something else?

Case Study #2

I met with 7-year-old Tyler (not his real name) and his mother, who complained about her son’s severe behavioral issues, filthy mouth, and extreme anger. Tyler had threatened to kill people, talked about violent acts, and had his parents worried that he would grow up to be a murderer. His mom was afraid Tyler would get kicked out of school and felt ashamed that she was raising a “sociopath.”

In traditional psychiatric care, Tyler may have been prescribed one or more drugs—such as stimulants, anticonvulsants, or antipsychotics—in an attempt to change his behavior. But were these medications the right answers to his problems?

Root Causes of Psychiatric Symptoms

At Amen Clinics, our brain imaging work has shown that many common “psychiatric” symptoms are actually related to biological causes. On brain SPECT scans, we often see evidence of encephalopathy (any abnormal condition of the structure or function of brain tissues) or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

Once again, abnormal brain scan results are often symptoms of another problem, clues that something else is in the body isn’t functioning optimally. In general, causes of encephalopathy fall into the following four categories:

To determine which one (or more than one) of these is causing the brain to look unhealthy, clinicians can perform specific lab tests, and they need to ask more probing questions.

Lab Workup for Encephalopathy

There are numerous lab tests available that can provide valuable information for the clinician. A lab workup for toxic encephalopathy may include the following:

Although these tests can offer critical data, they are only one portion of a comprehensive diagnostic process. Delving into a patient’s clinical history helps complete the picture.

Clinical History Questions

When encephalopathy is noted on brain scans, it should prompt you to ask patients a series of questions, including:

Combining the clues gleaned from the patient’s clinical history with the lab test results and the patterns seen on brain scans, the clinician can close in on what’s causing a patient’s symptoms. Let’s look at what the lab tests and clinical history questions revealed about our two case studies.

Case Study #1: Joe

Joe’s lab results showed off-scale high levels for toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies, as well as low testosterone levels. No amount of Provigil would have treated these issues.  In taking his clinical history, I discovered that the couple had gotten a cat a few years earlier, and Joe was tasked with changing the kitty litter. This is where he might have come in contact with toxoplasma gondii, a single-celled parasite that is often carried in cats and shed in their feces. With hormone replacement therapy (HRT), treatment for toxoplasmosis, and instructions to always wear gloves when changing the kitty litter, he is doing much better. His wife says she feels like she’s got her husband back.

Case Study #2: Tyler

Tyler, the 7-year-old’s lab tests showed abnormal results in his nutritional and metabolic panel. In particular, he had increased urinary excretion of 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl) 3-hydroxypropionic acid (HPHPA), an abnormal phenylalanine metabolite of Clostridium spp. found in the GI tract. Research in Nutritional Neuroscience shows that HPHPA has been found in higher concentrations in children with autism and also in people with psychosis related to schizophrenia. By enhancing Tyler’s gut health, it helped calm his aggressive behavior, and his mother was no longer afraid he would grow up to be a murderer.

In summary, clinicians must think of symptoms as clues to a deeper biological problem. Similarly, brain SPECT scans, lab tests, and a patient’s clinical history are other clues that help solve the mystery and lead to an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan.

About the Author: Mark Filidei, DO, Amen Clinics Orange County, CA

Dr. Mark Filidei is an Internal Medicine physician and is the Director of Integrative/Functional Medicine for Amen Clinics. Functional Medicine incorporates the latest developments in systems biology, genetics, and a deep understanding of human physiology to address complex medical and mental health issues. Dr. Filidei’s approach is to find the root cause of a person’s health problems including metabolic, genetic, and environmental factors, and to treat those problems in as natural a way as possible by using targeted nutritional supplements, correcting hormone and metabolic imbalances, improving lifestyle and diet, and detecting and treating toxin exposure and infections like mold and Lyme disease.

 

Firefighters routinely put themselves in harm’s way by battling urban blazes and wildfires. But the flames aren’t the only danger they face. Breathing in carbon monoxide and other toxins, repeated exposure to emotional trauma, and the possibility of head injuries put them at increased risk of unhealthy brain function.

