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Anxiety and depression are not single or simple disorders. The nervousness you feel may be very different than the panic or dread someone else experiences. But in traditional psychiatry and medicine, healthcare providers often lump people with these conditions into a single box with a cookie-cutter approach to treatment. But giving everyone who feels anxious or depressed the same treatment will never work. Based on the brain SPECT imaging work at Amen Clinics, which has the world’s largest database of functional brain scans related to behavior (over 160,000 scans from 155 countries), as well as clinical experience with tens of thousands of patients over more than 30 years of practice, it has become evident that there are multiple types of anxiety and depression. Specifically, the neuropsychiatrists at Amen Clinics have identified 7 types of anxiety and depression. This blog series will explore each type, including the common symptoms, brain SPECT findings, and effective interventions.

TYPE 1: PURE ANXIETY

Type 1: Pure Anxiety often results from overactivity in the basal ganglia, setting one’s “idle speed” on overdrive. Sufferers feel stirred up, anxious, or nervous. If you have Type 1: Pure Anxiety, you may feel uncomfortable in your own skin. Some Amen Clinics patients report feeling as though they could “climb the walls” or that they are “crawling out of their own skin.” You may be plagued by feelings of panic, fear, and self-doubt. It’s common to suffer from physical feelings of anxiety as well, such as muscle tension, nail-biting, headaches, abdominal pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and sore muscles. Amen Clinics has identified 7 types of anxiety and depression. Type 1: Pure Anxiety often results from overactivity in the basal ganglia.
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It’s as if you have an overload of tension and emotion. The symptoms may be a consistently disruptive presence in your life, or they may come in unexpected waves. Irrational fears and phobias may also be a burden. If you’re like most people with this type, you may have a tendency to avoid anything that makes you anxious or uncomfortable, such as places or people that might trigger panic attacks or interpersonal conflict. People with Type 1: Pure Anxiety tend to predict the worst and look to the future with fear. You may be excessively shy or startle easily, or you may freeze in emotionally charged situations.

12 COMMON SYMPTOMS OF TYPE 1: PURE ANXIETY

TYPE 1: PURE ANXIETY IN THE BRAIN

On SPECT scans, Pure Anxiety is associated with increased activity in the basal ganglia, seen on both concentration and resting studies. The basal ganglia are a set of large structures toward the center of the brain that surround the limbic system. They are involved with integrating feelings, thoughts, and movement, along with helping to shift and smooth motor behavior. Research suggests the basal ganglia are involved in forming habits. At Amen Clinics, we’ve noticed they are also involved with setting the body’s anxiety level. In addition, the basal ganglia help to modulate motivation and are involved with feelings of pleasure and ecstasy (which is why drugs like cocaine and methamphetamines work in this part of the brain). The integration of feelings, thoughts, and movement in the basal ganglia causes you to jump when you get excited, tremble when you’re nervous, freeze when you’re scared, or get tongue-tied when the boss is chewing you out. The basal ganglia allow for a smooth integration of emotions, thoughts, and physical movement, and when there is too much input, they tend to lock up.  When the basal ganglia are overactive (as we have seen in the case of people with anxiety tendencies or disorders), people are more likely to be overwhelmed by stressful situations and have a tendency to freeze or become immobile (in thoughts or actions). Interestingly, some of the most highly motivated individuals we’ve scanned, such as entrepreneurs and corporate CEOs, have significantly increased activity in this part of the brain. We theorize that some people can use this increased activity in the form of motivation to become “movers” in society. [INSERT HEALTHY AND ANXIETY SCANS – ACTIVE SCANS]

INTERVENTIONS FOR TYPE 1: PURE ANXIETY

In too many instances, people with anxiety turn to anti-anxiety medication as the first and only thing they do to calm their nerves. Unfortunately, prescription drugs for anxiety, such as benzodiazepines (“benzos”), come with troublesome side effects. For example, benzos are associated with decreased overall brain activity, and they’re habit-forming. In addition, research in the Journal of Clinical Neurology shows that taking them for long periods of time raises the risk of dementia by over 50%. Medications aren’t the only answer. In fact, there are many natural alternatives to anti-anxiety pills, including: Anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever, and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk. You’ve heard of your body’s inner clock, but did you know that the brain has an internal clock too? Your brain’s ability to keep time is critical for the billions and billions of neurons in your head to be able to communicate effectively. And that’s the foundation for everything you do in your life—the way you think, the way you feel, the way you move. In some people, that inner clock gets out of sync and doesn’t work at the proper tempo. Think of it like when you’re watching a movie and you can see the actor’s lips moving, but they aren’t in sync with what you’re hearing. It kind of drives you crazy, right? When your brain’s internal timing mechanism isn’t working properly, it can impact myriad daily functions and cause problems with: Science shows that rhythm and timing is a baseline brain function. A unique therapy called Interactive Metronome training helps reset the timing in the brain at the millisecond level. “If you can straighten that out, then a lot of other brain functions start to follow in place,” says Mary Schlesinger, an Interactive Metronome trainer at Amen Clinics who has been using the therapy for 15 years.

