Contents

1. Publisher Note
2. List of Illustrations
3. Before You Begin
4. Introduction: Why I Hate the Term Mental Illness and You Should Too
5. Part 1: Reframing Mental Health as Brain Health Changes Everything
   1. Chapter 1: From Demon Possession to the 15-Minute Med Check: A Brief History of Mental Illness Diagnoses and Treatments
   2. Chapter 2: Making Invisible Illnesses Visible: How Looking at the Brain Disrupts an Outdated Paradigm and Charts a New Path Forward
   3. Chapter 3: 12 Guiding Principles to Change Your Life
   4. Chapter 4: Get Your Brain Right and Your Mind Will Follow: It Starts with Four Circles and Preventing or Treating 11 Risk Factors
6. Part 2: How to Create or Eliminate Mental Illness: A BRIGHT MINDS Approach
   1. Chapter 5: B Is for Blood Flow: Optimize the Foundation of Life
   2. Chapter 6: R Is for Retirement and Aging: When You Stop Learning, Your Brain Starts Dying
   3. Chapter 7: I Is for Inflammation: Quenching the Fire Within
   4. Chapter 8: G Is for Genetics: Know Your Vulnerabilities, But Your History Is Not Your Destiny
   5. Chapter 9: H Is for Head Trauma: The Silent Epidemic That Underlies Many Mental Illnesses
   6. Chapter 10: T Is for Toxins: Detox Your Mind and Body
   7. Chapter 11: M Is for Mind Storms: Soothing the Abnormal Electrical Activity That Drives Mood Swings, Anxiety, and Aggression
   8. Chapter 12: I Is for Immunity and Infections: Attacked from Inside and Out
   9. Chapter 13: N Is for Neurohormone Issues: Miracle Grow for Your Mind
   10. Chapter 14: D Is for Diabesity: Reverse the Epidemic That’s Destroying Brains, Minds, and Bodies
   11. Chapter 15: S Is for Sleep: Wash Your Brain Each Night to Have Brighter Days
7. Part 3: Practical Strategies to End Mental Illness Now
   1. Chapter 16: Mind Meds Versus Nutraceuticals: What Does the Science Say?
   2. Chapter 17: You Cannot Change What You Do Not Measure: Prevention Starts by Knowing Your Important Health Numbers
   3. Chapter 18: Food Made Insanely Simple: The BRIGHT MINDS Diet to End Mental Illness
   4. Chapter 19: How to Make a Massive Difference: Brain Health in Families, Schools, Businesses, Churches, and Anywhere People Congregate
8. Appendix A: How to Find a BRIGHT MINDS Brain Health Practitioner
9. Appendix B: 10 Common Genes That May Influence Brain Health/Mental Health
10. Gratitude and Appreciation
11. About Daniel G. Amen, MD
12. Resources
13. Index