A Revolutionary Program for Balancing Mood - and Nurturing Spiritual Growth

After seeing a segment of a television program about how to brain effects your joy I was really interested in reading This Is Your Brain on Joy, by Dr. Earl Henslin, and learning more. This book is great read for anyone that has a brain!
Henslin takes the reader through each level of the brain, comparing each part to a level of a house which makes it incredibly easy to remember what type of problems over activity in each brain area causes. Then there is a self-test that you can take to figure out what part or parts of your own brain can use some work. Following the test is a chapter on each one. You can read from cover to cover, or read the beginning and skip right to the chapters that will aid in your own health.
Henslin provides information on how to maintain and reach a healthy state of brain. He offers great tips on nutrition from medicine and supplements, to food. He also offers great resources for the reader to easily find a professional in their area and get help. I personally know I'll be using the great reasons why naps are good for brain health!

I recently got the opportunity to read "This is Your Brain on Joy" by Dr. Earl Henslin for Thomas Nelson as a book reviewer. Thinking the title was a bit cheesy, I nonetheless ordered the book because I was intrigued by its tag line as "A Revolutionary Program for Balancing Mood, Restoring Brain Health, and Nurturing Spiritual Growth".
Dr. Henslin takes a largely medicinal and spiritual approach to treating disorders such as Attention Deficit Disorder, Depression, and etc. Using Dr. Daniel Amen's method of SPECT scans, which are essentially 3D brain scans that indicate different areas of lower and higher activity, Dr. Henslin focuses on methods of "balancing the brain". He makes recommendations such as specific over the counter supplements and even prescription drugs.
Dr. Henslin's book is a very interesting read that will definitely expand your understanding of how the brain functions and proven ways of treating it. However, what it will not do is fix all of your problems. My only real problems with this book are twofold: the constant references to Dr. Amen's supplements for sale on his website and the impression given that by following Dr. Henslin and Dr. Amen's tips, you will always be joyous. This is simply not true. However, what Dr. Henslin has recommended will certainly improve your life and help to balance out a lot of problems rooted in the chemistry of the mind. I recommend this book with minor reservations.

Honestly, the worst part of the book is the cover. It took me a while to get past all the flowers and the depression and anxiety I experienced thinking I was reading a woman's book. Once I got started, though, I quickly learned that the book is for everyone...including people like me who have a tendency to wrestle with depression and anxiety.

Henslin's goal in the book is to help us take steps towards brain health so we can experience joy in our lives. The best part of the book, though, is that Henslin is a Christ-follower yet he doesn't over-spiritualize our brain issues. (We all have them by the way.) Yes, some of how we are raised impacts our joy. Yes, sin in our lives can impact our joy. But, our brain health, which is also impacted be those two things, also impacts our joy.

Henslin uses the latest research in brain science and brain imaging to help us understand how we can experience joy and happiness. What you thought was a spiritual challenge - anger, depression, mood swings, anxiety, addictions - may also be the result of a sick brain that cannot comprehend a good and loving God.

This was a fascinating book. It gave me a whole new perspective on why people (including me) act the way they act and think the way they think. You would really benefit from checking it out. God created our brains. Unfortunately, since we are human, they aren't perfect.

An interesting look at how our brains work based on Dr. Henslin's and Dr. Amen's studies using SPECT scans. There are many different parts of our brains and each part plays a different role in affecting our moods. This book gives detailed description of common mood disorders and then realistic guideline for how to treat each disorder.

This book was very interesting to me. On one hand, I am really into psychology and mood disorders, so this book was very appealing, interesting and insightful. On the other hand, I am a Christian. And the Christian part of me was surprised at the lack of balance between science and spirituality. To me, this was a book about a psychological experiment. I really went into this book blindly looking for a spiritual revelation that would bring great joy into my life. This is not what the book was about. However, as a psychology book, I thought it was great. I like that the author provides a very basic assessment quiz so that you are not guessing what your problem is. And after you've determined your main problem areas, there are explanations of each of the imbalances. What I really like is that this book doesn't just point you to the nearest pharmacy. There are ways to support your physical and emotional health using nutrition, natural remedies, herbs and drugs, if necessary. I found the SPECT scan information extremely interesting, but this book creates a desire to go get one of these scans for yourself, and they are extremely expensive, unattainable for the average person. It is a great science book with just a touch of christian perspective.

