Your Brain is Always Listening with Daniel Amen

Raising Mentally Healthy Kids with Michelle Nietert

Medical professionals often assess your mental health based on a set of symptoms rather than the biological data of what’s happening in your brain. In part one of my interview with one of America’s leading psychiatrists, Dr. Daniel Amen, we’re discussing how a brain-imaging tool called SPECT can help accurately identify underlying brain issues. He also walks through the model for addressing mental health from physical, relational, and spiritual aspects, explains why he prefers to use natural supplement support rather than medications and discusses possible causes of ADD.

Key points from our discussion:

🧬 SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) imaging is used to help accurately identify underlying brain issues that can contribute to symptoms. This means you get the right diagnosis and most effective treatment for faster healing.

🧠 Avoid the term “mental illness.” Mental health conditions are actually brain health issues that steal your mind. If you get your brain right, the mind will follow.

✨ You are not your diagnosis. Your symptoms can change with intervention.

🏥 The model for mental health treatment should address issues with the physical brain as well as stopping automatic negative thoughts and tackling bigger psychological issues. It also extends to our ability to create healthy connections in our relationships and the spiritual beliefs that anchor our behavior with purpose and meaning.

🌿 In his research, Dr. Amen has found that some medications made the brain better and some made it worse. Treatment using natural supplements supports and optimizes the physical functioning of the brain.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Kids with ADD typically have parents with ADD. It can also be induced by head trauma. People with ADD function better with structure.

Resources Mentioned:

Change Your Brain, Change Your LifeAmenClincs.com

Follow Dr. Daniel Amen: website | Instagram | Facebook | podcast

You can find more resources about mental health, parenting, and coping with anxiety at MichelleNietert.com.

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