Brain imaging studies on a group of 50 of firefighters performed at Amen Clinics show troubling findings:

All of these brain issues increase the likelihood of mental, behavioral, and cognitive problems, but few firefighters are aware of this.

How Head Injuries Cause Lasting Harm

Falling off the ladder, structure collapse, traffic collisions involving emergency vehicles—firefighters are at risk for head trauma. It is estimated that up to 15% of all firefighter injuries are head injuries. That amounts to over 4,000 head injuries a year, and the number could actually be much higher since many first responders may not think their injury is significant enough to report.

But concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)—even if they don’t cause you to lose consciousness—can lead to problems in the following weeks, months, and years. Research shows that head trauma increases the risk of depression, anxiety and panic disorders, ADD/ADHD, drug and alcohol abuse, psychosis, chronic emotional trauma and stress, borderline and antisocial personality disorders, dementia, and suicide. But since psychiatrists rarely look at the organ they treat, first responders may not be aware that this is the root cause of their issues.

When Toxins Attack the Brain

Firefighters can be exposed to many toxins, including carbon monoxide, benzene, asbestos, and diesel exhaust. Statistics from a 2018 report from the National Fire Protection Association show that there were an estimated 44,530 exposures to hazardous conditions, such as radioactive materials, chemicals, and fumes.

There is growing concern that exposure to such chemicals is increasing rates of cancer among first responders. But this exposure poses another dangerous threat that isn’t getting enough attention—toxic brain.

The brain is the most metabolically active organ in the human body. As such, it is extremely vulnerable to damage from toxins, and having a toxic brain is linked to depression, ADD/ADHD, learning problems, memory problems, brain fog, autism, temper outbursts, psychotic behavior, and suicide.

On brain SPECT scans, which measure blood flow and activity in the brain, a toxic brain looks like a “Swiss cheese” brain that is full of holes. The “holes” reflect areas with low blood flow and are a sign of an unhealthy brain. It looks like their brains have been poisoned.

How Exposure to Trauma Affects the Brain

First responders witness some horrific incidents, but “they’re actually trained to stuff it, to push it down,” according to Dr. Nancy Bohl-Penrod, a psychotherapist and trainer to first responders.  In an episode of The Brain Warrior’s Way podcast, Bohl-Penrod said their training dictates, “Don’t let it bother you. Get over it as quickly as you can, because you’re going to go on another call.” In response to the repeated exposure to trauma, she’s seen firefighters develop mild depression, become more short-fused, turn to alcohol, and withdraw from their families.

These issues are related to abnormal activity in the brain. Brain imaging scans show that chronic exposure to trauma is associated with overactivity in the emotional brain, which is known as the limbic system. When there is too much activity in this brain region, it’s linked to depression, anger, and social isolation. People may also drink more because alcohol calms the overactivity.

A Look at Firefighter Steven’s Brain

At age 32, Steven was a firefighter who was suffering from depression, brain fog, and symptoms of unrelenting trauma. During his evaluation, Steven asked, “How can I deal with the trauma? I wish I could forget what my eyes have seen, from children being burned to losing whole families in car crashes and fires.”

Steven’s SPECT Scan Before Treatment: The “holes” in this scan are indicative of low blood flow and are a sign of exposure to toxins.

Steven’s SPECT Scan After Treatment: This scan shows healthier overall blood flow.

 

Steven’s brain scan showed that his emotional brain—the limbic system—was working way too hard, plus he also had evidence of toxic exposure, likely from breathing carbon monoxide and the poisonous chemicals released from burning furniture. These biological problems in his brain were the root cause of the mental and cognitive issues that plagued him.

Why Firefighters Don’t Seek Help

Studies show that first responders, such as firefighters, are at an elevated risk of trauma, depression, heavy drinking, and suicide. Unfortunately, research shows that they are less likely to seek help because of the stigma associated with having a mental illness, fearing they will be labeled as weak or unfit for duty. Their professions have convinced them that they are supposed to be superheroes, so they just suck it up. Because of this, they continue to suffer in silence.