What is Interactive Metronome® Training?

IM training is a non-invasive therapy that is used for many cognitive and neurological conditions, including: It is also used for other conditions, such as ALS, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, balance/gait disorders, and fine/gross motor problems. Some individuals go through IM training in order to enhance performance at work or school or in sports.

How Does Interactive Metronome® Work?

“If you were to watch me work with somebody, it wouldn’t really look like there’s that much going on,” says Schlesinger. Basically, people wear headphones and hold a sensor in one or both hands while they sit in front of a computer screen listening to a metronome. Each time they hear the metronome they tap the sensor and the computer measures their performance to 2/1000th of a second. On the screen, they see feedback that tells them if they’re a little bit off the beat and by how much so they can correct it. It may not seem like much, but inside the brain, there’s a lot going on. “With every tap, the brain has to take in the information and plan, sequence, and execute the muscle movement,” says Schlesinger. When you put the audio, visual, and movement all together, she says, “You’re creating neural connections, and you’re getting them to the point where they’re hard-wired.”

What are the Benefits of Interactive Metronome® Training?

“What I typically see is improved concentration, initiative, organization, self-regulation, working memory, and executive function,” says Schlesinger. “I’ve had patients say they feel less anxious and can fall asleep and stay asleep better. I see confidence improve, which makes sense once you nail down concentration, impulse control, organization, and so on.” Other benefits Schlesinger has noted in her patients include faster visual processing and auditory processing, as well as improved athletic performance. Schlesinger has seen IM training have remarkable results on adolescents, teens, and adults with ADD/ADHD. For example, she trained one sixth-grader diagnosed with ADHD named Emma. “She was making good grades, but it was thanks to sheer determination, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and medication,” says Schlesinger. Emma was on adult levels of ADHD medications and could barely get through the school day. By the time she got home, she had to take more medication to do her homework, and then every night she ended up taking melatonin to help her fall asleep. Then the cycle started all over again. Emma’s mom was getting worried about the unhealthy cycle, but the doctor said there was nothing else he could give Emma. At the end of 6th grade, Emma’s mother decided to take her daughter off of all her medications. “It’s summer. It doesn’t matter if she’s bouncy,” she thought. Over a 49-day period that summer, Emma engaged in IM training with Schlesinger and made great progress. When Emma started junior high at the end of the summer, her mother decided not to put her back on the meds and braced herself for a barrage of phone calls from the girl’s teachers. She was used to getting a lot of calls about Emma’s behavior. “But she didn’t get any calls,” says Schlesinger. “And when the mom met with the teachers to go over Emma’s IEP plan, the teachers said, ‘We don’t really know why she’s on an IEP. She doesn’t need to be on an IEP.’” Emma was able to get off her medications, no longer needed an IEP, and didn’t have to work so hard to do well in school.

Interactive Metronome® Training in the Brain

Multiple fMRI studies show that IM training leads to changes in several brain regions, including the cerebellum, prefrontal cortex (PFC), basal ganglia, and cingulate gyrus. The cerebellum (Latin for “little brain”), is involved with motor coordination and thought coordination and is essential for processing complex information. The PFC is responsible for impulse control, focus, and organization. The basal ganglia play an important role in integrating feeling and movement, as well as setting the body’s anxiety levels. The cingulate gyrus is involved in cognitive flexibility. Before-and-after brain SPECT imaging studies on a patient name Jerry show how powerful IM training can be. Jerry had ADHD, anxiety, depression, memory loss, and other issues. As he went through the IM training process, he kept a journal about his progress, noting better motivation, improved ability to complete tasks, and better moods. Jerry’s follow-up brain scans showed improved brain health in areas related to ADHD, anxiety, depression, and other issues. If you’re struggling with ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, memory problems, or other issues and are looking for alternatives or adjuncts to medication, it’s time to consider Interactive Metronome training at Amen Clinics with trainer Mary Schlesinger. IM training is available in-person or via IM-Home. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk. Can being dropped 10 feet on your head as a small child change the trajectory of your life? “Anxiety can paralyze me. The older I get, the worse it seems to get. It rules my life.” That’s how Cameron, 21, describes his anxiety, which started when he was just a youngster in grade school. That’s also the time when depression first set in. At school, he felt like he didn’t fit in, people made fun of him, and he cried every day. That eventually led to substance abuse as a teen when he started using cocaine, crack, opiates, and benzodiazepines. He became short-tempered, grumpy, and mean and began experiencing panic attacks. He tried Ativan (an anti-anxiety medication), but he says it made him “angry, heavy and put me in a weird mood at night.” It all escalated to a point where Cameron was using substances all day and all night. “I was hoping to die,” he says. The young man, who still hasn’t graduated high school, has since been to rehab at least 5 times and struggled through 3 stays in psychiatric wards. He’s been sober from “hard drugs” for about a year, but still smokes marijuana and has used LSD. And anxiety and depression? They remain his constant companions, holding him back and keeping him from living the life he wants.