Review
This is Your Brain on Joy by Dr. Earl Henslin
The Apostle Paul teaches us that to be filled with joy we need to learn to be content no matter what situation we may find ourselves in. Christ living in us should give us joy but we need to show good stewartship by taking care of our heart and brain. We need to realize that happiness come from within. This book tells us how to care for our brain, how to make it better and how to use it to glorify God. This is a must read for those in the health care profession, those in ministry and those who may be suffering from brain dysfunction or those who have someone in their life that may have lost their joy. Excellent book written in language that you don't have to have a medical degree to understand. Dr. Henslin teaches about chemical imbalances that sometimes take place in the brain. He shows us how the brain is effected by depression, bipolar disorder, ADD, PMS, and other brain dysfunctions, by using a SPECT imaging machine. The book has included a test so you can evaluate your brain. Dr.Henslin proves that if you have lost your joy, it may not be because of sin in your life or the life of your parents. People who suffer brain dysfunctions do not have to feel hopeless, there is hope and healing. Treatment consists of proper nutrition, supplements, herbs, medication, scripture,music, exercise, aromatherapy, cinematherapy,having a support group, bibliotherapy,prayer, anger management and biofeedback. No one treatment is for everyone. The book tells you wish treatments to try, according to which dysfunction you have. I would recommend this book to everyone.
Posted by Shelby T, Dawson at 4:40 AM

Older Post Home
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Tragically, too often in religious circles we've been trying to pray away or spiritualize a brain problem- assuming (however well-intentioned) that we or someone else has a sin problem. Or a character flaw. Or a root of bitterness. Or worse, a demon. (p. 9)

Growing up in the church and, now, serving as a pastor of a church- I cannot help but admit that these things do happen. For this reason, among many others, I gladly sat down to read Dr. Henslin's book.

As I began to read, however, I found myself to be extremely disappointed. The book, at points, was rather cumbersome. As a newcomer to the study of the brain, I found some of the sections to be rather dull and tedious. The technical terms and the scans of the brain, while interesting, could easily go over the reader's head. While some of the language and scans were helpful in helping the reader to later understand a point that Dr. Henslin was making, it seemed that there were far more than were actually necessary.

Moreover, I found the frequent, and what often seemed to be forced, references to Dr. Amen, his research, and his available resources to be out of place and distracting. In some places the references were so plentiful that it seemed as if one was watching a late night informercial.

What is more, the information regarding supplements and medications (cf. pages 79-82) while helpful and for "information purposes only" concerns me. We live in a day and age when people self-medicate. Walking through the nutritional supplement section of the grocery store, or visiting one's local health food store underscores the fact that countless people read books and/or magazines, taking the information contained therein as THE "truth" without ever researching further what the author has to say. People then purchase and consume supplements in quantities much higher than needed by their bodies.

So, while the church has been especially slow to drink from the well of science, a well that includes some very interesting research in the field of neuroscience (especially as it relates to development, cognition, emotions, etc.), I found this book to fall short of stepping into that void and providing a viable and valuable solution that I would recommend to friends or colleagues.

For a relief-filled future, read This is Your Brain on Joy by Dr. Earl Henslin with Becky Johnson. They make the heavy topic of neuroscience seem understandable, approachable, and even light-heartedly hopeful.

Catch the author's quote: "My specific goal in this book is to bring brain science into the average Christian home . . . where hearts are broken by abnormal behaviors or addictions . . . where depressed believers are tortured by thoughts that there is something fundamentally wrong with their souls, when the problem lies between their ears, in a very fixable part of their brains' anatomy."

