How to Heal From Childhood Trauma That Still Controls You | Jim Curtis & Dr. Daniel Amen

How to Heal From Childhood Trauma That Still Controls You | Jim Curtis & Dr. Daniel Amen

Understand the complexities of addiction and trauma with a candid conversation between Dr Daniel Amen and wellness entrepreneur Jim Curtis. Instead of theory or jargon, you’ll hear a real-time brain assessment mixed with raw stories from a tough childhood and a mysterious illness that changed Jim’s life at 20. Jim talks openly about growing up with volatile, drinking parents, describing “hitting, screaming, yelling from both of them” and the long shadow that kind of chaos can cast.

Dr Amen links this to an ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) score of five and explains how early trauma can literally change the brain. He shares that he’s running a huge study with “15,000 tests” and brain scans showing how these experiences can shift brain function. The episode then shifts into hopeful territory.

Jim’s brain scan shows “a really good brain” with some overactive areas related to anxiety, guilt and emotional trauma, plus a small dip that might hint at a past injury. Rather than leaving it there, Dr Amen walks Jim through a practical exercise for challenging what he calls ANTs – automatic negative thoughts.

Together, they test the thought “I did something wrong” using simple questions like, “Is it absolutely true, with 100% certainty?” and “When you believe this, how does it make you feel?” There’s also a powerful reframing moment where Dr Amen suggests nurturing the “four-year-old” inside who still thinks everything is his fault. The message is gentle but clear: thoughts drive feelings, feelings drive behaviour, and behaviour shapes outcomes. Change the thoughts, and life starts to shift.

If you’ve ever felt controlled by old guilt, childhood chaos, or unexplained sadness, this conversation offers brain-based hope and practical tools. What would change for you if you asked, every day, “Is this good for my brain or bad for my brain?”