LOOKING INSIDE CAMERON’S BRAIN

Cameron revealed all this on The Dr. Phil Show on November 4, 2020, which featured neuropsychiatrist Daniel G. Amen, MD, the founder of Amen Clinics and a 12-time bestselling author. In search of help, Cameron visited Amen Clinics where he took neuropsychological assessments and underwent a series of brain SPECT scans. SPECT is a functional brain imaging technology that measures blood flow and activity in the brain. Basically, it shows 3 things: areas with healthy activity, areas with too little activity, and areas with too much activity. On the Dr. Phil Show, Dr. Amen shared Cameron’s brain scans, which revealed evidence of:               Cameron’s brain was clearly troubled, which helps explain why he had so much trouble in his life. As Dr. Amen explained on The Dr. Phil Show, mental health problems are really brain health problems that steal your happiness and can ruin your life.

DIGGING DEEPER INTO CAMERON’S LIFE

At Amen Clinics, which is the global leader in brain health, the team of neuropsychiatrists, integrative medicine (also called functional medicine) physicians, nutritionists, and other specialists take a brain-body approach to treatment that looks at 4 circles of wellness or illness. To end mental illness, you need to understand all the factors in one’s life that can contribute to mental health (or brain health) problems and optimize them. At Amen Clinics, these factors are called the “4 Circles” of a whole life. The 4 Circles are: Investigating the 4 Circles of Cameron’s life revealed several areas of concern: Based on Cameron’s comprehensive evaluation, he was diagnosed with a TBI, mood disorder, ADD, substance abuse, and specific phobia (a form of anxiety disorder).

TREATMENT SOLUTIONS FOR CAMERON

Among the personalized solutions recommended for Cameron are: Cameron really wants to get healthy and says he’s committed to getting well in all 4 Circles of his life. By taking the necessary actions to enhance his brain health, it will help him feel better and can change his life. He’ll join tens of thousands of patients at Amen Clinics who have already gone through this process and benefited from it. If you’re struggling, you can change your brain and change your life too. Anxiety, panic disorders, depression, TBIs, and other brain health conditions can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever, and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk. By Melissa Quinn, MD Depression is taking a devastating toll on humanity. Worldwide, depression is the third leading cause of disability. In the U.S., it’s affecting a skyrocketing number of people. During the pandemic, Census Bureau Statistics on 42,000 people found that 24% of respondents reported significant symptoms of major depressive disorder. Among 18-29-year-olds, the number was even higher with 36% reporting depressive symptoms. This common condition can have devastating consequences—causing problems with energy, focus, motivation, sleep, appetite, libido, and more. Some people are left feeling so helpless and hopeless, they develop suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. In 2018, 48,344 people in the U.S. died by suicide and there were 1.4 million suicide attempts. That boils down to an average of 3,836 attempts per day.

The Traditional Approach to Treating Depression

For decades, pharmaceutical antidepressants have been the primary medical intervention for depression (outside of lifestyle interventions such as dietary changes, exercise, and mind-body practices). Typically, it takes 4-12 weeks of use for patients to experience a decrease in symptoms. Unfortunately, 30%-60% of individuals do not respond to SSRIs (though there are genetic tests to help identify these clients and therefore help with improved treatment decisions). Some people try several different antidepressants without relief, leading to a form of depression known as treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This often leads to months of inadequate medication treatment that can leave the person feeling more hopeless than prior to starting treatment. Considering the dire statistics and the shortcomings of antidepressant medications, it’s clear that we are in desperate need of more effective treatments for depression and suicidal ideation.

