The Wheel of Misfortune: Where ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression Intersect in the Brain – A Functional Neurologist's Approach to Mental Health

In this powerful episode of the Crackin’ Backs Podcast, we sit down with Functional Neurologist Dr. Michael Bagnell to explore the brain from the inside out — not metaphorically, but through the lens of imaging, neuroplasticity, and real-time case studies. Titled “The Wheel of Misfortune,” this discussion unpacks what happens when mental health, neuroscience, and modern diagnostics collide — revealing the truth behind ADHD, depression, anxiety, and the brain's incredible ability to heal.

It’s Not Just Chemical: The New Paradigm of Brain-Based Disorders
For decades, mental health was mostly seen through the lens of chemical imbalances — treatable with prescriptions like SSRIs, Adderall, or benzodiazepines. But what if the problem isn’t the chemistry... but the hardware itself?
Dr. Bagnell challenges the old guard. Citing figures like Dr. Daniel Amen and Andrew Huberman, he explains that modern tools like brain mapping, eye tracking, and cognitive performance testing now let us see what’s going on beneath the symptoms. It's not just about "feeling sad" or "being distracted" — it’s about whether brain networks are under- or over-firing.

ADHD, Anxiety, Depression: A Venn Diagram of Dysfunction
Rather than seeing ADHD, anxiety, and depression as separate diagnoses, Bagnell frames them as overlapping territories in the brain. Each may share disrupted regions in the brainstem, frontal lobe, and temporal lobe, and can cascade into one another. This insight alone can reshape how we approach treatment, especially in children and teens who are often misdiagnosed and overmedicated.

Neuroplasticity: The Brain's Built-In Reset Button
The most hopeful takeaway? Neuroplasticity is real. The brain isn't a fixed machine — it's moldable. By understanding sensory input pathways (the eyes, ears, and body), Dr. Bagnell walks us through how precise therapies — even as simple as targeted vestibular exercises — can rewire the brain in real-time.
He shares the astonishing story of a formerly active nurse who became wheelchair-bound after a concussion. Written off as just "depressed," her turning point came not from more medication but from vestibular therapy using sensory-driven brain training. The results? She stood up without fear for the first time in months and said, “I feel like myself again.”

Rethinking ADHD and Over-Arousal: Are We Revving the Wrong Engine?
ADHD isn't just about lack of attention — it's often over-arousal of the dopamine-producing regions in the brainstem. Medications like Adderall may temporarily help with focus but do so by amplifying an already overactive system — like driving in 6th gear all day long.
Dr. Bagnell’s alternative? Brain modulation through sensory input. Using eye movement therapy, vestibular drills, and proprioceptive stimulation, he helps rebalance hyperactive brain regions and restore sustainable focus — all without overstimulating the system further.

The Cultural Crisis of Performance at Any Cost
From overstimulated kids glued to iPads to high-achieving adults microdosing Adderall, our culture is obsessed with performance — but at what emotional cost?
Dr. Bagnell points out a disturbing trend: high-functioning adults — especially mothers and professionals — seeking emotional escape through cannabis, alcohol, or pharmaceuticals. Meanwhile, teens self-medicate with black-market ADHD meds and antidepressants, attempting to soothe a brain constantly stuck in overdrive.
What’s missing? Emotional capacity and recovery. You can push your brain to perform, but if the emotional circuits can’t keep up, burnout is inevitable.

Actionable Steps for Parents (and Adults): Rewire, Don’t Just Suppress
So, what can parents and adults do today — especially if they don’t have access to a functional neurologist?
✅ Start with the body: Chiropractic adjustments, massage, and vibratory therapy can help regulate the nervous system from the bottom up.
✅ Vestibular and visual inputs: Use tools like BrainTap or binaural beats to influence brainwave activity.
✅ Get a brain map: Quantitative EEG testing can pinpoint areas of over- or under-activity, making treatment more precise.
✅ Clean up the diet: Hidden food sensitivities can drive inflammation that affects the brain. Look at IgG panels, not just IgE.
✅ Encourage varied exercise: From resistance training to HIIT to yoga, variety activates multiple brain regions and regulates neurotransmitter release.
✅ Rethink the overscheduling trap: More sports and music lessons aren’t always better. Sometimes, what a child needs most is rest and regulation.

Beyond the Label: Treating the Hardware, Not the Diagnosis
Dr. Bagnell is clear: He doesn’t “treat ADHD” or “fix depression.” He finds and addresses the neurological imbalances that express themselves as those conditions. By working on the frontal-temporal lobe connections, balancing autonomic responses, and recalibrating brain networks, the symptoms often resolve themselves.
The diagnosis might help get a child extra time on a test — but it doesn’t explain why the brain is dysregulated in the first place. That’s where functional neurology steps in.

Final Thoughts: The Brain Is the Gateway to Transformation
Whether you're a parent navigating your child’s ADHD, an adult juggling emotional overload, or a healthcare provider seeking new tools, this episode offers hope.
Not false hope. Not quick fixes. But real, measurable, science-backed strategies rooted in neuroscience, empathy, and personal agency.
Mental health isn’t just a matter of managing symptoms — it’s about understanding the brain, treating the hardware, and building a sustainable path forward.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on your favorite podcast platform or watch the episode here
🔬 To learn more about Dr. Michael Bagnell’s work and personalized neurological care, visit:
👉 BagnellBrainCenter.com
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