Daniel Amen 1 source tracked
Psychiatrist and brain-imaging clinician, founder of Amen Clinics, known for SPECT-based approaches to mental health and bestselling books on the brain.
About Daniel Amen →
Daniel G. Amen is an American psychiatrist and the founder of Amen Clinics, a group of outpatient clinics that use SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) brain imaging as part of psychiatric evaluation and treatment. He is the author of numerous books on the brain, mental health, and behavior, including Change Your Brain, Change Your Life. Amen hosts podcasts and produces public-television programs focused on brain health, and his clinical and media work emphasizes lifestyle, nutrition, and targeted interventions for conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, and traumatic brain injury.
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Online app with meditation audios, hypnosis audios, recipes, brain-enhancing music, and music for anxiety.
“Brain Fit Life, our online app, mybrainfitlife.com
CY▶ 20:40CaveatsSpeaker's own productCertaintyexplicitstrong endorsement -
Listen to The Brain Warrior's Way album for calming effects.
“another one called The Brain Warrior's Way
CY▶ 28:10Certaintyexplicitoffhand mention -
Count calories and aim to lose about half a pound per week through 3,500-calorie deficits.
“you got to start counting your calories
CY▶ 18:50DosageAim for ~0.5 lb/week loss; 3,500 cal deficit = 1 lbCertaintypersonal onlystrong endorsement -
Use a 3-1-6-1 breathing pattern (3s in, hold 1s, 6s out, hold 1s) for 10 breaths, a couple times daily to trigger the parasympathetic response.
“Take a big breath, three seconds in... six seconds to breathe out
CY▶ 12:50Dosage3s inhale, 1s hold, 6s exhale, 1s hold; 10 reps, twice dailyCertaintyexplicitstrong endorsement -
Use non-toxic cleaning products from Earth Friendly Products because what goes on your skin gets absorbed into your body.
“They make great cleaning products that do not have poisons in them
CY▶ 10:00Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
Book contains a 'Mind Medicine vs. Nutraceuticals' section listing pre-medication options for anxiety, depression, ADHD, etc.
“in Feel Better Fast and Make It Last, there is a section
CY▶ 25:40CaveatsSpeaker's own bookCertaintyexplicitstrong endorsement -
In a protocol
Check ferritin (iron storage) — low iron causes insomnia, anxiety, and fatigue.
“check your ferritin levels. It's a measure of iron storage
CY▶ 26:20Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
In a protocol Alternative
BrainMD supplement combining GABA and other calming ingredients to reduce overfiring of amygdala and basal ganglia.
“We have a supplement called GABA calming support
CY▶ 22:50CaveatsSpeaker's own productCertaintyexplicitstrong endorsement -
In a protocol
Test for hypoglycemia with a glucose tolerance test when evaluating anxiety.
“check for hypoglycemia... glucose tolerance test
CY▶ 26:10Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
Train beat-to-beat heart rate variability upward, which has a calming effect similar to controlled breathing.
“heart rate variability training... has a calming effect
CY▶ 27:20Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
Write down negative thoughts and challenge them by asking 'is it true? Can I absolutely know it's true?' to practice accurate thinking.
“write them down. And then kill them
CY▶ 14:30DosageWrite down negative thoughts, ask if they are trueCertaintyexplicitstrong endorsement -
In a protocol
L-theanine from green tea for anxiety; very effective for his patients.
“I love theanine. My patients love theanine
CY▶ 23:30Certaintyexplicitstrong endorsement -
Organic (prompted) Alternative
L-tryptophan works for some people where 5-HTP does not (offhand from chat).
“5-HTP doesn't work, but L-tryptophan does
CY▶ 25:00CaveatsReferenced from audience commentCertaintyhedgedoffhand mention -
In a protocol
Lemon balm is recommended for anxiety reduction.
“GABA, lemon balm, and theanine from green tea
CY▶ 23:20Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
Practice meditation as a non-pharmacologic intervention for anxiety.
“Meditation, hypnosis, huge fan
CY▶ 20:30Certaintyexplicitstrong endorsement -
Listen to the Music for Bright Minds album for calming/brain-enhancing effects.
“Music for Bright Minds, was on Billboard's New Age Top 10
CY▶ 21:00Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
In a protocol
Check your omega-3 index as part of anxiety/mental health workup.
“Also check your omega-3 index
CY▶ 27:50Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
Alternative
BrainMD sleep supplement marketed as alternative to Ambien.
“We make something called Put Me to Sleep
CY▶ 25:10CaveatsSpeaker's own productCertaintyexplicitrecommendation -
In a protocol
Check thyroid function as part of anxiety workup (rule out hyperthyroidism).
“check your thyroid
CY▶ 26:30Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
In a protocol
Check/correct B12 — low levels contribute to anxiety and depression.
“If B12 is low, you're going to have problems with anxiety and depression
CY▶ 25:25Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
Eliminate artificial dyes, preservatives, and sweeteners from diet for a month; many are sensitive to MSG, red dye, etc.
“Eliminate artificial dyes, preservatives, and sweeteners
CY▶ 26:40DosageTrial elimination for 1 monthCertaintyexplicitrecommendation -
Avoid benzodiazepines for anxiety because they are addictive; if tapering, do so slowly (e.g., 10% per week) with a doctor.
“Not a big fan of anti-anxiety drugs
CY▶ 22:00DosageTaper ~10% per week, work with doctorCaveatsDo not stop cold turkeyCertaintyexplicitstrong warning -
Give up bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, and processed foods to get healthy.
“Giving up bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, processed food
CY▶ 21:30Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
Avoid energy drinks (e.g., eight per day); they worsen anxiety.
“Eight energy drinks a day. That's a bad idea
CY▶ 23:10Certaintyexplicitmild caution -
Not a fan of Nutrisystem and similar diet programs because the foods are artificial despite the lower calories.
“why I'm not a fan of Nutrisystem and other diet programs
CY▶ 19:00Certaintyexplicitmild caution