Ketamine: A Potential Breakthrough

Increasingly, psychiatrists are turning to ketamine as another option. Used as an anesthetic drug for about 50 years, it deadens pain and can cause feelings of being dissociated from one’s own body. A growing body of scientific evidence, including a 2017 study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, has found that ketamine has antidepressant effects. And it enhances mood much more quickly than traditional antidepressants. A 2018 review of over 20 studies on ketamine in Drug Design, Development, and Therapy showed that it produces significant decreases in depressive symptoms in just 24 hours. Here’s what you need to know. Mechanisms of action: Unlike traditional antidepressants that affect neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, ketamine works differently. It is an agonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which work on the glutamate neurotransmitter systems. Although the full mechanism that ketamine induces is not fully understood, we do know that it increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which plays a role in the growth and maintenance of neurons. Types of ketamine delivery: Ketamine can be delivered in a variety of ways, and each route differs in its bioavailability. The rates are: Intravenous: 100% Intramuscular: 93% Intranasal: 25-50% Sublingual (under the tongue): 30% Orally (by mouth): 16-24% Psychotherapy-assisted delivery vs. IV therapy only: Ketamine encourages open-mindedness, however, it’s the therapist who enhances this effect by doing deeper integration work to promote growth and change. With this guided process, patients can weave the experience into their daily life to support long-term change. In some places, ketamine IV therapy is being offered alone without psychotherapy, but the doses are very small, and it doesn’t offer the added benefits of working with a mental health professional. Frequency: Ketamine is typically administered during psychotherapy sessions that last 2-3 hours each with 2 sessions per week for 3 weeks. Consider set and setting: A patient’s mindset is a critical element to consider for any psychiatric experience, and ketamine administration is no different. Be sure your patients have realistic expectations regarding what to expect during the process and make the setting a comfortable one. Not a solo treatment: Some patients may look to ketamine as a sort of “magic bullet” that can eliminate depressive symptoms. As mental health professionals, it is up to us to inform patients that ketamine will be most effective when it is part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes brain healthy lifestyle changes, nutritional supplements, psychotherapy, and more. Side effects: Ketamine’s safety and tolerability have been demonstrated over nearly 50 years. Side effects may include dizziness and a rise in blood pressure. As such, individuals with severe hypertension or heart disease are not good candidates. Potential for addiction: A 2018 study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that ketamine’s antidepressant effects activate the opioid system, but decades of research show that ketamine is not physically addicting. However, it can be used inappropriately. For this reason, it is best used only in a clinical setting where the administration is monitored by a healthcare professional. Other issues that may respond to ketamine: In addition to effectively treating depression, ketamine may also be helpful in treating anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emotional trauma, and addictions.   About the Author: Melissa Quinn, MD, Amen Clinics Los Angeles Dr. Melissa Quinn is a psychiatrist who is double board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Her passion is to help people heal, get psychologically well, find the relief they deserve, and help them to become the best version of themselves. She helps children, adolescents, adults, and families get their lives back on track with a whole-person—and when appropriate—a whole-family approach. By developing her clients’ inner strengths, she shows them how to reach their highest potential. She knows that people are seeking a range of solutions for prevention, health, and healing. As a result, Dr Quinn became passionate about learning integrative approaches and was subsequently board-certified in Integrative and Holistic Medicine through The Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine. She later went on to peruse a fellowship in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) through Duke University and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy through PRATI (The Psychedelic Research and Training Institute). She enjoys working with a variety of clients, but she specializes in working with patients with ADHD, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Professional football players seem invincible, but beneath their imposing physical stature, they face the same mental health issues as the rest of us. In fact, considering the number of hits to the head and concussions they experience, they’re often at increased risk of anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, and more. Research shows that due to the stigma attached to mental health problems as well as other reasons, these sports superstars often choose to stay silent about their inner issues. Not Dak Prescott. The quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys recently spoke openly about his own struggles with anxiety and depression following his brother’s suicide, his mother’s battle with colon cancer, and the pandemic. On “In Depth with Graham Bensinger,” Prescott says, “I think that it’s important to be vulnerable, to be genuine, and to be transparent.” The QB says he got the help he needed, and it allowed him to get over his mental health issues. Not everybody in the NFL is so lucky. Take Aaron Hernandez, for example. Hernandez played for the New England Patriots and went from living the dream as an NFL player to being deeply troubled and convicted of murder. He eventually died by suicide at age 27.

Studying the Brains of NFL Players

Amen Clinics has been treating professional football players and studying their brains for over a decade. In 2009, Amen Clinics performed the world’s first and largest brain imaging study on active and retired NFL players. Many of them complained of memory problems and scored very poorly on the cognitive tests. As a group, their brain SPECT scans looked awful. SPECT is a functional brain imaging technology that measures blood flow and activity in the brain. It shows areas that have healthy activity, too much activity, or not enough activity. The treatment arm of this study included brain health education and targeted nutraceuticals. The Amen Clinics protocol used in the study demonstrated increased blood flow to multiple brain areas, including the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, and improvements in memory, attention, and processing speed. In a 2011 study by Amen Clinics on 100 active and former NFL players, the results were very clear: Playing football damaged multiple areas of the brain in greater than 90% of the players. There was persistent damage to the following areas of the brain: When there is damage to these areas of the brain, it can lead to cognitive and psychiatric issues. In this study, 83% of the football players had memory problems, and 29% had a history of depression.

Head Trauma, Mental Well-Being, and Cognitive Health

You don’t have to be a professional football player to experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that impacts your mental and cognitive health. Playing tackle football at any level can put you at risk for head injuries. So does hitting soccer balls with your head, falling off a skateboard or bike, or getting hit in the head with a hockey puck or a baseball. Many head injuries are caused by everyday accidents like falling off a ladder, slipping in the shower, or being involved in a car accident. Brain SPECT imaging shows that head trauma is a major cause of psychiatric illness. However, very few people know it because most mental health professionals never look at the brains of their patients. A wealth of research shows that head injuries increase the risk of: Unfortunately, most people never make the connection between their mental health issues and a head injury that may have happened weeks, months, or even years earlier. This can lead to years of unnecessary suffering.

