Odette Annable: On Perfectionism & the Pressure to Hold It All Together

Change Your Brain Every Day

Dr Daniel Amen

Braintrauma, Healthtips, Sleep, Obesity, Anxiety, Braininjury, Depression, Ptsd, Mentalhealth, Mood, Brainhealth, Health & Fitness, Energy, Disease, Addiction, Mental Health, Healthadvice, Adhd, Memory, Focus

4.6 • 1.8K Ratings

🗓️ 6 October 2025

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Actress and mom Odette Annable sits down with Dr. Daniel Amen for a raw look inside her brain scan—and what it reveals about her struggles with ADHD, perfectionism, criticism, and the pressure to be "the strong one." Odette shares what it's like to feel hyper-productive yet scattered, zigzagging through her day only to end up frustrated—like there's a cap on her potential she can't break through. From growing up in pageants to navigating marriage and parenting a child with ADHD, Odette shares how her brain wiring fuels reactivity, stress, and self-doubt—and what she's learning to do differently to create a healthier brain and a stronger family.

Transcript

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0:00.0	We are not speaking the same language. And if we can be patient with each other and learn how to speak each other's language, I don't think you could touch us.
0:10.3	I have a lot of masculine energy or like directness. And so they have this guard up when I'm not spoken to in this like a baby chick.
0:19.1	You know, our therapist says, you got to be the baby chick if you want him to treat you like the baby chick. But I'm like, but I am the baby chick. Shouldn't he know that he should just... He shouldn't know anything. Be the baby chick, but... You have to teach him, and you have to teach her what works and what doesn't. Odette Annable is an American actress. She is known for various roles in film and television.
0:39.3	Including Dr. Jessica Adams in the medical drama series, House.
0:43.3	I never thought I struggled in school, but now looking back, I really struggled.
0:47.3	I would read books and my brain would just start going,
0:51.3	and then I'd finish the book, then I'd say well hell I don't
0:55.2	even know what I read but I've always been really scattered I bounce I feel like I'm a
0:59.5	squirrel and at the end of it I'm so frustrated because I feel like I could be doing so much more
1:05.6	and I feel like I have so much potential but there's a cap to what I'm able to do and it's so
1:10.4	frustrating every day have so much potential but there's a cap to what I'm able to do and it's so frustrating.
1:14.1	Every day you are making your brain better or you are making it worse. Stay with us to learn
1:21.0	how you can change your brain for the better every day.
1:36.3	There are days when I need to be at my best, whether it's back-to-back clinic sessions, long writing days, or just keeping up with life.
1:40.3	That's when I take peak energy from Brain MD. It gives me clean, steady energy without jitters
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2:04.4	If you want real energy that lasts,
2:07.3	check it out at BrainMD.com and use the code,
2:09.6	podcast 20 for 20% off.
2:14.7	Well, welcome to an incredible episode, Change Your Brain.
2:21.7	Every day, we're going to do family scans today.
	...

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