When you hear the word “addiction,” the first thing that pops into your head is probably drugs or alcohol. Gambling or sex addictions might also register as types of negative habits. Or perhaps even the digital obsession many have with their devices. But video game addiction? Is there really such a thing? Is It Really…
As a leader in the field of mental health, Amen Clinics has treated an array of psychiatric conditions over the past 29 years and has amassed the world’s largest database of brain scans at 150,000 and growing. Though many people have come to know about us due to the remarkable results we’ve seen with brain…
When we grow up under stress, it changes the way we think. All adults begin as children with developing brains, and many find that they may be diagnosed with a condition as an adult that began in childhood. Dr. Daniel Amen entered this field of study as a child psychiatrist, and has practiced psychiatry by…
Do you enjoy drinking soda? Well, don’t be surprised if you start forgetting where you left your keys, because according to US scientists eating too much sugar can eat away at your brainpower. The recently published study showed how a steady diet of high-fructose corn syrup (like those found in sugar and other refined sweet…
Children and teens with ADD/ADHD are 2.5 times more likely to develop an addiction or substance use disorder (SUD), according to a research paper published in Pediatrics. Did you know that that children with ADD/ADHD are: • Twice as likely to use nicotine • Almost twice as likely to develop a dependence on alcohol •…
Most people have heard a glass of wine before bed isn’t always bad but that is false. Relying on a drink to fall asleep is an unhealthy crutch many people depend on. While alcohol can initially deepen sleep during the early part of the night, it also disrupts sleep during the latter part of the…
Your brain controls everything you do and all the decisions you make. When the brain works correctly, you work correctly. When the brain is troubled, you are much more likely to make troubled decisions. Whenever human frailties are involved, think about the brain. In our experience, with a thoughtful approach, the brain can be better,…
Ever walk into a room where everyone was intently focused on their handheld devices? Have you ever had a romantic dinner ruined by a date who made it more of a priority to answer text messages rather than engage in a live conversation? Or, have you ever seen people attempting to drive while staring at…
Why are some people who overdo it with alcohol, food, sex, or other things, able to remember the consequences of their actions, learn from their mistakes, and avoid repeating the behavior? And why do others minimize the consequences, maximize the pleasure they got from the activity, and continue to engage in the same destructive behavior?…
Drinking red wine in moderation, and more recently alcohol, in general, has been thought of as something that can improve one’s health. The constant messaging from the alcohol industry has people feeling they must drink two glasses of wine a day to feel healthy. SPECT shows brain toxicity from alcohol In fact, the evidence from…