Join Dr. Daniel Amen, a renowned psychiatrist and brain health expert, as he uncovers how hidden patterns from our past influence our sex lives. He discusses 'hidden dragons' like anxiety and codependency that sabotage intimacy. Delve into the connection between brain health and sexual wellness, while learning practical tools like positivity bias training and breathing techniques to reset your nervous system. Dr. Amen also addresses cheating addiction and shares insights on how understanding your brain can transform your love life.
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Dr. Amen's Personal Dragon Story
Dr. Amen shares his personal 'abandoned, invisible and insignificant' dragon rooted in childhood and his father's harshness.
He explains how this dragon drove him to seek significance but also caused relationship challenges.
insights INSIGHT
Common Hidden Dragons
The anxious dragon is the most common hidden pattern, affecting over 30% before the pandemic and now more than half.
The codependent dragon causes people to overcare, leading to resentment and emotional pain.
insights INSIGHT
Ancestral Dragons and Epigenetics
Ancestral dragons show how pain and trauma can inherit through epigenetic codes from previous generations.
Understanding family history can explain unresolved anxiety and grief impacting your nervous system.
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Tame the Hidden Dragons that Control Your Happiness, Habits, and Hang-ups
Daniel Amen
In "Your Brain is Always Listening," Dr. Daniel Amen explores how past experiences and ingrained thought patterns significantly influence our present lives. He introduces the concept of 'dragons' representing these patterns, categorizing them into types like anxious, shaming, or grieving dragons. The book provides practical strategies, including affirmations and guided meditations, to help readers identify and address their personal dragons. Amen emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and conscious effort in reshaping negative thought patterns for improved mental and emotional well-being. Ultimately, the book empowers readers to take control of their mental health and create a more fulfilling life.
In this episode of Sex with Emily, renowned psychiatrist and brain expert Dr. Daniel Amen joins us to explore how our "hidden dragons", the unconscious patterns from our past, are secretly controlling our happiness, relationships, and sex lives. Based on his latest book, "Your Brain is Always Listening," Dr. Amen reveals how childhood experiences, family trauma, and even ancestral patterns get written into our brains and show up in our intimate relationships.
We dive deep into the most common dragons people face, including the anxious dragon, the abandoned and insignificant dragon, and the codependent dragon. Dr. Amen shares his personal journey with these patterns and explains how understanding your dragons can transform not just your mental health, but your sexual wellness too. We explore the connection between brain health and sexual function, why ADD can impact orgasms, and how negative thought patterns become "bad habits" that sabotage intimacy.
This episode includes practical tools like positivity bias training, the power of rewriting your story, and specific breathing techniques that can reset your nervous system. Dr. Amen also addresses a listener's question about cheating addiction and explains how brain scans revealed the neurological patterns behind compulsive behavior.
Whether you're struggling with commitment issues, sexual anxiety, or just want to understand how your brain affects your love life, this conversation offers both scientific insights and actionable strategies for creating healthier relationships.
Show Notes:
00:00 - Introduction to Hidden Dragons
01:02 - Dr. Amen's Personal Dragon Story
04:40 - The Abandoned & Insignificant Dragon
08:26 - Most Common Dragons People Face
11:07 - The Ancestral Dragon & Epigenetics
14:18 - Rewriting Your Story & Focus
16:06 - Positivity Bias Training
19:07 - Happiness as Moral Obligation
21:22 - Brain Health & Sexual Function
24:02 - Building Better Mental Habits
27:59 - Listener Q&A: Cheating Addiction
35:12 - ADD & Relationships
38:20 - ADD & Female Orgasms
40:30 - Breathing Techniques for Regulation
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