Dr. Daniel Amen MD, is well recognized as the brain doctor and this is the title of our interview on season 3 of The Anxiety Summit: “The Brain Warriors Way to Attacking Anxiety, Depression and Aging.”
- Why we are in a war for the health of our brains?
- Why anxiety is so common in women and how depression shows up in men
- Four different brain types
- Natural ways for dealing with anxiety (instead of typical anti-anxiety medications)
- How birth control pills contribute to anxiety
- The impact of gut health on anxiety
He just has so much wisdom:
If you love your life and love the people in your life and love what you’re doing on this earth you need to get serious about your brain. This is The Brain Warrior concept!”
There is a path to keep your brain much healthier than most people every thought possible! Neurons don’t age, it’s blood vessels that age and if you understand that and can keep the blood flow to your brain healthy, it directly attacks ADD, anxiety, depression, obesity and Alzheimer’s disease.
And a great sense of humor too! We had many laugh out loud moments which are always good for us but especially great when we’re feeling sad, anxious or overwhelmed.
We talk about how important the microbiome and gut health is when it comes to mental health. He finds it funny that as the brain doctor, he now going to have to consider poop! He really does say that!
You may recall my great interview with Dr. Ted Dinan on season 2: Microbes in the gut and psychobiotics as a potential treatment for anxiety and depression
We also talk about how women make less serotonin so I just had to look up the research. Here are some snippets from this 1997 paper “Differences between males and females in rates of serotonin synthesis in human brain”
The marked difference in the rates of serotonin synthesis between male and female subjects is, to our knowledge, a new finding.
Moreover, no differences have been found between the number of serotonin re-uptake sites in the brains of male and female subjects.
The rate of serotonin synthesis will depend on numerous factors including the free plasma tryptophan levels, the plasma levels of tryptophan relative to the other large neutral amino acids, the activity of the system that transports the large neutral amino acids into brain, the gene expression of tryptophan hydroxylase, degradation of tryptophan hydroxylase, compartmentalization of tryptophan and tryptophan hydroxylase in brain cells, as well as probably numerous other factors.
Averaging over the different brain areas, the rate of serotonin synthesis is 52% greater in male than in female subjects. This is one of the largest differences between the brains of males and females that is not related to hormone binding sites. The reason for this difference is not clear at this time.
Here is an image of brain scans that were published in the above study. The color bar on the right in the same row gives an indication of synthesis i.e. blues, purples and pinks means low synthesis of serotonin. The research found low synthesis of serotonin in the women in the study.
We can tie this all back to the gut since we make so much serotonin in the gut!
As Dr. Amen says “you need to get serious about your brain” and here a few of his recommendations:
- eat real whole food, quit sugar and sodas, get plenty of healthy fats in your diet and quit bread
- use natural approaches to boost serotonin and GABA, and address low progesterone if necessary
- fall in love with exercise and get rid of negative thoughts (he calls them ANTS: automatic negative thoughts)
- and avoid medications like benzodiazapines and the BCP/birth control pill
Here are some of Dr. Amen’s wonderful books:
Dr. Amen, and his wife Tana have created this free 3-part online video series called the Brain Warrior’s Way. Dr. Amen says:
To survive and thrive, you must become a brain warrior, because without a doubt you are in a war for the health of your brain.
You can get access to the 3-part online video series called the Brain Warrior’s Way here
Join us on season 3 of The Anxiety Summit (www.theanxietysummit) and hear Dr. Amen share more on “The Brain Warriors Way to Attacking Anxiety, Depression and Aging.”
I have two Grand Daughters with anxiety and IBS.
The average family cannot afford to eat organically.
With the oldest one the pain is so bad she digs her nails in her back.puts hot heating pads on that leave first degree burns. So far no one has helped.
The average person cannot afford to eat organic.
Probiotics are very expensive and which one do you take? There are hundreds. I I could find someone who deals in the real world.