Well, they reached the GOAL! Find relief from those nagging questions such as "What's wrong with me? Why can't I change? How come I do what I don't want to do? Why can't I feel/be like others? Is God mad at me?" Discover what keeps you from experiencing Life's deep "imperfect" joy!

What a great find! My wife has struggled with ADD and me being a highly-driven and results-oriented person, it is often difficult for me to understand her actions. Not only has This is Your Brain on Joy helped me to understand the symptoms, Dr Henslin has also gone into some possible causes as well as treatments.

One of the points that I really appreciated most is that Dr. Henslin is a Christian doctor and know the Scriptures and has a strong faith, yet tries to drive home the point that one must be willing to take an active approach to overcome personal issues. As Christians, many rely on God to heal them through prayer, yet do not do a single thing to move towards such a recovery. This book will help many that struggle with certain things to learn how to overcome them. This in addition to prayer is something God will use to deliver his people.

There is a very useful test to determine what issues one may be struggling with and therefore which parts of the book will be most useful to the reader. For me, it was like a eureka moment. I had heard my wife talk about her ADD for years, but seeing it in print and connecting the issues she has with ADD through taking the test with her really helped me gain some clarity.

Henslin breaks down the different parts of the brain and isolates conditions that occur in those areas--such as ADD being associated with the prefrontal cortex--and then delivers the treatments specific to them. It's much more than getting a prescription for Ridalin; it's a full regimen of actions, herbal remedies, thoughts, etc. There are even key Bible verses and prayers offered as a way to connect this program with faith and to put trust in God to heal through our active participation.

This is Your Brain on Joy has been a tremendous blessing in our home. I am so grateful for the work of Dr Henslin and his willingness to share his research and wisdom with the world through this book.

What role does your brain play in leading a joyful life? Dr. Earl Henslin addresses this question in his book, This Is Your Brain On Joy. This book advances the theory that our psychological issues and problems may have their roots in our physical brain's functions. Dr. Henslin uses SPECT brain scans to assess patients' brain function and correlates the scan results to the patients' reported symptoms. The examination of the brain scan can confirm issues in brain function and can point to a path of treatment to restore, potentially, normal brain function.

I think that Section Two of this book could possibly provide the most help for people struggling to find joy in life. Dr. Henslin goes through 5 sections of the brain which he terms the "5 mood centers" and explains what part of our life each center affects, what the effects are when that mood center is not functioning normally, plus foods, dietary supplements, activities and/or therapies that can help restore normal functioning. He also lists books and even movies that help shed light on the specific issues involved with each mood center. Chapter Six has a very interesting section dealing with ADD and ADHD. Dr. Henslin also includes an Appendix dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, plus an Appendix answering questions about the SPECT brain scan which can help diagnosis possible brain issues such as those described in the book.

This is a very interesting book which provides many helpful suggestions which provide a path to a more joyful life.

The book sleeve states the book features "a revolutionary program for balancing mood, restoring brain health, and nurturing spiritual growth."

So I went into this books with high hopes on what a renewed/varied/enhanced "walk" might positively impact the prospect of improved health (mentally, physically, etc.). Within the first 10 pages of the book, Henslin states: "Prayer works. Prayer heals...But there is our part, the part God has allowed us to discover and uncover that is just as significant in our journey toward physical or mental healing."

And I stood back a minute and said - science is just as significant as God? That doesn't make too much sense. Surely it's a factor - but to me, to be equally weighed is a bit skewed.

Henslin also notes he believes "that having a better, even simplistic working knowledge of brain problems will help us better represent Jesus." This point is probably a more realistic one than his first. When we know what makes us tick - what foods amplify our conditions, we're more likely to avoid such things - and in doing so, reflect ourselves in a more accurate manner.

