By Daniel Amen, MD
[Excerpted from Change Your Brain Every Day]
Your brain is involved in everything you do, including how you think, feel, act, and interact with others. Your brain is the organ of intelligence, character, and every decision you make.
Your brain creates your mind. It is the hardware of your soul. Your brain creates anxiety, worry, or a sense of peace. It stores traumatic events that continue to hurt you long after they’ve stopped, or it processes them for any important lessons to learn. Your brain focuses your attention on relevant material or on meaningless distractions; feels sadness or happiness; creates a healthy and a sick reality; and remembers what’s necessary to make your life better and discards what’s not.
Your brain is an organ, just like your heart, lungs, and kidneys are organs. Share on XTHE BRAIN IS AN ORGAN
In 2020, Justin Bieber released his docuseries Seasons, where he told the world I’ve been his doctor. Fame is very hard on the brain, and it happened to Justin so early and so intensely that I’m happy he survived and is now an amazing young man. Before Justin came to see me, he had been diagnosed by another physician with bipolar disorder based on his symptoms alone, but his SPECT scan showed his brain had been hurt.
I remember one day when he came into my office and said, “I think I understand what you’ve been trying to tell me. My brain is an organ just like my heart is an organ. If you told me I had heart disease, I would do everything you said. I am going to do what you say.” By focusing on both brain and mental health together, he has continued to do well.
THE BRAIN’S RISK FACTORS
Your brain is an organ, just like your heart, lungs, and kidneys are organs. Yet most people who see cardiologists have never had a heart attack; instead, they are there to prevent them. I anticipate a day when psychiatrists will act in a similar way, when they will know the brain’s risk factors (BRIGHT MINDS) and address each of them in their patients as soon as possible. The 11 BRIGHT MINDS risk factors are:
B is for Blood Flow
R is for Retirement/Aging
I is for Inflammation
G is for Genetics
H is for Head Trauma
T is for Toxins
M is for Mental Health
I is for Immune System/Infections
N is for Neurohormone Issues
D is for Diabesity
S is for Sleep
To have a better mind, you must first work to optimize the physical functioning of your brain.
In Change Your Brain Every Day, psychiatrist and clinical neuroscientist Daniel Amen, MD, draws on over 40 years of clinical practice with tens of thousands of patients to give you the most effective daily habits he has seen that can help you improve your brain, master your mind, boost your memory, and make you feel happier, healthier, and more connected to those you love.
If you want to join the tens of thousands of patients at Amen Clinics who have already learned how to change their brain every day and have a better life, speak to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.
I am from South Africa and is truelly inspired by Dr Amen. I follow many of his articles and love to read his talks. The only problem is, all this inspiration does not get me a SPECT scan and the other many benefits his clinic brings. I would love to meet Dr Amen and get my brain scanned. This is merely an investment for my later years. I am currently 40 years old and love looking after my body and brain. Please help me here.
Comment by Etienne — January 11, 2023 @ 4:04 AM
I want to be healthy and reasonably happy, inside and out. Can I afford it?
Comment by Lisa — January 11, 2023 @ 4:09 AM
Sure wish you accepted medical insurance to make your WONDERFUL treatment affordable!! Any Scholarships???
Comment by Patty Thomson — January 11, 2023 @ 5:54 AM
I second the idea of wishing you accepted all medical insurances to make your WONDERFUL treatments affordable. Any scholarships?
Comment by Eva — January 11, 2023 @ 9:38 AM
Do you accept medical insurance yet? We tried years ago to bring our son to one of your clinics and couldn’t afford it. My biggest regret ever because now our 26 year old son is serving a life sentence for killing his step brother almost 5 years ago and that is not who he was or is. I knew there was a hurt brain and I feel I failed him. Broken hearted mother. 💔🥺
Comment by Leslie Veronee — January 11, 2023 @ 11:33 AM
Hello, I’d like more information on your clinic. I have pmdd and it disrupts my life terrible. I will be fine two weeks out of the month, and the other two are so miserable that it’s almost gotten unbearable. I saw that one of the bright minds risk factors were neurohormone issues. Would pmdd be considered a neurohormone issue? Thank you!
Comment by Genie Claiborne — January 11, 2023 @ 11:57 AM
spent lots of money at amen clinic for my daughter, didn't help .
Comment by merinda larson — January 11, 2023 @ 5:53 PM
I have an insomia for a year now. I want my brain scan but i might not be able to afford it. You are not accepting health insurance. I need your advice. Thank you.
Comment by Nida Osea — January 11, 2023 @ 6:04 PM
My son desperately needs your help, but he makes very little money part time because of his bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder. He is 40 years old. My husband and I are retired, but we have to pay most of his bills. He has Ambetter insurance, but I’m afraid we can’t afford the consultation and treatment. Any suggestions?
Comment by Jonelle Anderson — January 11, 2023 @ 6:23 PM
My daughter definitely has a sick brain…she meets several of the issues noted above. She in an alcoholic and takes medication for mental issues. She combines the alcohol and the meds on a regular basis that puts her in a mental situation and has to be hospitalized to detox. She ends up at a rehab for 7 days and then is discharged to only have the process start all over again. I have spoke to the physicians involved and expressed my concern, but this is what always happens. I need help, my daughter needs help. I have read many stories of addicts who have made it through to sobriety and one thing that is always common is rehab is longer than 7 days. Jennifer is a sweet natured individual that has had trauma in her life. She has lost the ability to think with any comprehension. The medication and the alcohol has been a tragic combination for her and yet this is all she is being offered for help. Please give me some direction for my daughter. Thank you, Lisa
Comment by Lisa Francis — January 13, 2023 @ 7:30 AM
I am suffering from major Anxiety. I feel so nervous and down. Can you help me?
Comment by Debbie Kutina — January 13, 2023 @ 10:01 AM
If Justin Bieber is your patient, I know for a fact I could never afford your treatment. What a pity. Only the rich can get good help.
Comment by Rosanna — January 13, 2023 @ 6:03 PM
Suffering panic attacks I have good days as bad days
Comment by Lola — January 19, 2023 @ 11:23 AM
Hello Debbie, thank you for reaching out. For more information about SPECT scans and our services, please contact our Care Coordinators: https://www.amenclinics.com/schedule-visit/.
Comment by Amen Clinics — January 19, 2023 @ 8:15 PM
Hello Lisa, thank you for reaching out. For more information about SPECT scans and our services, please contact our Care Coordinators: https://www.amenclinics.com/schedule-visit/.
Comment by Amen Clinics — January 19, 2023 @ 8:17 PM
Hello Merinda, thank you for reaching out. We are eager to hear more from you. Please contact us at amenpatientcare@amenclinic.com so that we can discuss things further and hopefully get your care on track.
Comment by Amen Clinics — January 19, 2023 @ 8:21 PM
Hello Genie, thank you for reaching out. For more information about SPECT scans and our services, please contact our Care Coordinators: https://www.amenclinics.com/schedule-visit/
Comment by Amen Clinics — January 19, 2023 @ 8:22 PM
excellent post!
Comment by Doug Morris — December 5, 2023 @ 10:05 AM