Hi Joanne
I’m sorry to hear about your two granddaughters. I would be very careful with heating pads that hot.
Eating organic is ideal but when someone has IBS and anxiety I would consider SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). When someone has limited financial resources I would suggest 2 things: (1) focusing on getting all grains, carbs and starchy veggies out of the diet to see if this helps (see this post on FODMAPs diet https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/customizing-low-fodmaps-diet/) and (2) adding in fermented foods like sauerkraut (which can be made at home very easily with just cabbage and salt), keeping mind that even sauerkraut may be a problem.
Going back to your eating organic comment – do you have a way to grow some produce at home? or become part of a local organic garden project? or can talk to the girl’s school about starting a vegetable garden? or finding a local CSA to deliver organic produce? When we spend more on our food, we typically have to make sacrifices elsewhere (like no more processed food/hot chocolate/coffee/sodas/ big cars/iphones/TVs etc) but it’s worth it in the end.
Trudy
Trudy–THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU
…I meant to say, thank you for addressing the common issue of those who can’t always afford the organic lifestyle. I can’t afford as much as I’d like, so I joined in on a local community garden and am trying to grow my own organic produce, and bartering for produce I am terrible at growing from others in the garden! I couldn’t make it without it. Thanks.
Perfect Jennifer! thanks for sharing and good for you!
If you can’t afford organic or live where it is impossible to find in the markets do a search for the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen. This is a list of the 12 foods that you never want to buy if they are not organic and the 15 that are the cleanest. e.g. apples are dirty, avocados are clean. By staying away from the dirty dozen you can at least reduce exposure to toxins.
Tammy
Absolutely! thanks!
For folks who don’t know what you’re referring to the source for those is EWG/Environmental Working Group. Here is my 2011 list https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/ewg-2011-dirty-dozen-apples-celery-strawberries/ It does get tweaked each year so I’d better add the newest list to my blog
Well, I’m not sure that I like the concept of “brain warrior” as a term but I do like the idea of getting serious about what one feeds one’s brain. I’ve long observed that exercise gets people to brainstorm and think a lot more clearly, too.
Sue – yes we do need to be getting serious! love exercise too!
The more we understand and pay attention to what goes into our mouth the better we will permit our wonderful body to function in an optimal manner. Greatly appreciate your articles.
Absolutely Mitch! you’re welcome!
Trudy,
I find it interesting that that food we eat impacts our brain power. That’s some serious food for thought.
Write on!~
Lisa
Love the pun: That’s some serious food for thought!
Hi Trudy,
I can’t wait for the summit; thank you for hosting it! I have gained such help from your book and blog posts as re. Pyroluria; it’s been almost a year since I read your book and started the protocol. Thank you!
Would it be possible to pose a question to Dr. Amen to answer either here or during his Summit talk? Or could you offer advice, Trudy, as I am off on an exciting Pyroluria experiment…
Recently, in addition to treating myself for pyroluria, I decided to go down the road of actively upgrading my gut biome. I have researched probiotics, prebiotics, resistant starch and the foods you can use to feed good gut bacteria. My specific aim was to attempt to start/increase the production of serotonin and GABA in my gut.
I’ve been taking B. infantis and B. bifido strains, in particular, with the foods they love to eat (food sources of inulin, GOS, resistant starch 3, and a variety of other fermentable fibers – there is conflicting info about their diet).
I am experiencing significant shifts in my body/mind; I actually think the B. infantis, in particular, is working. (I am poised to start a 24-hour yogurt ferment with just this one bacteria in order to increase my daily dosage.)
I experienced a mild brain injury from a car accident many years ago and that was when mild, persistent depression entered-and stayed-in my life. I now believe the accident was the beginning of my expression of Pyroluria symptoms, as well.
I have tried everything “natural” over the years (a trial of Prozac, my only non-natural test) nearly killed me, so I knew that route was never to be an option. Going Paleo/GAPS/WAPF and Trudy’s Pyroluria protocol in the last year- year-and-a-half have been the best changes of my life as re. depression/anxiety/abysmally low mental energy.
