Brain Inflamed: Uncovering the hidden causes of anxiety, depression and other mood disorders in adolescents and teens

Description

From renowned integrative family physician Dr Kenneth Bock, a groundbreaking approach to understanding and treating mental health among adolescents and teens. Over the past decade, the number of 12- to 17-year-olds suffering from mental health disorders has more than doubled. While adolescents and teens are notorious for mood swings and rebellion, parents today are navigating new terrain as their children are increasingly at risk of struggling with a mental health issue. But the question remains: What is causing this epidemic of illness? In Brain Inflamed, acclaimed integrative doctor Dr Kenneth Bock shares a revolutionary new view of adolescent and teen mental health - one that suggests many of the mental disorders most common among this population (including depression, anxiety, and OCD) may share the same underlying mechanism: systemic inflammation. In this groundbreaking work, Dr Bock explains the essential role of the immune system and the microbiome in mental health, detailing the ways in which imbalances in these systems - such as autoimmune conditions, thyroid disorders, or leaky gut syndrome - can generate neurological inflammation. While most conventional doctors assume that teens' psychological struggles can be resolved only with therapy and psychotropic drugs, Dr. Bock's approach considers the whole-body health of his patients. In his integrative evaluations, he often uncovers triggers such as gluten sensitivity, adrenal dysfunction, Lyme disease, and post-strep infections - all of which create imbalances in the body that can generate psychological symptoms. Filled with incredible stories from Dr. Bock's more than thirty years as a practising physician, Brain Inflamed explains the biological underpinnings of many common mental health issues, and empowers the parents and family members of struggling teens with practical advice - and perhaps most importantly, hope for a brighter future.

Dr Kenneth Bock is an internationally known pioneer of integrative medicine, bestselling author, and in-demand national and international speaker. His patients come from all over the world to seek treatment at his private practice, Bock Integrative Medicine (www.bockintegrative.com) in New York, and over the course of his thirty-five year career, he has become known for his unique ability to identify and untangle the most complex, multi-symptomatic medical cases. He speaks regularly at international conferences across the globe. Dr Bock is Board Certified in Family Medicine, a certified clinical nutrition specialist, and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice and the American College of Nutrition. He is the former president of the American College for Advancement in Medicine, where he continues to be a member, and has been a faculty member of the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) since 2009. He is the recipient of the 2007 Linus Pauling Award.

Dr. Bock is a leader in integrative medicine, and his latest book, Brain Inflamed, will be a game-changer for parents desperately looking for answers to their children's unexplained mental health struggles. In this revolutionary book, Dr. Bock illuminates the biological underpinnings of psychological disorders in kids and offers both reassurance and practical solutions. The body is miraculous and you have more power over your health than you think; let Dr. Bock show you the way -- Kris Carr, New York Times Bestselling Author and Wellness Activist There's no question that gut-based inflammation has widespread, systemic effects throughout the body-and can even affect the brain. In this rigorous and helpful book, Dr. Kenneth Bock explains how and why young people may be especially vulnerable to neuroinflammation as a result of both common viruses and bacteria, as well as lifestyle choices, and provides an integrative approach to healing -- Steven Gundry, MD, New York Times bestselling author of THE PLANT PARADOX and THE LONGEVITY PARADOX In Brain Inflamed, Dr. Kenneth Bock identifies the insidious, hidden cause of so many mental health disorders in adolescents and teens: neuroinflammation. This accessible, comforting, and illuminating book will offer a lifeline to kids who are struggling as well as much-needed resources and support for their families -- Mark Hyman, MD, New York Times bestselling author of FOOD: WHAT THE HECK SHOULD I EAT?