Help for Healing from Head Injuries

If you (or a loved one) have suffered a head injury, there is hope for healing. First, you have to fall in love with your brain and get serious about brain health. This includes good nutrition, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and avoiding exposure to toxic substances (including alcohol and drugs). In addition, here are some specific strategies for anyone who’s suffered a head injury.

Protect your head from future injuries:

Experiencing multiple head injuries increases the risk of anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, memory loss, and other issues. If you’ve already experienced a TBI, it’s even more important to avoid another one.

Check your hormone levels:

Blows to the head often damage the pituitary gland, which regulates your hormones, causing major hormonal imbalances that can cause symptoms related to depression, anxiety, brain fog, and more.

Neurofeedback:

This non-invasive treatment may help you gain control of your brain waves through self-regulation. There are more than 1,000 studies showing that neurofeedback can help with TBI, depression, ADD/ADHD, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), addiction, memory in healthy people, and more.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT):

HBOT is a simple, non-invasive, painless treatment that uses the power of oxygen to enhance the healing process and boost blood flow. Brain imaging studies using SPECT show that people who have had HBOT have marked improvement in blood flow to the brain. A 2013 study in Plos One on 56 mild TBI patients with post-concussion syndrome showed that HBOT improved cognitive and emotional functioning and quality of life. HBOT has been used to improve many issues, including TBI, anxiety and depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention problems, memory problems, and more. NFL Hall-of Fame quarterback Joe Namath revealed that he used HBOT to help heal the damage to his brain from at least 5 concussions he had suffered. He had been concerned about the health of his brain and got a SPECT scan from a hospital in Florida, which revealed evidence of TBI. Head trauma, anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, and other mental health conditions—can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever, and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk. Have you ever experienced trauma? Were you physically, emotionally, or sexually abuse? Have you been subjected to intense stress, such as surviving a fire, flood, or assault? Were you the victim of bullying at school? Or maybe you’re being traumatized by the coronavirus pandemic? Emotional trauma tends to activate the limbic or emotional centers of the brain. When trauma is severe or prolonged—think of the months-long pandemic—your brain’s emotional centers can get stuck. In some people who experience trauma, the brain gets “stuck in overdrive,” making you feel anxious, fearful, and sleepless. This can develop into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition that affects 3.5% of U.S. adults, but that may affect far more people due to the pandemic. In some people who experience trauma, the brain gets “stuck in overdrive,” making you feel anxious, fearful, and sleepless.
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In other people who experience trauma, the emotional brain becomes overwhelmed and shuts down. It’s like your brain is “stuck off,” leaving you feeling depressed, flat, tired, and confused. In some people who experience trauma, the brain gets “stuck off,” leaving you feeling depressed, flat, tired, and confused.
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If you’ve experienced emotional trauma, your brain may be stuck too. Take a moment to assess whether your symptoms are more in line with a brain that’s stuck in overdrive or a brain that’s stuck off.

WHAT IMAGING SHOWS ABOUT BRAINS THAT ARE STUCK

Understanding what’s happening in the brain is critical in terms of getting help for your symptoms. Here’s why. People with PTSD are often misdiagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) because the 2 conditions share many overlapping symptoms. Similarly, people with trauma-related depression may be misdiagnosed with ADD/ADHD, bipolar disorder, or even dementia. Getting misdiagnosed means you may be given a treatment plan that isn’t right for your brain. It can stimulate a brain that’s already stuck in overdrive, making you feel even more anxious and on edge. Or, it may further calm a brain that’s already stuck off, making you feel more numb, exhausted, and disoriented. Functional brain SPECT imaging can help. A pair of brain imaging studies from Amen Clinics (published in Plos One and Brain Imaging and Behavior) shows that emotional trauma can leave a lasting imprint on your brain. The study in Plos One found that people with PTSD showed increased in the limbic regions, cingulum, basal ganglia, insula, thalamus, prefrontal cortex, and temporal lobes. And both studies showed that SPECT imaging can distinguish PTSD from TBI with high accuracy. With trauma-related depression, it’s important to differentiate from other mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder, as well as other conditions like ADD/ADHD or dementia. Looking at the brain can help you get a more accurate diagnosis.

BALANCE YOUR EMOTIONAL BRAIN

The good news is that if your brain is stuck—either in overdrive or off—you can get it unstuck. And there are many natural ways to help you do it. If your emotional brain seems to be stuck in overdrive, you can calm it with the following: If you feel shut down, you can activate your brain with: When your brain gets unstuck, you’ll be able to move beyond past emotional trauma and feel happier, more motivated, and more at peace. PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.

When anxiety, fear, or panic attacks arise, it can feel like you’ve been swept up in an emotional riptide. But you don’t have to let daily stressors hijack your emotions. With a very simple strategy—so easy even children can do it—you can calm yourself and wash away anxiousness. What is this soothing technique? It’s called havening, and you can do it anywhere, anytime.