I am on the cutting edge of N=1 research on using specific gut bacteria to heal depression/anxiety (there are literally NO books written and my research on the net is taking days and weeks of reading to pull together data. I am also hoping to get my own production of B vitamins online in the gut as, for some reason, I get no response to high levels of B6/P5P ( I got amazing, positive results from high levels of zinc (I lost a percentage of my smell/taste in the accident and zinc brought it back, in spades) which has now settled at 60-80 mg a day).
As I am in a wilderness on this – and I still experience a significant issue with mental energy deficits and have remaining cognitive issues from the brain injury (deficits in executive functioning mainly that get worse with stress).
Can you comment, offer guidance and/or places for me to research further?
The gut biome and the vagus nerve connection between gut-brain is the way to go, for me, and I so wish this info was available years ago when I acquired a brain injury. (FYI, for many years I was a brain injury advocate so I can assure you there are many, many people with TBI who desparately need this info. Standard TBI treatment today is STILL a neuro-psych eval and cognitive therapy…which does -zero- to heal a brain.)
So, I have the info now and I am moving at rocket speed with it! I have a brain which needs the right fuel and gut bugs to feed!
Trudy, Dr. Amen, thank you so much for making your knowledge and experience available to us whom the medical system has not helped! You are changing the world for those of us who benefit from your generosity and professional curiosity and commitment to vibrant health!
Warmly,
Laura
Hi Lucy,
I’m impressed by your research.. What type of zinc are you using? What brand?
Hi Mel,
I’m not sure if you are asking me (Laura)…I take OptiZinc which Trudy recommends as she has found many people respond well to it. I guess it is quite bioavailable.
It was the 1st type of zinc I tried and it simply worked. I did up my dose VERY slowly, over six months and I used the liquid zinc tally test, to see where I was.
I take it first thing in the morning with a full glass of water on an empty stomach; it never gave me digestive upset so I did not need to take it with food. I have read it absorbs better on an empty stomach.
It ABSOLUTELY improved my senses of smell and taste!
Laura
Laura
Thanks for asking this question – I love what you’re doing! I didn’t get it in time to ask Dr Amen and don’t have much experience on TBI. JJ Virgin does have some great information about what worked for her son after the hit and run accident
I do know Dr Datis Kharrazian talks about approaches to stimulate the vagus nerve in “Why Isn’t My Brain Working” so I’d start there.
Trudy
Dear Trudy,
I’m so grateful to hear about this summit. Anxiety can be so debilitating and in my case translated to almost 12 full years of daily use of sleeping pills. I’ve used Trazodone, benzodiazapines, something else that I don’t remember the name of, and the last couple of years, zolpidem. Each one has become ineffective and I’ve had to increase the dosage and then eventually try another type of prescription.
I’ve also tried various naturopathic remedies without success.
I finally decided to stop using any kind of prescription and stopped using zolpidem about five weeks ago. I have not slept more than a handful of hours in total, since then. I’ve been listening to hypnotic and relaxation tapes, which helped at first, but not recently.
I saw that Dr. Amen recommends avoiding benzodiazapines and I’m very interested to know if you and Dr. Amen will be addressing the damage caused by these drugs to the brain, and how to repair the long-term use effects and start sleeping naturally again. I imagine this is a problem shared by thousands as these drugs are prescribed month after month, by family doctors, even though they are only intended to be used as temporary solutions, a fact that I was not aware of until recently.
As you can imagine, I am functioning at a very low level right now, emotionally, intellectually and physically. Even my eye sight is affected. I believe this chronic insomnia is caused by my previous reliance on these medications.
Warmest regards,
Michelle
Hi Michelle
I’m sorry to hear what you are going through. Yes, Dr Amen does not prescribe benzos any more and I’m dead against them. We covered them in great deal in prior summits and I’d like to direct you to there 2 interviews
https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/anxiety-summit-benzodiazepines-risks-vs-benefits/
and
https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/anxiety-summit-tapering-psychiatric-drugs-dont-ruin-life/
Trudy
Looking forward to hear you speak about anxiety, Dr. Amen.
