Psychiatry redefined - utilising the four circles of brain health | E090

Dr Ali Ajaz shares his story of how reading the book by Dr Daniel Amen ‘The End of Mental Illness’ redefined how he practises psychiatry and allowed him, through his experience as a forensic psychiatrist, to better serve his patients

Dr Ali Ajaz graduated from Guy's, King's & St Thomas School of Medicine and trained in East London as a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist. He worked in the NHS for 17 years, before starting his own clinical practice in Canary Wharf

Dr Ajaz uses a functional health approach to finding mental health solutions for his patients, with a focus on improving brain health. Dr Ajaz has also enjoyed an academic career as a Senior Clinical Lecturer at Queen Mary University London for 10 years and is currently completing an MD research degree. He is co-chair of the Doctors for Patients UK group that provides free CPD meetings for UK doctors refocusing on patient-centred and ethical medicine

Discussed in this episode:

• 0:01:55 Introduction (after the brain spinning, there is a bit of a pause) 
• 0:03:42 What makes you get out of bed in the morning? 
• 0:05:28 What inspired you to get into psychiatry in the first place? 
• 0:09:42 How did you transition into the forensice space? 
• 0:11:33 Learning about forensic psychiatry and criminal justice - how did that change your practice? 
• 0:17:13 Has the forensic psychiatry and interrogation changed the way you focus on serving your patients? 
• 0:19:50 When did you realise in your journey that drugs don't always work? 
• 0:21:43 The NHS machine and the pandemic 
• 0:24:38 The noose around the neck of every doctor 
• 0:29:43 The framework Dr Ali Ajaz uses: the four circles of brain health 
• 0:36:04 How do you know when a thought is really your thought and not hijacked by someone else? 
• 0:38:41 The psychological trap 
• 0:44:38 Brain health fun FACTS - what's the funniest or most embarassing thing that has ever happened to you? 
• 0:46:44 What's the most daring thing you've ever done? 
• 0:48:29 What really shifted for you at an emotional, physical, mental and spiritual level when you made that transition? 
• 0:52:57 What are the core fundamental elements that you focus on to help people optimise their nutrition? 
• 0:55:35 Macronutrients and micronutrients for mental health problems 
• 1:02:12 Our brain superhighway - SSRI pathways and the impact on our brain receptors and the discontinuation syndrome 
• 1:07:38 What piece of advice would you give to anyone that is struggling with their brain health? 
• 1:11:54 End of show

Connect with Dr Ali Ajaz:

👉 www.draliajaz.co.uk

👉 @draliajaz on Social Media

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Related episodes, books, topics and events

• ‘The End of Mental Illness’ by Dr Daniel Amen
• Joy Prescription with Cynthia Libert MD - Episode 021 https://www.ruthmaryallan.com/blog/joy-prescription-with-cynthia-libert-md-e21
• The impact of COVID on our brain and whole body health, Dr Leo Galland MD - Episode 028 https://www.ruthmaryallan.com/blog/the-impact-of-covid-on-our-brain-and-whole-body-health-e28 
• Celebrating Small Victories with Dr Cheng Ruan - Episode 040 https://www.ruthmaryallan.com/blog/celebrating-small-victories-with-dr-cheng-huai-ruan-e40
• Clowning around with Dr Katyna Rosario at the Amen Clinics - Episode 043  https://www.ruthmaryallan.com/blog/clowning-around-with-dr-katyna-rosario-md-e43
• Staying alive in toxic times with Dr Jenny Goodman - Episode 051 https://www.ruthmaryallan.com/blog/staying-alive-in-toxic-times-with-dr-jenny-goodman 
• Mastering Menopause with Dr Sally Moorcroft - Episode 070 https://www.ruthmaryallan.com/blog/female-hormones-and-the-brain-how-to-master-menopause
• Factors contributing to long Covid and how to reverse it with Dr Leo Galland, MD - Episode 084 https://www.ruthmaryallan.com/blog/factors-contributing-to-long-covid-and-how-to-reverse-it 

Sub Notes (not to be included):

• Julia Ruckeledge - The Better Brain book

https://thebetterbrainbook.com/

Hardy Nutritionals in Canada. Only one place in UK supply. High dose micronutrients.

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