How a Brain-Based Approach to Treatment Changes Everything

Brain imaging shows that psychiatric issues have a biological basis. In Steven’s case, seeing his scan helped him understand that his “mental health” problems were really “brain health” problems related to toxic exposure and trauma. Rather than thinking his issues were due to some character flaw or weakness, he now viewed them as medical, not moral. This motivated him to get serious about improving his brain health. Within 6 months of following a program designed to optimize his brain, help him deal with trauma, and enhance his body’s ability to flush out toxins, he felt much better and his brain was healthier.

There is no need to suffer in silence. At Amen Clinics, we have helped hundreds of firefighters and other first responders overcome the psychiatric symptoms associated with an unhealthy brain. Whether you’re experiencing depression, anxiety, brain fog, or other symptoms, we offer brain-based treatment programs that use the least toxic, most effective solutions tailored to your needs.

Call 888-288-9834 to speak with a specialist today or schedule a visit online.

 

It’s the spookiest time of year, and although most kids and adults love joining in the frightful fun of Halloween, some people dread the annual holiday. If you’re filled with anxiety or experience sheer terror at the thought of October 31st festivities, you may have a mental health condition known as samhainophobia—the fear of Halloween.

The Roots of Halloween

The term samhainophobia has its roots in an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain that began some 2,000 years ago. Celebrated on October 31, the final day of the Celtic calendar year, it was viewed as a time when the division between the living and the dead became blurred. This allowed ghosts to cross over into the living world, where they could perform evil deeds if they so desired. People wore masks and costumes as a way to appease the roaming spirits to prevent them from their evil-doing. It’s easy to see how the Samhain rituals evolved into our modern-day Halloween trick-or-treating tradition.

From Fright to Phobia

Samhainophobia is more than just a general dislike or a mild uneasy feeling for Halloween. It’s what mental health professionals refer to as a “specific phobia.” Phobias are real, and they are considered a type of anxiety disorder that causes people to experience intense, unfounded fears that get in the way of daily life. Approximately 19 million Americans have some type of phobia.

If the thought of Halloween makes your heart race, causes your hands to tremble, or gives you a choking sensation, these are signs you may have a phobia. Other symptoms associated with phobias include nausea, sweating, dizziness, and panic. Children with samhainophobia may cry uncontrollably, act overly clingy, or throw temper tantrums when Halloween rolls around.

If you have a fear of the holiday, you may find it hard to go to work or to concentrate on your projects if the office is filled with Halloween decorations. If your child suffers from samhainophobia, they may be afraid of holiday-related events at school, and their coursework may suffer.

If you notice any of these symptoms or they interfere with your ability to perform your everyday activities and responsibilities, it’s a good idea to visit a mental health professional. 

What Causes Fear of Halloween?

Experts agree that many factors play into the development of samhainophobia. For example:

In addition to these direct links to the fear of Halloween, there are other hidden factors that might increase your risk of developing a phobia. These include:

How to Overcome Your Fear of Halloween

If you suffer from excessive anxiety about Halloween, take heart that there are ways to work through it.

A word of caution about medications: Although some healthcare professionals may prescribe pharmaceuticals to people who have phobias, be aware that brain imaging studies show that anti-anxiety pills, such as benzodiazepines, are harmful to the brain. It is best to avoid them.

Amen Clinics has helped thousands of people overcome all types of anxiety disorders, including phobias. We use brain SPECT imaging to help identify which type of anxiety you have and to help find the least toxic, most effective personalized solutions as part of a brain-body approach to healing.

If your phobia is affecting your work, school, home life, or relationships, speak with a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.

Chronic pain can impact your life in so many ways. It can rob you of the activities you once loved and leave you feeling depressed and anxious. It can also alter your brain in ways that keep you mired in negative moods and emotions.

That’s what happened to Sam, a 38-year-old police officer. After three car accidents, he had pain that didn’t go away, even after six back surgeries. The pain was so intense, he was practically bedridden, and his family was about to leave him. He couldn’t stop thinking about the pain, and believing he had no way out, Sam attempted suicide. It was only after that attempt that Sam sought help to find out what was happening in his brain.