My question is: How does one figure out WHICH “issue” is causing the anxiety/irritability/inability to stress-adapt???
1 year ago I made a dramatic change in my diet and supplements and began to chelate the heavy metals in my body.
I also had all my amalgams and root-canaled teeth safely removed by a trained Biological Dentist, as well as cleaning out all cavitation from wisdom teeth that were removed earlier.
I’m on the “Cellular Healing Diet” Advanced, by Dr. Dan Pompa, whom which is also guiding me on safely chelating (4 days on/10 days off with DMSA and ALA).
I don’t eat any grains of any kind (rice, barley, wheat, oats, etc.). I don’t eat any sugar of any kind. I use Stevia. I try to eat a variety of good fats daily: avocados, grass-fed cream, organic and unrefined coconut oil, MCT oil, GLA, XFactor Blue Ice Royal Butter, Organic Raw Almond butter, etc.
I am compound heterozygous for MTHFR; diagnosed with Hashimoto’s 6 years ago; leaky gut (that is healing); hormone dysregulation, High Lead, Uranium, and Thorium levels; negative for Lyme or Mold;and Adrenal Fatigue and having difficulty getting my fasting blood glucose down below 100 (rides around 111-115 when I wake up).
With all these dramatic changes in my lifestyle, I amm still having anxiety, irritability, and struggling with stress-adaptation daily.
Again, my question is: How does one figure out WHICH “issue” is causing the anxiety/irritability/inability to stress-adapt???
Maria
I’m sorry to hear you still have anxiety – you do have a lot going on and likely many are contributing to your anxiety. Many of these can cause nutritional deficiencies so I’d address this – looking for low zinc, vitamin B6, iron, serotonin, GABA, vitamin C, and so on. And your need for methylfolate too of course
We did talk about hormone imbalances and the effect of the birth control pill. This and other meds can lead to nutritional deficiencies too. Low progesterone is a big factor with anxiety.
Good for you for making all these changes! tune in for Dr Amen’s interview and the rest of the summit and hopefully you’ll find some of the missing puzzle pieces
Trudy
But Trudy, how do we address/fix progesterone without hormone supplements?
Susan
There are many approaches…bioidentical hormones, herbs like chaste tree, amino acids like GABA and tryptophan, dietary changes (like no gluten, healthy fats, quality protein, nuts and seeds – listen to Magdalena’s hormone talk), supporting the liver and more
trudy
I have been tapering from klonopin for over a year. I am interested in any specialists or programs that utilize nutrition and amino acids to aid in the process of getting off of this med. I live in Arkansas but location would not be an issue. Thank You
Hi Bronwyn
I’d like to point you to these 2 interviews from previous summits as a start
https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/anxiety-summit-tapering-psychiatric-drugs-dont-ruin-life/
and
https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/anxiety-summit-benzodiazepines-risks-vs-benefits/
I’ll be talking more about benzos in my interview on aminos troublshooting on Saturday 16th so do listen in to that one
Also http://www.benzobuddies.org is a good place to start for moral support.
I do work long distance if that is an option for you. You can find information here about the 15 minute complimentary consult to see if we are a good fit https://www.everywomanover29.com/services.html
Trudy
I was on anti-depressants for 20 years. I also had undiagnosed thyroid disease and had an MDE in the middle of that 20 year span. I still got depressed from time to time, especially at the holidays (when I ate the worst). It was not until I began listening to all the news about leaky gut and began eating healthy, and taking thyroid medicine that I began to realize the problem may not be in my brain at all. I went off sugar in Jan 2015 and simultaneously went off one of my 2 anti-depressants. I actually got better mentally. In fact, I went off the other one and have been free of all anti-depressants for 2 months. I eat very little sugar, walk for exercise, and eat a much healthier diet and I feel GREAT.
