Change Your Brain, Change Your Life Assignment

          The choice of brain structure imbalance for this essay is depression as outlined in the checklists provided by Dr. Amen in his book. Depression is the result of character challenges or personal weakness and also caused by biological problems in the brain that can be balanced. The Amen Clinics method shows a true paradigm shift in treating depression. Other than just masking the symptoms, the method helps individuals to learn about, heal, and optimize the organ responsible for personality and emotion which is the brain. According to Dr. Amen guidelines, it is necessary to treat depression within the context of individual life. 

The process involves taking time to explore the specific biological, psychological, social, and spiritual influences and also taking neuropsychological tests to assess the various aspects of the brain functioning. Also necessary is performing two brain SPECT scans; one at rest and the other during concentration. The other appropriate lab tests for ruling out nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and toxicity if considered necessary ought to be carried out (Amen, 2008).

Signs and symptoms

            Pure depression results from increased activity in the deep limbic system which is the center for brain’s emotions. The persons with pure depression struggle with symptoms ranging from chronic and mild sadness to crippling major depression. The signs and symptoms experienced by the individual suffering from depression include persistent sad/ negative mood, loss of interest in the pleasuring activities, restlessness, feelings of guilt, helplessness, and pessimism, sleeping disorders, loss of appetite and weight loss, fatigue, suicidal thoughts, difficulty in concentration, persistent physical symptoms that fail to respond to treatment such as headache, low self-esteem, and dissatisfied feelings (Amen, 2008).

            Dr. Amen applies brain imaging science to clinical practice in the treatment of diseases such as depression by counting intuition, empathy, self-control, and ability to work collaboratively. As evident, women are prone to more challenges, their brains produce less serotonin and are busier than men.  Their estrogen levels prevent the calming effects of GABA-a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) that helps to calm the CN activity. The factors make women more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than men (Amen, 2008).

            The person focused on suffers from depression which has persisted for long and does not seem to disappear with the conventional intervention techniques. The specific brain imbalance identified is the limbic brain which is deep in the brain and small size. It's the purpose of setting the emotional tone and also involved in bonding and storing a highly charged emotional memory. When the limbic brain part works too hard, the individual is likely to suffer from depression. The problem experienced by the person has been made worse by persistent changes in emotions which might have overworked the limbic brain part resulting to depression. The reasons for making the condition better is unknown.

Amen’s Brain RX for the limbic brain part

The limbic system is the emotional part of the brain that processes the sense of smell and also stores the charged emotional memories, affects sleep, appetite cycles, moods, and sexuality (Amen, 2008).

            Depression arises from poor communication between the brain’s thinking prefrontal cortex and the limbic system. When combined, they make the fronto-limbic system that regulates the emotional state and when malfunctioning, depression results.

            The symptoms of depression are contributed by stress which is a cause and symptom of depression. Hypothalamus is a brain part that regulates hormones and the body’s stress response (Amen, 2008).

            People with depression also have high amygdala reactivity, and the amygdala remains active longer than the people without depression. Amygdala is involved in emotions and fear responses. 

            The hippocampus turns short-term memories into long-term ones. A depressed brain does not recall the enjoyable moments but has trouble remembering the details of the bad stuff (Amen, 2008).

            The limbic system comprises of the thalamus that relay information to and from the external world and the cerebral cortex.

            Olfactory cortex is the sense of smell that connects emotional and memory centers. When the limbic system is overactive, the individual interprets neutral events through a negative filter, which is an aspect of depression (Amen, 2008).

            Appetite, energy, and sleep are all influenced by the limbic system and are likely to change in a depressed person.       

Reference

Amen D.G. (2008) Change Your Brain, Change Your Life: The Breakthrough Program for          Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness, Anger, and Impulsiveness.        Potter/TenSpeed/Harmony publisher, 352. ISBN 0307453332, 9780307453334

Carolyn Morgan is the author of this paper. A senior editor at MeldaResearch.Com in Online Paper Writing Service. If you need a similar paper you can place your order from Professional Custom Writing Services.