“Havening is a technique that uses touch to create delta waves in the brain,” explains Sandlin Lowe, M.D., a neuropsychiatrist and former neurosurgeon who specializes in integrative psychiatry to enhance brain health at Amen Clinics. Certain surfaces of our skin—such as the palms of our hands—have special nerve endings called Pacinian corpuscles, and if you put pressure on them, they generate delta waves. These calming brainwaves, which typically occur during sleep, can help soothe anxious feelings.

HOW DO DELTA WAVES CALM ANXIETY?

Havening, which was developed by Ronald Ruden, M.D., an internist with a Ph.D. in organic chemistry, generates delta waves that have a positive effect on regions of the brain that are involved in creating emotionally charged memories and trauma. One of these brain regions is the amygdala, which plays a major role in recording the emotions of our experiences. When it comes to traumatic experiences, the amygdala encodes emotions in a different way, and they become what neuroscientists call “potentiated.” This means they get hard-wired into your brain where they stick like super glue.

“That’s why you can close your eyes and within moments feel like you’re back in a traumatic moment,” says Dr. Lowe, who sees patients for havening appointments at Amen Clinics (via Zoom or in-person at the Amen Clinics New York location). “It’s Mother Nature reminding us not to do that again.”

Emotional trauma is usually related to an experience or event that is either unpredictable and/or inescapable. With the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Lowe says, “You could argue that we’re all being emotionally traumatized each and every day from what’s going on.”

3 TYPES OF HAVENING TOUCH

Dr. Lowe, who uses this unique therapy with many of his patients, says the most common havening touch techniques include the following:

3 COMMON FORMS OF HAVENING

There are many forms of havening, but 3 of the most common are called transpirational, affirmational, and event havening.

Transpirational Havening

If you feel anxiety from the day’s events, distressing news, or a desperate situation, transpirational havening can help. While you use one of the 3 touch techniques described above, talk about what you’re feeling. For example, as you stroke your arms in a downward motion, you may say something like, “I’m feeling so worried about our finances, and I’m feeling helpless.” As the touch produces delta brainwaves, the special nerve endings send signals to the amygdala that make it feel safe and secure. This helps take away the anxiety-producing effects of the words you are saying.

During the pandemic, this can be very effective for frontline healthcare workers who have gone through a difficult experience with COVID-19 patients and are having trouble coping. After a particularly stressful or sad shift, a frontline worker might do self-havening and talk about what they’re feeling. “There were so many sick people on my shift, and I’m so scared of getting the virus and infecting my family. I didn’t’ sign up for this and it isn’t fair.” While talking about these feelings, the emotions are being neutralized by the delta waves to help restore calm.

Affirmational Havening

Saying positive affirmations while practicing one of the havening touch techniques can be very powerful. This is due to the fact that havening mimics the sleep stage when your brain incorporates the memories of the day. Because of this, saying affirmations while havening puts those positive thoughts into the brain’s memory centers—the hippocampus involved in declarative memory and in the dorsolateral striatum and ventral striatum involved in operational and procedural memory.

“This is like taking the power of positive thinking and exponentially supercharging it,” says Dr. Lowe. “Not only are you loading up your brain with wonderful, powerful affirmations, but you’re also putting them into procedural/operational memory. so you can operationalize these powerful positive aspirational thoughts.”

This can be very effective at resetting your anxiety levels. For example, during the day if you get anxious or frightened, think “safe, peaceful, calm” while you rub your hands or arms. This will help defuse your brain’s fear centers and promote soothing.

Event Havening

This form of havening is often used for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It has been found to help eliminate the intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks associated with PTSD. Note that this form of havening is best done with a trained therapist

More from Dr. Sandlin Lowe on Havening:


What is Havening, and How Can it Help with Anxiety? with Dr. Sandlin Lowe and Donna Lalwani

Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time.

At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.

 

By Mark Filidei, DO
Director of Integrative/Functional Medicine at Amen Clinics

When Sarah, a 53-year-old accountant, came in for an appointment, she complained that she was “getting sick all the time.” In the past year, she had endured multiple infections—4 respiratory infections, 3 bacterial infections, a urinary tract infection with pseudomonas, and 3 “tailbone infections.” In addition, she had knee surgery, but the bone failed to heal. On top of that, she felt like she had brain fog, was constantly fatigued, and woke up in pain every day.

What was causing all these seemingly disparate issues?

Looking for the Root Cause

Sarah had a brain SPECT scan that showed a pattern we call scalloping, which is a sign of overall decreased cerebral perfusion. Scalloping is associated with toxicity (drugs and alcohol), environmental toxins (such as mold), chemotherapy, carbon dioxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation, infection, hypothyroidism, severe anemia, or medications.

When we see this troublesome pattern on brain scans, it prompts us to ask more questions of our patients to help narrow the possibilities. After seeing Sarah’s scan, I asked her a long list of questions, including:

“Have you ever had a water leak in your home?”

She responded by saying, “Oh yes, whenever I take a shower, some water seeps out at the bottom of the stairs” and “the floors are squishy.”

With this and other information in her history, I focused on the possibility that mold and mycotoxins might be contributing to her symptoms.

