How Your Brain Sabotages Your Sex Life! l Dr. Daniel Amen Explains

Jun 17, 2025

Join Dr. Daniel Amen, a renowned psychiatrist and brain health expert, as he uncovers how hidden patterns from our past influence our sex lives. He discusses 'hidden dragons' like anxiety and codependency that sabotage intimacy. Delve into the connection between brain health and sexual wellness, while learning practical tools like positivity bias training and breathing techniques to reset your nervous system. Dr. Amen also addresses cheating addiction and shares insights on how understanding your brain can transform your love life.

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INSIGHT

Ancestral Dragons and Epigenetics

Ancestral dragons show how pain and trauma can inherit through epigenetic codes from previous generations.
Understanding family history can explain unresolved anxiety and grief impacting your nervous system.

ADVICE

Rewrite Your Story for Hope

Rewrite your story by focusing attention on where you want to go instead of where you've been.
Accurate thinking replaces negative thoughts with hopeful, goal-oriented focus.

ADVICE

Positivity Bias Training Practice

Practice positivity bias training by starting the day declaring "Today is going to be a great day."
Each night, list three things that went well to improve mental habits and sleep quality.

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In this episode of Sex with Emily, renowned psychiatrist and brain expert Dr. Daniel Amen joins us to explore how our "hidden dragons", the unconscious patterns from our past, are secretly controlling our happiness, relationships, and sex lives. Based on his latest book, "Your Brain is Always Listening," Dr. Amen reveals how childhood experiences, family trauma, and even ancestral patterns get written into our brains and show up in our intimate relationships. We dive deep into the most common dragons people face, including the anxious dragon, the abandoned and insignificant dragon, and the codependent dragon. Dr. Amen shares his personal journey with these patterns and explains how understanding your dragons can transform not just your mental health, but your sexual wellness too. We explore the connection between brain health and sexual function, why ADD can impact orgasms, and how negative thought patterns become "bad habits" that sabotage intimacy. This episode includes practical tools like positivity bias training, the power of rewriting your story, and specific breathing techniques that can reset your nervous system. Dr. Amen also addresses a listener's question about cheating addiction and explains how brain scans revealed the neurological patterns behind compulsive behavior. Whether you're struggling with commitment issues, sexual anxiety, or just want to understand how your brain affects your love life, this conversation offers both scientific insights and actionable strategies for creating healthier relationships. Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction to Hidden Dragons 01:02 - Dr. Amen's Personal Dragon Story 04:40 - The Abandoned & Insignificant Dragon 08:26 - Most Common Dragons People Face 11:07 - The Ancestral Dragon & Epigenetics 14:18 - Rewriting Your Story & Focus 16:06 - Positivity Bias Training 19:07 - Happiness as Moral Obligation 21:22 - Brain Health & Sexual Function 24:02 - Building Better Mental Habits 27:59 - Listener Q&A: Cheating Addiction 35:12 - ADD & Relationships 38:20 - ADD & Female Orgasms 40:30 - Breathing Techniques for Regulation Join the SmartSX Membership : https://sexwithemily.com/smartsx Access exclusive sex coaching, live expert sessions, community building, and tools to enhance your pleasure and relationships with Dr. Emily Morse. List & Other Sex With Emily Guides: https://sexwithemily.com/guides/ Explore pleasure, deepen connections, and enhance intimacy using these Sex With Emily downloadable guides. SHOP WITH EMILY!: https://bit.ly/3rNSNcZ (free shipping on orders over $99) Want more? Visit the Sex With Emily Website: https://sexwithemily.com/ Let's get social: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sexwithemily/ X https://twitter.com/sexwithemily Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sexwithemily TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@sexwithemily Threads https://www.threads.net/@sexwithemily Let's text: Sign up here https://sexwithemily.com/text

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