CHRONIC PAIN IN THE BRAIN

Chronic pain can change the way your brain functions. Brain imaging shows that people who have chronic pain often have high activity in the thalamus, which is part of the limbic system that is the brain’s emotional center. Too much activity in this region is associated with depression.

Sam also had marked overactivity in an area of the brain called the anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG). This area of the brain acts like the brain’s gear shifter. When it is healthy, it helps you go from one idea to another. When it is overactive, you tend to get stuck on worrisome thoughts. It also indicates low levels of the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin. When serotonin is low, people tend to be obsessive, moody, and inflexible. This caused Sam to get stuck on thoughts about his pain and his perceived hopelessness.

GETTING YOUR BRAIN UNSTUCK

Even though chronic pain can alter the way your brain functions, it doesn’t have to be permanent. If you’re suffering from chronic pain, medication may be recommended, but there are also many natural ways to calm an overactive limbic system as well as an ACG that is working too hard.

5 Ways to Balance the Limbic System

3 Ways to Balance the Anterior Cingulate Gyrus

Sam used a combination of these strategies—supplements, acupuncture, social bonding, and more—to balance his brain and address his pain. After a month, Sam said his back still hurt, but he was much less focused on the pain. He was able to get out of bed and go back to school to start training for a different line of work.

Don’t let chronic pain keep you on the sidelines of life. At Amen Clinics, where Sam was treated, brain SPECT imaging is performed as part of a comprehensive evaluation for people with chronic pain as well as symptoms of depression or obsessive thoughts. The Amen Clinics Method takes an integrative approach to diagnosis and treatment to help balance the brain utilizing the least toxic, most effective solutions so you can stop focusing on the pain and start living again.

To find a path to help you feel better fast, call 888-288-9834 to talk to a specialist today or schedule a visit.

EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is a special psychotherapeutic technique that can be a very powerful treatment for people who have been emotionally traumatized. EMDR therapy uses eye movements or other alternate hemisphere stimulation to remove the emotional charges of traumatic memories.

As part of EMDR therapy sessions, a therapist may direct you to hold specific memories in mind while tracking the therapist’s hand as it moves back and forth across your field of vision. Diverting your attention in this way while you recall a traumatic event has been found to minimize the emotional response connected to the memory. Researchers believe the therapy activates mechanisms in the brain that help you process the memory and distressing emotions.

Processing Traumatic Memories in the Brain

The brain is naturally wired to help us recover from traumatic events and distressing memories. The healing process involves communication between a variety of brain regions, such as the hippocampus (memory-making center), amygdala (fear center), and prefrontal cortex (behavior center). In some people, however, events can be so traumatic it disrupts the normal flow of neural communication and memories get stuck, making you can feel like you are frozen in time. EMDR helps you get unstuck by restoring the communication process.

What Research Shows About EMDR

Numerous studies show that EMDR therapy offers benefits for emotional trauma and PTSD that typically take years to achieve in psychotherapy alone. A 2014 review of the existing research indicates that 24 randomized controlled studies point to benefits from EMDR treatment for emotional trauma and adverse life events. This review also showed that in some studies, 84% to 90% of people who have experienced a single trauma found relief from PTSD symptoms after just 3 EMDR sessions that lasted 90 minutes each.

In a controlled study by Kaiser Permanente, 67 individuals who had experienced trauma were assigned either to standard care treatment or EMDR. Compared to standard care, the EMDR group showed significantly more improvement on measures of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. In a subsequent study from the same team at Kaiser Permanente, follow-ups on the original study participants at 3 months and 6 months showed that improvements from EMDR had been maintained. The authors concluded that long-lasting benefits can be achieved with relatively few EMDR sessions.

Based on this growing body of research, the American Psychiatric Association and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs have recognized EMDR therapy as an effective treatment for PTSD. A growing body of research on EMDR therapy shows promising results in its effectiveness for other conditions, such as depression, addictions, and more.