Martha
How wonderful! thanks so much for sharing and being an inspiration to others!
In my final call I’m going to be talking about how simple changes can have an impact for some people and I’d love to share your story (anon or just first name). Could you share a bit more about what you mean by a healthier diet? what does is a typical day look like for you?
I’d also love to know what an MDE is?
Trudy
Not so sure I would agree with Amen on the chocolate.
In my practice I find that it is one of the more allergenic food.
Also a lot of people are sensitive to caffeine as well.
I think in this country people use to much chocolate.
Hi Jan
Thanks for sharing – I’m with you on the caffeine sensitivity part and overdoing it! Dr Amen was referring to dark chocolate, unsweetened and presumably a small piece now and then.
I’d love to hear more about what you’ve seen in terms of it being allergenic? I’m wondering if this could be mold related too?
Trudy
In connection with what Jan Head wrote, because of all the hype concerning chocolate, I have tried to eat it, buying only organic, no milk, no sugar, only some stevia in it,high cocoa content chocolate, but each time I have had an immediate reaction, probably due to the caffeine making me feel very tense and jittery, as well as a delayed reaction making me feel so tired as if I had been run over by a truck, and each time I only ate very small amounts of it.
I have been wondering whether this might be a sign of tired adrenals or if the bad reaction might be due to the nickel content in chocolate as I have a diagnosed nickel allergy.
So I defintely prefer to stay away from chocolate, despite all its well-known benefits!
Dr Amen’s interview was wonderful….Thank you Trudy!
Great interview with Dr. Amen. Smart and articulate. Makes some really good points. Sad how people would rather be sick than to give up foods that are making them sick, or potentially will. I believe that is an addiction.
Deanne
Thanks for this comment, it’s brilliant: “Smart and articulate”
And yes I’m with you – it is sad how people would rather be sick than to give up foods that are making them sick. But as you say it’s an addiction for so many – they just can’t help themselves and this is where the power of the amino acids come in to break that addiction!
Thanks always for your super facebook comments!
Trudy
Trudy, Im literally sitting here with tears of gratitude listening to your interview with Dr Amen. Thank you for bringing up the subject of Benzodiapines. We have over 1.5 million world wide suffers within our support groups and growing every week. As a vet for over half a decade, I have seen multiple discussions about Dr. Amen and was not certain about his stance on benzos. Typically we STRONGLY avoid all physicians and treatment clinics that dispense them. It was nice to learn that he does NOT prescribe benzodiapines, as well as acknowledged the damage that they can do to the brain! We know this as first hand as unfortunate victims of this class of meds, but very few within the medical field recognize it. As the suffers and caregivers search for healing and /or visual evidence of this functional brain damage, Dr Amen’s Spec scan have been of interest. So far it has not been recommended due to thinking that Dr Amen’s treatment protocol would use the very med and/or other psychotropic medications that damaged us in the first place. Now that I know otherwise, and that he offers natural supplement, cognitive therapy methods, mindfulness, and others drug free options, I can ethically give the green light to those who have had interest in going to his clinic.
Tamra
I’m smiling here reading your comment 🙂 You are such an incredible advocate for the victims of this class of meds, even though you too have been affected.
I was also thrilled to hear Dr Amen say this. The medical field is starting to recognize this and it’s wonderful. Of course Dr Amen is way ahead of many who don’t get recognize it but we’re making headway.
I think the Spect scanning may be a concrete way for you and others who have been affected, to get actual visual proof of the damage this has caused your brains. This may help get the message out even more, especially if something can be published. I’d love to help facilitate getting Dr Amen involved in a project like this and have him team up with folks in your support groups. Let me know how I can help! You know my stance on these drugs
Trudy
Trudy,
THANK YOU for answering my question about sleepwalking in conjunction with anxiety in adults. I understand it is a difficult topic.