Mold, Mycotoxins, and Mystery Illnesses

Mold exposure can negatively impact physical health, the central nervous system, and mental wellbeing. The primary physiological effects of mold exposure include inflammatory or allergic responses and toxicity. Common reactions to mold include chills, nasal stuffiness, cough, eye irritation, wheezing, and skin irritation. Among the many central nervous system responses are headaches, confusion, fatigue, irritability, and sleep disorders. Mental health problems can include anxiety, depression, memory loss, subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), and depersonalization or derealization.

The severity of these issues depends on multiple factors, such as the dose and duration of the exposure. In addition, a person’s age and genetics, health and nutritional status, and other toxic burdens (such as exposure to glyphosate, metals, xenoestrogens, and pesticides) play a role.

Mycotoxins, which are toxic secondary metabolites produced by some fungi, can make symptoms worse.

These harmful substances have a direct effect on neurotransmitters, and a growing body of evidence shows that some patients with Alzheimer’s disease are infected with fungi. Other research suggests that type 3 Alzheimer’s disease is the result of exposure to certain toxins.

Mold and mycotoxins can have other serious consequences, including harmful effects on children’s cognitive development, negative changes in the gut’s microbiota composition, endocrine disruption, and immunosuppressive effects.

Get to the Source

The two primary sources of mold exposure are water-damaged buildings and food. In homes and office buildings, toxic mold isn’t always visible to the naked eye, but it can lurk behind wallpaper and baseboards. Sarah hired a mold inspector, who found high levels of toxic mold in several areas of her home.

I also gave Sarah a brief primer on the prevalence of mold and mycotoxins in our food supply. Due to the widespread use of pesticides and unhealthy factory farming practices, the U.S. has some of the highest levels of mycotoxins in the world.

Some of the most harmful mycotoxins that have been found in our food supply include the following:

Other foods in which mold and mycotoxins have been found include processed meats (sausage, salami, hot dogs, etc.), berries, cheese, bread, coffee beans, and alcohol (beer, wine, etc.).

A Path to Healing

To overcome her symptoms, Sarah started by moving temporarily while her home underwent a thorough toxic mold removal process. She also adopted a low-mold diet—eliminating her typical afternoon snack of peanuts, skipping the wine she usually had with dinner, avoiding her favorite blue cheese, and other changes. In addition, her treatment plan included antifungal medications, supplements to aid in detoxification, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), and more. In time, her brain fog cleared, she managed to avoid getting infections, and she began waking up feeling refreshed and energetic.

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.

 

Do you (or your child) have ADD (attention-deficit disorder) or ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)? Do you think prescription stimulants such as Ritalin or Adderall are the only treatment options available? They’re not.

Although stimulants may be helpful for some people with ADD, they aren’t effective for everyone and they can make some people worse. It all depends on which type of condition you have. Brain imaging studies show there are 7 types of ADD, and knowing your type is critical for finding the right solutions.

In general, medication should never be the first or only thing you do for any mental health condition. There are many alternatives to medication that can improve ADD symptoms, such as lack of focus, impulsiveness, being easily distracted, having difficulty staying organized, and a tendency to put things off until the last minute.

Here are 7 alternatives to ADD medication that can be effective.

1. Get moving.

A wealth of research shows that physical exercise works like a drug in children and adults with ADD. Classic ADD (one of the 7 types of the condition) is associated with low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is a chemical heavily involved with attention span, focus, follow-through, and motivation. Medications, such as Adderall and Ritalin, are believed to work by boosting dopamine availability in the brain. Similarly, physical activity increases the production of dopamine. A 2019 review in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found that exercise minimizes ADD symptoms and enhances cognitive performance in children with the condition.

2. Reduce screen time.

Endlessly scrolling through your social media feed or playing video games for hours on end can be harmful and addictive for people who have vulnerable brains. More screen time has been linked to a greater risk of problems with inattention. A 2019 study in Plos One found that children with more than 2 hours of screen time per day had a 7.7-fold increased risk of meeting the criteria for ADD.

3. Try an elimination diet.

Some foods may trigger a worsening of symptoms in people with ADD. To find out if you or your child has a food sensitivity, try a 3-week elimination diet by getting rid of the most common food allergens—artificial dyes (including red dye #40, which has been connected to symptoms of ADD), preservatives, sugar and artificial sweeteners, gluten, corn, soy, and dairy. In 2011, researchers put children with ADD on a restricted diet that allowed them to eat only turkey, lamb, vegetables, fruit, rice, and pear juice. Their findings in The Lancet showed that the elimination diet decreased symptoms associated with the condition in 70% of children.

4. Protect your head.

Common accidents, like falling off a ladder, getting into a car crash, or taking a tumble down the stairs can cause a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), which increases the risk of problems with attention and concentration. According to research in The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, people with ADD are more likely to have head injuries.