Who Can Benefit from EMDR?

EMDR is primarily used to treat people suffering from emotional trauma, but it may also be beneficial for people struggling with other problems. According to the EMDR International Association, practitioners currently use EMDR therapy to address a wide array of issues, including but not limited to:

What’s Involved in EMDR Therapy?

EMDR therapy involves 8 phases that incorporate a variety of elements. It includes looking at past memories, current triggers, and skills and behaviors that can help you in the future.

Phase 1:  History and Treatment Planning

A therapist will review your history, identify specific memories to target, and create a treatment plan.

Phase 2: Preparation

The therapist will share several techniques to help you cope with any emotional distress that may arise during treatment.

Phases 3: Assessment

During this portion of the treatment, you will be directed to identify 3 things associated with the targeted memory to be processed:

Phase 4: Desensitization

As you hold these things in mind, the EMDR processing begins. After the therapist performs the hand movements or other stimulation, you will be asked to let your mind go blank. Then you may either return to continue processing that same memory or move on to process other memories.

Phase 5: Installation

Here you replace the negative belief you had about yourself with a positive belief. For example, a victim of assault may go from believing “I am powerless” to believing “I am in control.”

Phase 6: Body Scan

During this phase, your therapist will work with you to resolve any remaining physical tension or bodily sensations related to the memory.

Phase 7: Closure

The therapist will ensure that at the end of each session, you feel better than when it started. Your therapist will also provide you with strategies to help you handle any distressing emotions that come up in between sessions and will ask you to maintain a journal where you write down any issues that arise.

Phase 8: Reevaluation

At each session, you and your therapist will assess your progress so far and adjust your treatment plan as needed.

Steven’s EMDR Story

To help you understand how EMDR can work for emotional trauma like PTSD, take a look at Steven’s story.

Steven, a 33-year-old bicycle repair mechanic working in Santa Monica, California, took an early lunch on a summer day in 2003 and walked to the local farmer’s market. Within minutes, disaster struck when an 87-year-old man lost control of his car and barreled through the throngs of people at the market. The car was headed straight for Steven, who later said, “I thought he was going to run over my legs…I thought I would lose my legs.”

At the last possible moment, Steven was able to jump out of the way, but 10 people were killed and more than 50 were injured. Traumatized, Steven went back to work.  But for months, he couldn’t sleep, and he shook constantly. As in the case of most people who develop PTSD, the Santa Monica farmer’s market disaster was not Steven’s only trauma. He grew up in a severely abusive alcoholic home and also faced death as a tank commander during the Gulf War.

Steven decided to undergo an evaluation and EMDR therapy as a component of his treatment. As part of his assessment, Steven underwent 3 brain scans using brain SPECT imaging technology—before treatment, during his first EMDR session, and after 8 hours of EDMR treatments.

Initially, his brain scan showed a diamond pattern that is often seen in PTSD, with an overactive limbic area, basal ganglia, and anterior cingulate. Then with the help of a trained EMDR therapist, Steven began clearing out the traumas—one by one. His brain actually showed benefit during the first treatment and was markedly improved after only 8 hours of treatment. Steven’s shaking had subsided, and he felt significantly better. With EMDR, Steven was able to change his brain and change his life for the better.

PTSD, 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 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.

Everybody wants to know the secrets to a happy marriage, but it can be just as important to know what leads to marital conflict. By understanding what you’re doing to mess things up and how your brain is involved, you’ll know how to turn things around to make marital magic.     By understanding what you’re doing to mess up your relationship—and how your brain is involved—you’ll know how to turn things around to make it magical again.
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Here are 9 ways spouses can sabotage their marriage—even if it’s not intentional.

1. Saying everything that pops into your head.

Anyone who is married knows that it’s best to keep some thoughts to yourself. Lower than normal activity in the brain’s frontal lobes—commonly seen in people with ADD or a history of head injury—makes you more likely to be impulsive and blurt out things that are hurtful to the one you love.