Would it be possible to ask Dr. Amen this question? I have all his books and will probably buy the worrier tapes as well. I very much respect his work and would be so happy to have his input.
I am desperate for answers and advice.
Thank you,
Con
Con
I’ll see if he can come and comment here – in the meantime if you answer my questions I posed for you I can try and help. I have some thoughts for you
trudy
Dr. Amen says that men who are depressed are 4 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s but he didn’t say anything about if they were medicated for it or not. I think it makes a big difference considering many SSRIs actually create inflammation (?) in the neurons (that is also why it takes a few weeks to kick in, it has to saturate the neurons and make them fire all of the time. Also this is the reason behind many compulsive behaviors I read somewhere (i.e eating/snacking, smoking, drinking, etc). Have you heard anything about this?
I have not but it’s very possibly a factor
Trudy,
Does Dr. Amen or do you have a suggested protocol when someone already has significant memory loss issues.
It was heartening to hear him say that things can be reversed and improved. What can we do for memory, mild dementia or early alzheiemers’s?
Trudy,
Can Dr. Amen do a SPECT scan on someone receiving Electroconvulsive therapy? My son became catatonic 5 years ago and the only thing that helps is ECT. But he’s had hundreds of treatments with significant side effects. He becomes worse without it. one doctor was going to do a PET scan but said ECT treatment would interfere.
Rose
I’m sorry to hear this about your son Rose. I don’t know about ECT and SPECT and suggest contacting Dr Amen’s office directly.
You don’t mention what treatments have caused side effects but in case you haven’t looked at nutritional approaches I’m sharing this: “What is clear is that neurotransmitters, such as dopamine (DA), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glutamate (GLU), are of major importance in the pathogenesis of catatonia” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21294706
There are many studies on benzodiazapines being used for catatonia so I would expect that GABA may be helpful too. One study actually reported benzo-induced catatonia which is another reason to avoid these medications.
ECT and benzodiazapines are causing the awful side effects but now he’s dependent. He tried GABA and it didn’t seem to have an effect. Does it take a while and is there a certain type you recommend? Some people say it doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrior. What nutritional approaches help with glutamate and dopamine?
GABA, provided it’s needed and is the right amount and form, works in 5 minutes. I like GABA and not pharmaGABA and start my clients on 125mg sublingual and go up from there. Sublingual or holding it in the mouth seems to be most effective.
This blog has information on amino acids https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/anxiety-targeted-individual-amino-acid-supplement/
For low catecholamines, tyrosine is effective. I don’t know what the question about glutamate is
I just finished hearing you on the Mental Wellness Summit 8/12/15. Your speech was very informative, but I know I can never afford to see you, unless you are a Dr who sometimes provides help to certain people as I had the opportunity to meet Dr Bernie Siegal who invited me & friend to one of his Seminars for the Medical Doctirs at a cost of $2,000 in San Rafael ,Ca in 1989 before he became famous. I along with many Bipolar , PTSD and sever IBS patient don’t have the privledge of those who have Cash to come see you, but would like to know if you could refer me to someone who would treat me through my HealthNet coverage in Sacramento CA as of Jan 2016. That’s all I can ask of you at this time.
I would be “Grateful” to you beyond God’s Blessing bestowed to you for your Wonderful Contribution to the World. I was also Blessed by God with the ability to succeed as a Retired 911 Dispatcher 20years ago helping so
many people. God Bless You Eternally Forever in Heaven. AMEN
Hi Mary Jane
I’m so glad you enjoyed my interview on the Mental Wellness Summit.
Unfortunately I don’t have expertise with bipolar disorder and would recommend someone with expertise in this area. Dr Brian Mackin is an integrative psychiatrist in Sacramento and could be an option – you would need to check with him about your insurance http://www.drbrianmackin.com/index.html
Also, there is a great book by Eva Edelman called Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder http://evaedelman.com/bipolar.html
How wonderful that you were a 911 dispatcher. Thank you for your valuable contribution