Designs of My Life

This is Your Brain in Love

by Dr. Earl Henslin

This is Your Brain in Love was a very interesting book. Dr. Henslin is a marriage counselor who takes an unconventional approach to marriage problems. He says that many of the relationship problems we face are actually because of brain problems, whether they be imbalances or injuries. He discusses four types of people and the brain issues that they face. They are scattered, overfocused, depressed, and anxious lovers. He devotes a chapter to each of these. In each chapter, he talks about what part of the brain is affected, how it determines a person’s moods and actions, what solutions can be taken (whether therapy, medicine, or simple changes), what to do if you are experiencing these problems, and what to do if your spouse is experiencing them. Another chapter talks about sexuality and spirituality, and how they are interrelated. The last chapter talks about traits that can really help a marriage, whether you have brain imbalances or not. The traits he discusses are kindness, patience, forgiveness, and honesty. For each of these traits, Dr. Henslin tells what it means to have each of these traits, gives practical ways to implement them into your marriage, and tells how each of these traits actually keep your brain and body healthy.

I really enjoyed this book. Granted, the majority of the book did not necessarily apply to my marriage, because neither me nor my husband have the brain issues discussed in the book. But I would definitely recommend this book to someone who is facing one of these problems. Dr. Henslin is very good about giving practical advice, down to what medicines and supplements to take in what dosages. There are also a lot of practical ideas about dealing with these problems in a marriage relationship. The last chapter was my favorite. The tips he gives can be beneficial to any marriage. The chapter on sexuality and spirituality at the beginning is also interesting. He portrays it in a light that most people never consider.

Overall, I really liked the book. If you are experiencing the brain imbalances and problems discussed, I would most definitely recommend this book. If you aren’t, it would probably be worth it to get the book just to read the 2 chapters on sexuality and traits for a good marriage.