2. Not getting enough zzzz’s.

When you skimp on sleep or suffer from chronic insomnia, your brain can’t function optimally, and this can affect your mood, decision-making, and memory. If sleep issues contribute to being in a rotten mood, forgetting your anniversary, or deciding to go out drinking with friends instead of being with your spouse their birthday, it’s going to lead to big problems.

3. Holding on to past hurts.

When you can’t forgive or get beyond problems from the past, it can be a sign of an overactive anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG), an area that acts as the brain’s gear shifter. When your ACG works too hard, you tend to get stuck on old hurts or hold grudges. In addition, if you don’t take responsibility for your own role in the past problems and you blame your spouse for everything that went wrong, you’re headed for more trouble.

4. Not focusing on what you want.

What is your ultimate goal in your marriage? Is it to prove that you’re right all the time? Or is it to have the best relationship possible? If you don’t know what your overarching goal is, you won’t be able to focus on the behaviors that help you achieve it. And you’ll be more likely to do things that can sabotage it—rather than make it better.

5. Playing “let’s have a problem.”

Being conflict-driven and creating problems to add some “excitement” to your marriage isn’t helpful. People with ADD/ADHD have a tendency (even if it’s unconscious) to stir things up as a way to boost blood flow in the brain. There are better ways to increase brain activity.

6. Hanging with the wrong crowd.

If you surround yourself with people who constantly complain about what’s wrong with their marriage, guess what? You’ll probably start complaining too. When you focus on the negative, you train your brain to look for what’s wrong, rather than noticing what’s right. What might make this even worse is that a 2020 research study found that repetitive negative thinking may increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease!

7. Having an extramarital affair…with your phone!

Staring at your phone so you can scroll through your social media feed while you’re having lunch with your spouse is a relationship killer. The inability to resist the lure of your phone—AKA “phubbing” (phone snubbing)—makes the other person feel ignored and not worthy of your attention. Is that what you really want? Plus, it can also be a sign that you’ve got attentional issues or even addiction problems. A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that excessive use of social networking sites can lead to some of the same symptoms that are commonly seen with substance use addictions.

8. Being addicted to alcohol, drugs, or anything else.

If you’re drinking too much, doing drugs, or obsessed with pornography, your addiction is interfering with being present in your marriage. Unhealthy, out-of-control habits can damage brain function and lead to more bad decisions and destructive behaviors.

9. Ignoring mental health/brain health issues.

Mental health issues—such as depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, and PTSD—are really brain health issues. They are all rooted in brain function and when left undiagnosed, untreated, or improperly treated, they can destroy a marriage. For example, when you’re depressed, it’s difficult to think of anyone but yourself, and that can create a disconnect between the two of you. When a spouse doesn’t understand their partner has a brain health problem, bad behavior can be taken personally and make them feel like their partner doesn’t love them, is being mean on purpose, or is quite simply a jerk. By becoming more aware of how your decisions and behavior are dismantling the health of your relationship, you can start making the positive changes necessary to rebuild the trust and love that brought the two of you together in the first place. Find out more ways your brain can ruin your relationship and the simple strategies to reverse brain health issues and strengthen your marriage on the Brain Warrior’s Way Podcast:   Marital conflict and relationship issues, anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, addictions, 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.

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

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

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

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

10 Types of Traumatic Events That Can Lead to PTSD

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

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

What the Media Gets Wrong About PTSD

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

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

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

The relationship a child has with their father is extremely important to their early development. Do you have “daddy issues” because your dad wasn’t the best parent? Fathers are so important to your development and to your self-esteem, and when that bond isn’t as strong as it could be, it can affect your life in powerful ways.

In a week-long series of the Brain Warrior’s Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen share personal and enlightening insights about their own issues with their dads. And they explore how your primary relationship with your father plays a major role in how you think and how you behave in your day-to-day life.

In this eye-opening series, you’ll discover:

Listen to the 4-part series on Daddy Issues on the Brain Warrior’s Way Podcast.

At Amen Clinics, we have helped thousands of people overcome family and mental health issues so you can mend relationships and heal past hurts that stem from your upbringing. If you or a family member needs help, call 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.