Change Your Brain Every Day

Psychiatrists are often quick to diagnose symptoms of brain fog and fatigue as depression, prescribe antidepressant medications, and call it good. But in large number of instances, these symptoms actually have an entirely different cause: low thyroid. In this episode of The Brain Warrior’s Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss how your thyroid function can cause symptoms that masquerade as depression, and how you can find out if your thyroid may be to blame for your illnesses.

In our society we are often fed the message that motherhood should cause nothing but infinite joy and love, but if this is the case, why are do so many mothers suffer from depression? Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss how stress and brain chemistry can cause emotional imbalances. 

We all know about the negative effects of heavy alcohol consumption, but is it true that there are health benefits for drinking just 1-2 glasses of wine a week? In this episode of The Brain Warrior’s Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen break down just exactly what alcohol does to your body and brain, and if light alcohol consumption really is a smart way to increase longevity.

E-cigarettes has become increasingly popular among today’s teens. Companies like Juul are producing E-cigarettes that come in many flavors, and that are less harmful than cigarettes. But what are the drawbacks? In the last episode of a series with addiction specialist Dr. Jennifer Farrell, Dr. Daniel Amen dives into the subject of vaping to determine the effects it has on teens and adults alike.

There’s no question that social media has changed modern society for better or worse. Some say that social media makes us more connected, but is this really true? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Amen is joined by addiction specialist Dr. Jennifer Farrell for a discussion on the physical effects social media has on the brain.

In a psychiatric discussion reminiscent of the age-old “chicken or the egg” debate, Dr. Jennifer Farrell and Dr. Daniel Amen explore the question of what comes first, substance abuse or mental health issues? It’s no surprise that there is a direct correlation between the two, and addiction specialist Dr. Farrell describes common scenarios among patients, as well as some effective treatment strategies.

Having a major medical procedure is never fun. But going in prepared mentally and physically can make a world of difference. As Tana prepares to go in for a major surgery, she outline some of the preparations she has made to make recovery much easier.

Recent research suggests that being able to walk at just 3 miles an hour significantly raises the likelihood an 80-year old will live at least another ten years. Even for those much younger, making small adjustments in the way we get from point A to point B will result in substantial health benefits. Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen provide additional insight into the way we exercise.

We often look directly to traditional western medicine when it comes to treating our ailments, but sometimes these methods are not only the least cost-effective, but also the least efficient. In this episode of The Brain Warrior’s Way Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen discuss some of the alternative therapies that may provide relief without resorting to medication or surgery.

When we give in to the Standard American Diet (SAD) of highly processed foods, we’re contributing to the demise of more than just our health. In the fourth and final episode of a series with Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen describe the effects our food policy has on the environment and social systems we live in.