Unfortunately, further on into the book, I found it to be more about what supplements and medications to take and less about a spiritual take on all things considered. In every chapter Henslin praises the SPECT brain scan - which is a way for your physician to see how blood is flowing through different areas of your brain. And in doing so he might be able to identify what areas are under or over active - leading to certain behaviors.

Between Henslin's endorsement of Dr. Amen's clinic and the $1,000 brain scan, I was fairly disappointed the book concentrated so much on possible remedies (either available over the counter, through a physician or through a costly scan - which in today's economy is surprisingly tasteless) and less on your spiritual walk.

Granted, Henslin included various scripture passages and songs in support of particular conditions (whether it be anger, depression, anxiety, etc.) but in the end, I think the readers of this book are more apt to quickly seek out a medication in hopes of feeling better.

New knowledge always promotes better understanding and it frequently challeges the status quo. This book does both in a very non-technical readable format. From a Biblical standpoint Dr. Henslin provides possible reasons and solutions for intractable problems that people of faith often wonder about after submitting themselves to counseling, prayer, fasting and other spiritual disciplines. If the truth of these concepts and the science and application can be grasped and embraced within the Christian community as another gift of God for healing, the ultimate result will be nothing less than revolutionary. Dr. Henslin and his writing collaborator , Becky Johnson, have written a book that every person involved in the people helping professions should read.

The cover of this book appears that the flower power generation will be attracted to the hippy power of thinking. But this book is deeper than to just be a free thinker. This book will be great for anyone, especially this time of year, that experiences depression, stress, and low levels of serotonin. This writing has several applications and advice on how to practically apply the principles given within the book. Especially the secret section near the end of the book. You'll definitely have to read this part of the book it was helpful understanding the authors point-of-view. One verse that came to mind when reading this part of the book was Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Dr. Earl Henslin has revolutionized the way we should look at our brains. As Henslin points out, ''not all brains are created equal''. If you have problems with Depression, ADD, ADHD, Anger, Addictions, or any other difficult to live with personality traits, you should give this book a read. The insight given in this book is very helpful to those of us that don't quite understand how our brains work in relation to our personalities. The fact that Dr. Henslin offers Bible references and backs up his findings with Scripture makes this book that much more enjoyable. This could change your outlook on life if you let it, so go ahead and give this one a try!

This book combines a detailed look at the brain and its possible issues with advice on practical ways to improve brain function. I would recommend it for anyone interested in learning "what makes a person tick".

Everyone wants to be joyful, to be happy. What if there was a way to "rewire" your brain to experience all the joy you could possibly handle? What if you learned doctors could, by taking a picture of your brain, tell you exactly what was wrong and how to fix it? Sounds like something you might find in Star Trek, doesn't it?

According to Dr. Earl Henslin, this is not science fiction, but a medical reality. In his book, This Is Your Brain on Joy, Dr. Henslin discusses the diagnoses that are made possible through a brain imaging technique called SPECT imaging as introduced to him by his friend, Dr. Daniel Amen. Dr. Henslin gives a brief overview of the five main areas of the brain ("Mood Centers") that control a person's emotions. With the help of SPECT imaging, he also shows what each area looks like both in a well-balanced brain and in a brain that is not so well-balanced. He provides helpful tips in recognizing problematic symptoms of each Mood Center and gives a list of aids to assist in regaining the proper balance. These aids include eating a proper diet, getting lots of exercise, reading books, listening to music and even watching movies.

On a medical level, this book is rather fascinating in its descriptions of the varying "Mood Centers" of the brain. Using simple terms and nicknames for the more complex medical names, Dr. Henslin describes how each area controls certain moods. He also shows what the brain and subsequent mood would be if each area were damaged or out of balance. The aids at the end of each chapter are very helpful in learning to control or adjust each of the mood centers. Beyond the medical aspects, I found the book lacking in depth. Much of the book comes across as an infomercial for Dr. Amen's products such as his research, his SPECT scanning technology or the medicinal supplements available through Dr. Amen's web site and clinic.

