25 QUESTIONS WITH
DR. DANIEL AMEN
BY
JIM JORDAN
Q: What's the happiest moment of your life so far?
A: The happiest moment of my life has been marrying my wife Tana.
Q: Which accomplishment are you most proud of—professionally or personally?
A: Being the little voice in people’s heads helping them do the right things to love their brains and lives.
Q: What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
A: From child Psychiatrist Stanley Greenspan – stop caring what others think… do what you think.
Q: What's something people would never guess about you?
A: I almost went to broadcasting/DJ school out of high school.
Q: What's one thing you believe about the brain that people do not realize?
A: The brain is the organ of personality, decision-making, and character. If your brain is troubled for whatever reason, you’re more likely to have trouble in your life.
Q: What is your morning ritual preparing for your day?
A: I start with gratitude and prayer, walk to the beach with my wife Tana, eat a brain-healthy breakfast or shake, and think intentionally about how I want to serve my employees and patients that day.
Q: Who or what first sparked your interest in the brain and psychiatry?
A: Prior to becoming a Psychiatrist, I served in the Army. I had a patient who became violent during my military training made me realize that if we truly understood the brain, we could help people in much more meaningful ways.
Q: What's a book, movie, or piece of music that's had a big impact on you?
A: Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl has had a profound influence on how I think about purpose, resilience, and hope.
Q: What's a simple pleasure that makes you happy?
A: The simple pleasures that bring me so much joy include going on beach walk with my wife Tana and having meaningful conversations with the people I love most.
Q: In simple terms, what made you decide to specialize in brain health?
A: I realized that mental health is really brain health. If we take better care of the brain, we can often improve people's lives in remarkable ways.
Q: What's the biggest misconception people have about mental health?
A: That mental health challenges are character flaws instead of medical issues involving the brain that can often be improved with the right approach.
Q: What's one everyday habit you wish more people knew could change their brain for the better?
A: The biggest brain imaging predictor for Alzheimer’s Disease is low blood flow. Movement and increased blood flow is one of the most effective ways to support a sharper mind and healthier brain.
Q: What inspired your latest book, and what do you hope readers take away from it?
A: Every book I've written has been inspired by a desire to give people practical tools to improve their brain and their life. My hope is that readers leave feeling empowered rather than overwhelmed.
Q: What's the most rewarding part of the work you do?
A: Watching people regain hope after believing they would never get better.
Q: If someone wants to start taking better care of their brain, where should they begin?
A: Love your brain. Once you value it, you'll make better decisions about sleep, nutrition, exercise, stress, and the thoughts you allow into your mind.
Q: What's one habit you've changed about your own lifestyle because of something you learned through your work?
A: I am incredibly serious about getting 7-9 hours of sleep every night. When you sleep your brain washes itself. I’m much more intentional about protecting my sleep because it’s one of the most important things we can do for brain health.
Q: What do you do to protect your own brain health when life gets stressful?
A: Exercise, prayer, gratitude, quality sleep, and paying attention to my thoughts instead of letting stress take over.
Q: Who has been the biggest influence on the person you've become?
A: God, my family, my mentors and my patients.
Q: Morning person or night person?
A: Morning
Q: Beach, mountains, or somewhere else entirely?
A: The beach. Growing up in California gave me a lifelong appreciation for the ocean.
Q: If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
A: Jesus. I'd ask about wisdom, compassion, and how to best serve others.
Q: Describe yourself in one word.
A: Curious.
Q: If you could give one message to someone who feels like they've lost their way, what would it be?
A: Never lose hope. I’ve signed every book for the last 3 decades using the tagline ‘With Hope”. Your brain can change and heal. Small decisions made consistently can create an entirely different life, I’ve seen it for the past 36 years with my patients and people who have healed at Amen Clinics.
Q: What are you most looking forward to in the years ahead?
A: Continuing to advance brain health, reach more people around the world, and help prevent suffering before it starts.
Q: Who in your life keeps you grounded?
A: My wife Tana, my kids, family, my team, and my faith remind me every day of what truly matters.
Photographer / Creative Director: @jimjordanphotography @whitecrossmanagement
Cover Star: Dr. Daniel Amen @doc_amen
Stylist: @jimjordanphotography
Grooming Products: @whitecrossbeauty
Wardrobe: @whitecrosscollections
Production: @whitecrossproductions_
Location: @whitecrossstudios