Heal Your Drained Brain: Naturally Relieve Anxiety, Combat Insomnia, and Balance Your Brain in Just 14 Days

by Mike Dow

New York Times best-selling author The author of The Brain Fog Fix presents “a smart, science-based way to heal anxiety and insomnia” through nutrition, CBT techniques, mindfulness, breathwork, and more (Daniel Amen, New York Times–bestselling author). Are you anxious, frazzled, exhausted? Do you find yourself constantly worrying? Do you feel like you’re “running on empty”? Do you have trouble sleeping? Like millions of people living today, your brain has become drained. These days, it seems like everything in our day-to-day lives —from our increasingly unpredictable world, the smart phones we can’t stop using, to the processed foods we eat all day long, to the many hours we spend at our jobs —is setting us up to feel drained. The short-term effects of becoming drained are uncomfortable, but the long-term effects can be life-threatening. Left untreated, it can quadruple your risk of high blood pressure —the #1 cause of preventable death. Finding natural solutions to anxiety and insomnia is becoming increasingly vital as sleeping pills, antianxiety medications, and hospitalizations have seen a dramatic spike recently. More and more people are desperate to heal their drained brains. In his latest book, Dr. Mike Dow offers a 2-week plan designed to help you naturally balance your brain. He explains what drains modern brains, which groups are wired for it, and provides clinically proven tools to help you feel less drained. Dr. Mike offers nutritional tips, recipes, cognitive behavioral tools, supplements, breathing techniques, self-hypnosis, and mindfulness. Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline go down as feel-good neurotransmitters like GABA and serotonin rise.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Health, Psychology, Brain, Audiobook

557 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2018

Reviews

[Naomi Krokowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Dow details terrific natural solutions for those of us battling anxiety and or insomnia. I would give this book to lots of people if I had an unlimited budget. It’s full of science that supports a multi-pronged approach. The biggest takeaway is that the mind-body connection (he suggests we should ditch the hyphen) is so strong we ought to take advantage of it to relieve problems caused by stress, bad diet, and worry.
Worth reading for sure.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The majority of the content in this is in the first 215 pages. The book contains a two week re-balance journal and recipes to start getting the right amount of probiotic, prebiotic, and prebiotic booster. The content is in general agreement with other books I have read about Alzheimer's and Fibromyalgia. Anxiety is a major cause of widespread body inflammation. When the body is inflamed and anxious, we don't get quality sleep, the right foods, or enough exercise. When consulting anyone with health issues, all mental states/disorders must be taken into account for success. It's just like when I work with anyone on academics or business, the psychological component has to be worked on at the same time.

[Michelle Sames · Rating 5 out of 5]

Execellent book with practical recommendations. I am a therapist and refer clients to this book.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't anything new or groundbreaking but that's okay. It's not meant to be. It's evidence based, practical, level headed information on how to be healthy. I especially liked the chapters on the chemicals in our brain and body that relate to stress, anxiety, depression, etc. So interesting!

[Riley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the portions of this book surrounding therapy and therapeutic approaches to healing a drained brain. I thought there was a thoughtful variety of approaches included, and I enjoyed how clearly the author explained them to ensure readers can recreate them at home.

My rating is a result of the nutrition portion of this book. I believe the nutrition discussion was general enough that I doubt it would truly cause readers harm, but this is out of the scope of expertise for a PsyD to give advice on. If you are seeking nutritional advice, then it would be wise to seek out a registered dietician (RD) who has the necessary schooling and expertise to give advice on this subject.

I also did not appreciate how the author favored the word “natural” seemingly in an attempt to put down pharmacological treatments for anxiety disorders. Again, this is out of scope of expertise for a PsyD to give advise on pharmaceuticals. Giving recommendations around pharmaceutical treatments should really fall to your personal healthcare provider, traditionally an MD or DO but depending on laws where you live a NP, PA, or pharmacist.