5. Investigate sleep problems.

Did you know that kids with ADD have higher rates of daytime sleepiness compared with kids who don’t have the condition? Or that according to a study in the journal Sleep, half of ADD kids have sleep-disordered breathing compared with only 22% of kids without the condition? Having large tonsils or adenoids can lead to sleep-disordered breathing in children which can lead to attentional issues and hyperactivity. A study in the Eurasian Journal of Medicine found a reduction in these symptoms when the tonsils and adenoids were removed. Sleep problems are also common in adults with ADD, so be sure to investigate any sleep issues.

6. Check important health numbers.

Your physical health can impact symptoms of ADD. Some of the most common biological issues that are associated with symptoms include:

Having a functional medicine physician check these levels and help balance them can be helpful.

7. Try neurofeedback.

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive, interactive therapy that helps you retrain your brain to achieve the desired state.  A 2014 review of existing research on children with ADD who did neurofeedback found that teachers noticed a significant improvement in their attention and parents noted improvements in hyperactivity and impulsivity. According to findings in a 2019 study in Current Psychiatry Reports, researchers stated that neurofeedback “should be considered as a viable treatment alternative” for ADD.

ADD, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever, and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time.

At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.

 

Functional medicine specialists Dr. Kabran Chapek, Dr. Eboni Cornish, and Dr. Mark Filidei, from Amen Clinics joined forces in a recent webinar to answer your questions. They received so many queries during the event they didn’t have time to respond to all of them. Here are responses to some of the questions about COVID-19 and the immune system they weren’t able to get to during the webinar.

We hear a lot about how to prevent getting COVID-19, but what can you do to quickly rebuild your brain function and immune system after surviving a COVID-19 infection or even a moderate flu?

Dr. Cornish: The only time your immune system has a chance to rebuild is while you’re asleep. Your brain also undergoes several critical processes during sleep. For these reasons, it is important that you maintain a good sleep pattern after surviving an infection. Try to go to bed at the same time nightly and aim for at least 8 hours of restorative sleep. If you have sleep problems, such as snoring (or sleep apnea), restless legs, or insomnia, you may benefit from having them addressed by a medical professional. 

In addition, you should eat a diet rich in organic foods, fruits, and vegetables. Take immune-boosting supplements, such as vitamin C, zinc, vitamin D, and fish oil. Incorporate a regular exercise routine of at least 15 minutes of cardiovascular activity and continue to engage in good hygiene strategies at all times. Infusions (known as IV Nutrient Therapy) with vitamins like vitamin C, B vitamins, and the antioxidant glutathione may be beneficial for some people.

Do we have any knowledge of how one’s genes could prevent or make one more prone to contracting COVID-19?

Dr. Chapek: With COVID-19 in our minds these days we are all wondering what makes one person susceptible versus another. Genetics is a factor that may shed some light on susceptibility to COVID as well as other SARS infections. Research on the genetics of SARS and coronaviruses has been going on for many years and one gene associated is the TICAM2. This gene codes for the toll-like receptors of the innate immune system that help to recognize foreign microbes and begin dealing with them. However, it’s important to stress that the scientific community still doesn’t fully understand the impact of genetics in this area.

What we do know is that although genetics may have some impact on susceptibility, it doesn’t mean if you are exposed to something you are destined to get it. A better way to think about the role of genetics is that it is simply one part of the big picture when it comes to our individual susceptibilities. For example, eating a lot of sugar makes your more susceptible to infections. Not getting enough sleep or have low levels of vitamin D also make you more vulnerable. On the contrary, exercise, laughing, having balanced blood sugar, and good vitamin D levels make you less susceptible to infections. Rather than worrying about underlying genetic risk, it’s best to focus on the day-to-day habits that boost your immune system and reduce vulnerability to infections.

Is there an inflammatory response from the COVID-19 infection and what can be done to heal the response?

Dr. Cornish: Research shows that an excessive inflammatory response to COVID-19 is thought to be a major cause of disease severity and death in patients with this virus. This leads to a hyperactive immune reaction which falls under the umbrella “cytokine storm.”  A high level of inflammation is created and can lead to some of the systemic effects of this virus, including the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. There are several clinical trials of drugs that are used to block this reaction.

Some of the natural strategies for decreasing inflammation include vitamin D, vitamin A, zinc, selenium, probiotics, quercetin, and turmeric, among others. Infrared saunas and Epsom salt baths are great anti-inflammatory treatment strategies. Getting 30 minutes of exercise on a regular basis, having good sleep hygiene, and following anti-inflammatory dietary habits are extremely important. For example, incorporate a rainbow of fruits and vegetables with every meal.

Most importantly, remember that this has been a time of severe stress for our country, and stress is one of the top causes of inflammation. Make yourself a priority and implement good self-care strategies. Make sure you focus on your personal feelings and get the support you need. Optimizing your mood is imperative.

If you missed the webinar, click here for the video and the first round of questions answered.

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

At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples, as well as in-clinic brain scanning and functional medicine evaluations to help our patients. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834. If all our specialists are busy helping others, you can also schedule a time to talk.