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Amen Clinic's Salutes American War Hero
We at Amen Clinic's were honored to know and help Dale, a true American hero.
Dear Dr. Amen,
I am the mother of Dale Brehm who was treated at the Amen Clinic approximately 8 years ago. Dale was 17 and in trouble with the law. He was brought to the clinic in shackles. After evaluation and treatment, Dale was able to be gainfully employed for 1 year in retail sales. He then joined the Army were he excelled. Dale immediately became an Army Ranger. Dale was able to make a success of his life because of the treatment he received at the Amen Clinic. Dale was killed in action in Iraq on 3/18/06 just 3 days before his 24th birthday. We take great comfort in knowing Dale died a Hero. I thought you might be interested in the part you played in this Hero’s life. Dale was buried at Arlington with great honor. In attendance were the Assistant Secretary of the Defense and 4star General McChrystal (Special Ops Command).
Thank you,
Laura (Brehm) Williams
Proud Mother of Sgt. Dale Brehm
Dale’s story is not unique. At the Amen Clinics we have been balancing and rewiring troubled brains to help people realize their dreams for the past 20 years. I have received many, many letters, such as the one above, thanking me for changing people’s lives. Through our work, I have come to realize that most people have the COMPLETELY WRONG IDEA about what holds people back from getting what they want in life and maximizing their potential.
The majority , like me before I became involved in this work, take a common sense approach to success and failure. This is the same approach espoused by most self help gurus, business executives, and head coaches who write “how I won the championship” books. Try harder, they say, visualize your success, work longer, take responsibility, stop bitching, change your attitude, and do not let anyone get in your way. With diligent devotion, you can be anything you want in life. If you are not successful then you are lazy, willful, or need an attitude adjustment. Look at me. If I can do it you can too.
The problem with this way of thinking is that it is ineffective for many people who sincerely try it, and it often backfires. As we will see, the harder many people really try, the worse their brains, abilities, and behaviors get. No doubt, the tough love - kick in the pants approach works for some, but it leaves countless others feeling demoralized, hopeless, and unworthy.
How effective do you think I would have been with seventeen year old Dale Brehm when he came to our clinic in shackles if I chewed him out and told him to try harder, just like all the other adults in his life had already done? Not very effective. What we did was completely different.
In order for you to be successful in any area of your life requires a brain that works right. Before we did anything else with Dale, we took images of how his brain worked, and then set about balancing the three pound supercomputer between his ears. With a balanced brain, he could go on to live a hero’s life. With an unbalanced brain, he likely would have remained ashamed of himself, a disappointment to his family, and a drain on society.
With a balanced brain and a little coaching, most people can figure out what they need to do to make their lives work. With an unbalanced brain, most self-help or societal tactics to improve behavior are highly ineffective. Consider prison. Clearly, it is an extreme and costly attempt to modify behavior. Yet the recidivism rate is between 60-70% within five years. Maybe, we are missing major pieces of the puzzle?
Daniel G. Amen, MD
CEO and Medical Director
Amen Clinics, Inc.
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