While the approaches in this book may help someone struggling with an anxiety disorder, they are not a substitute for personalized treatment by medical professionals. This book should be used as a supplement to treatment, not a substitute.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent overview of many ways to improve brain health, specifically to be able to activate the parasympathetic response. There’s not a lot here that was shocking to me. But I like a good reminder of all the benefits of the basics: good nutrition, exercise, meditation. The discussion of the ways all of those things can affect our stress hormones helps bring home the necessity of good habits.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some obvious things in this book, like giving up gluten and sugar and eating more fruits and vegetables, but I thought the author did bring some interesting stuff to the table. I liked that he included what you should be eating every day rather than just what you should be avoiding. I really like the section on energy-based cognitive therapy. That whole part was new to me. I liked that he talked about supplements without putting too much emphasis on them. The best thing about this book is that his program is actually doable (and most I've read are not). It would be tough, but completely possible. Unfortunately, I won't be doing his program, hence the three rather than four stars. Most of the stuff in the book I already do, but I will be more mindful about doing it more often. I love that he says to aim for 80/20. Right now I'm probably 70/30, so it was a good reminder to step it up and I have a few new things to add to my routine. I'm thinking about buying this in paperback, so that I can easily refer back to it. 3.5 stars

[Bindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main thing I got from this book was simple something everyone should know by now, eating healthy and exercising is good for your brain and body.

[Fidelis Eka Satriastanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an unexpected read coz the cover and thickness really intimidating. However, the content is all that matters and it matters a lot.

In modern medicine, the field seems to be compartmentalize to its own field when it comes to human body. It would be out-of-the-question for internist to recommend nutritious food or neurologist to talk about psychology to their patients.

However, Dr. Mike Dow is the whole package of holistic healing. Something quite rare in western medicine which tends to prescribe drugs after drugs after drugs over yoga or even hypnosis.

The book is an easy read though it stays true to its scientific purpose. It explains in the most layman's terms on why we get so anxious and tired.

Its solutions are not strange but if you know why, then how would be easy.

Dr. Mike Dow is a licensed psychiatrist so personally I am amazed that he wrote it like a true neurologist and nutritionist, even yogais.

However, it does not reduce the facts about drained brain.

So, give it a try to read it. It will come handy in the future.

Happy reading good people!

[Merina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't let the subtitle put you off! You don't have to suffer from insomnia or above average levels of anxiety to benefit from every page in this book. If 2020 has taught us anything, it is the importance of looking after our health. This book is a must read and an investment in yourself; it will cover things that your GP simply can't help you with and will give you a 14 day practical plan to take home with you.

As a woman of faith, I was also pleasantly surprised to see the author encourage readers who believe to explore how brain drain could be stopping people from tapping into their faith in times of heightened stress/anxiety. Normally this is vulnerability that is taken advantage of by anti-faith agendas but the author is sensitive and inclusive to all approaches to life and supports readers to utilise the tools at their disposal.

Take ownership of your physical + mental health and order a copy for yourself now. You will not regret it.

[Abigail Westbrook · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh. There are a few helpful ideas here (mostly the thoughts about stress being a huge factor in all health problems), but overall I didn’t agree with many of his suggestions. Some of this is because as a Christian I am uncomfortable with some of the recommendations (ie, hypnosis and various kinds of meditation that are from other religions). He also is wary of herbs, recommending them only hesitantly in one short chapter with many “warnings.” I thought the recipes at least might be useful, but they are mostly weird and unappetizing - not practical or sustainable long term. Oh well.

[Andrijana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful with lots of practical advice. I just wish he didn't go on and on about the negative health effects of not sleeping. Way to make the anxiety associated with sleep worse! Had to skip that.

[Sophie Yerxa-Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

i know the 14 day bit makes this look like a hoax, but honestly this is just a toolkit for managing burnout with a FULL PLAN to help get you going in 14 days.

I HIGHLY recommend to all my burned-out and high-achievement girlies out there.

[Saras A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many practical tips that can be used every day.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need to further study

[gg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clinical but very informative. 4.5 stars!

[Sean Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helped me get a start on fixing my sleep and understand how to better deal with stress

[Michelle Tejada · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was some good information for dealing with stress and anxiety using natural remedies. The writing often repeated what was already said.

[Kathy Plamann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Know

[Hector Salazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un libro interesante y con información que puede ayudar a mejorar el cerebro.

[Kim Paugh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eat well, sleep and meditate. Too much research for me, for what is a pretty simple how-to.