For a book supposedly written from a Christian perspective, there seemed very little solid Biblical application in the underlying overall philosophy. One of the points that jumped out at me was found in the following statement: "Only God knows, see, and can judge how many of our errors are due to our free wills and how many are due to our faulty hardwiring. Let me repeat this: only God knows how much of our wrongdoing is the result of pure rebellion or evil intent and how much is cause by brain imbalances" (p.8). The author seems to be suggesting that some of our wrongdoing is simply not our fault, but rather the fault of a scientific imbalance. In other words, it's out of our control. If we can figure out how to "re-wire" our brains, we will naturally choose good things instead of evil. This theme of using self-medicating remedies to fix our sorrow is repeated throughout the book.

A second concern, and perhaps the most important, is that the pursuit of happiness is seen as the ultimate end, that is, pursuit of happiness for the sake of happiness itself. For instance, on p. 45, Dr. Henslin, in noting that happiness is most often gained in a community setting, quips "It really does take a village to make us happy....It's no wonder that many consider AA [Alcoholics Anonymous] the world's largest church. More real church is probably happening in many of these meetings of honest people in rented office spaces than in some of our greatest and most beautiful cathedrals." If we define "church" as a gathering of people to have a good time and feel happy about ourselves for happiness' sake or even for community's sake, than perhaps this might be true. But if church is defined as the visible gathering of the invisible church to worship God and to feed our spiritual bodies with the meat of God's Word while at the same time fellowshipping with one another, then AA couldn't be further from any resemblance of real church.

In the last chapter, Henslin attempts to bring Scripture back into the picture, but once again misses the mark. Henslin says, "Toward the end of this heartfelt thank-you [Paul's epistle to the Philippians], the aging apostle wrote, `I have learned the secret...' The secret to what? Inquiring minds want to know. `The secret,' Paul writes, `of being content' (4:12)." From this point, Henslin launches into his arguments for why being content helps us to be happier and he almost gets it right. Unfortunately, he takes Paul's letter and almost completely ignores the gospel presented there, focusing only on how we can make ourselves be happier. Instead of the gospel being the foundation for our joy, it is viewed simply as a tool to help us along in achieving personal joy.

This is Your Brain on Joy is a good book for discovering a small part of the medical side of the brain's operations and how we can influence our own moods. But aside from this and the suggestions for improving your mood (which, quite honestly, can probably be found in almost any self-help book of every sort), the book misses the mark of where our true and lasting joy can be found - in the person and work of Jesus Christ for the sake of the glory of God.

In Review: I picked this book up at the Christian bookstore several times and thumbed through it. I would read a section and put it down. When this book showed up on the Thomas Nelson book reviewer list, I decided to order it to read it cover to cover to either confirm or eliminate my initial feelings.

Because I deal with illness on a daily basis, I have had to deal with a lot of doctors. One of the character traits that I have learned to despise in a doctor is one who talks "down" to you because you are a patient. This book reminded me of a doctor who thought he was talking down to his patient because he was so much smarter than them. That was one of the first things that frustrated me when I picked it up in the bookstore and that feeling didn't go away as I was reading it in its entirety.

Also, while I can appreciate PMS being jokingly being referred to as the "pre-monster" syndrome, I draw the line and am offended by the author comparing PMS to bipolar disorder. Having several blogger friends who struggle daily with this disorder... I knew how offensive this statement would be to them and their very real issues.

Dr. Henslin and I disagree on the source of joy. He feels that people don't experience joy because of a sick brain. I understand his stance he is a medical doctor and he has been trained to look for a physical cause of all ailments. However, there are lots of physical ailments that can be caused by things that are not physical at all. During the past year I myself have experienced stress which have caused physical ailments. Did that steal my joy? No because that is not seated in my brain... it is seated in my heart.

Why is this book in the Christian bookstore? Well, I guess because the author threw in some Scriptures to supplement his views on joy. As for me, if you looking for encouragement and ways to feel more joyful... pick up your Bible.