Natasha had put up with years of abuse from Brenden, including 'muffing' - which she described as a push to the face
Trigger warning: This article contains details about domestic abuse, which could be upsetting to some readers.
For years, Brenden had been yelling at his wife Natasha, pushing her face during arguments, picking fights, and making threats. But it turns out, there was something deeper going on – something inside his brain.
After eight years of marriage, Natasha finally reached a point where she couldn't take it anymore. She reached out to Dr. Phil for help, hoping to understand what was really causing Brenden's anger issues.
Brenden sits down with Dr. Bradley Jabour to discuss brain imaging
YouTube/Dr. Phil
Even though she had been through so much, Natasha hadn’t left Brenden. He, on the other hand, admitted that his anger tends to spiral when he feels anxious or overwhelmed.
"I'm hoping for some type of outcome for me and my family," Brenden shared, his voice laced with both regret and hope for change.
Dr. Bradley Jabour, a top neuroradiologist known worldwide, stepped in to conduct brain scans and explained what he was looking for in the results. His expertise would shed light on whether there was an underlying neurological cause to Brenden's behavior.
"For some reason, this anxiety and fear that just torments you triggers an anger where you will act out and maybe even hurt other people you love around you. The question for me today is, really, is your brain structurally normal?"
Anxiety and Brain Function
Dr. Jabour continued, emphasizing how powerful the scans were in revealing the brain's architecture and its functionality. The scans aimed to identify any potential issues, such as brain injuries, that could be causing emotional regulation problems.
"So we have these powerful techniques which can look at the architecture of your brain, but also get an idea of the functioning of your brain. So we're looking for any possible stigmata of brain injury which could be caused by other things other than actual injury," Dr. Jabour explained.
"Brendan, this next scan will be four minutes tomorrow with Dr. Phil. We'll have all the data together, and we'll be able to analyze and provide him with some road map as to what possibly could help."
The Shocking Truth
When the scan results were finally revealed on the show, the findings were a shock to everyone – especially Brenden, who became emotional when he saw the truth laid out.
"I was surprised, you know, in talking to Brenden initially, and he mentioned that he had never had any experience of an impactful head trauma," Dr. Jabour began. "And we see evidence that looks like at some point somewhere, somebody should sit with Brenden and try and find out when did he get a hit on the head or knocked unconscious, possibly something that maybe he doesn’t remember, but it probably did happen, because there's several of these areas of gliosis were scar tissue."
Brenden's Emotional Reaction
Natasha had put up with years of abuse from Brenden, including "muffing" – which she described as a push to the face. Yet, at that moment, the revelation that Brenden’s anger might have been connected to physical trauma from the past stirred up a whirlwind of emotions for him.
YouTube/Dr. Phil
Dr. Jabour went on to explain that the scans showed seven different areas of scarring in Brenden’s brain. He urged him to consider counseling as a step toward healing. Brenden, overwhelmed by the information, couldn’t hold back his tears.
"I'm not sure if you can tie in the anger issues with a particular moment in his life, or has he always been angry, even as a 12, 13, 15-year-old?" Dr. Phil asked thoughtfully.
Dr. Jabour’s Assessment: Abnormal Findings
When Dr. Phil asked whether the scan results were considered out of the ordinary, Dr. Jabour confirmed: "Abnormal? Yes." He further emphasized how these results could be directly linked to Brenden’s ongoing struggles with emotional regulation.
A Path Toward Healing
Although the scan results revealed significant findings, the journey toward healing for Brenden and Natasha would take time. Dr. Jabour stressed the importance of seeking both neurological and emotional support in overcoming anger issues and restoring healthy relationships. For Natasha, her willingness to seek help was a critical turning point, offering hope that Brenden could find the support he needed to heal and change his behavior.
