Dr. Anna Lembke: Understanding & Treating Addiction | Episode 33

Huberman Lab

Podcast Notes Key Takeaways Dopamine is not only associated with reward and pleasure but also triggers actionA dopamine spike is associated with a subsequent dopamine deficit where levels fall below baseline – this is the moment you chase more or ride out the tough partPleasure and pain work like a balance in the brain where one is only increased by reducing the otherThe initial entry point into drugs is often a desire to escape pain, not an attempt to seek pleasureYou can be addicted to anythingOnce you become addicted to something you are more vulnerable to addiction to other thingsTo reset the dopamine system and break addictive patterns: go 30 days without interaction with a drug, person, alcohol, social media, gambling, etc.“The first message I want to get across about social media is it really is a drug. And it’s intended to be a drug.” – Dr. Anna LembkeOur collective mission should be to make sure we’re finding ways to connect with others offline

Read the full notes @ podcastnotes.org



This episode I interview Dr. Anna Lembke, MD, Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Lembke is a psychiatrist expert in treating addictions of all kinds: drugs, alcohol, food, sex, video games, gambling, food, medication, etc. Dr. Lembke is also an expert in the opioid crisis, and the author of Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence (https://amzn.to/3AHHGBp).

We discuss the biology and psychology of why people become addicted to certain substances and behaviors and the key role that our "dopamine balance" plays in creating addiction. We also discuss the science and practice of how to conquer addictions, why people relapse and how to avoid relapsing. Dr. Lembke also shares her expertise on topics closely related to addiction such as community, shame and lying and she explains why telling the truth—even about the most basic things in daily life, adjusts dopamine levels in our brain.

This episode is an important one for anyone struggling with addictions of any kind, for their friends and families and for health care professionals. It is also for anyone who has defeated addiction and is determined to stay clean. Last but not least, it helps explain why all humans do what we do, and how we can all maintain a healthy sense of pleasure seeking in life.

 

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Dr. Anna Lembke Links:

Website: https://bit.ly/3iPtGje   Stanford Profile: https://stanford.io/3AI9SEu  Dopamine Nation (new book): https://amzn.to/3AHHGBp 

 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Dr. Anna Lembke, Addiction Expert 00:02:25 Disclaimer & Sponsors: Roka, InsideTracker, Headspace 00:07:00 Dopamine, Happiness & Impulsivity  00:15:56 What Is Pleasure?  00:18:20 Addiction, Boredom & Passion for Life 00:24:00 Pain-Pleasure Balance Controls Addiction 00:29:10 Dopamine Deficits, Anhedonia 00:30:47 Are All Addictions the Same? 00:35:38 Boredom & Anxiety Lead to Creativity  00:40:35 Finding Your Passion Starts with Boredom & Action Steps  00:50:05 How to Break an Addiction 00:55:25 Relapse, Craving & Triggers 01:07:40 Can People Get Addicted To “Sobriety”?  01:11:45 Are We All Wired for Addiction?  01:15:57 Bizarre Addiction 01:18:14 Recovered Addicts Are Heroes 01:20:10 Lying, Truth Telling, Guilt & Shame 01:30:40 Clinical Applications of: Ibogaine, Ayahuasca, Psilocybin & MDMA  01:40:20 Social Media Addiction  01:51:25 Narcissism  01:53:30 Goal Seeking, Success & Surprise 01:58:10 Reciprocity 02:01:15 Closing Comments, Resources

 

Please note that The Huberman Lab Podcast is distinct from Dr. Huberman's teaching and research roles at Stanford University School of Medicine. The information provided in this show is not medical advice, nor should it be taken or applied as a replacement for medical advice. The Huberman Lab Podcast, its employees, guests and affiliates assume no liability for the application of the information discussed.

 

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com