Ask the Expert: Dr. Anna Lembke - Living In A Dopamine WorldAsk the Expert: Dr. Anna Lembke - Living In A Dopamine World
The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast
Anna Lembke, MD is professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. A clinician scholar, she has published more than a hundred peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and commentaries. Dr. Lembke recently appeared on the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, an unvarnished look at the impact of social media on our lives. Her new book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence (Dutton/Penguin Random House, August 2021), an instant New York Times bestseller, explores moderate compulsive overconsumption in a dopamine-overloaded world.
1:01:34•16 Aug 2022
Dr. Anna Lembke: Navigating Addiction in a World Flooded with Dopamine
“What people don't see is, no, you've got to give enough time for your brain to start to rebuild itself in the absence of the drug.”
Ever wondered how our dopamine-driven world impacts addiction and mental health? Dr. Anna Lembke, a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University, sheds light on this in a compelling episode of 'The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast'. With a rich background in addiction medicine and dual diagnosis, Dr. Lembke brings a wealth of knowledge to the table.
She’s the author of the New York Times bestseller 'Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence' and has appeared in the Netflix documentary 'The Social Dilemma'. In this episode, Dr. Lembke dives into the complexities of addiction in today's dopamine-saturated environment. She kicks off with a personal chat about her journey and her groundbreaking book. The discussion then shifts to how social media skews our pleasure-pain balance, leading to overconsumption and mental health struggles. Dr.
Lembke introduces the concept of limbic capitalism, explaining how it fuels our constant need for more. Movement and its role in regulating dopamine levels come under the spotlight, highlighting simple yet effective ways to maintain balance. Dr. Lembke also touches on the rising rates of depression and anxiety, emphasizing our limited understanding of the brain and mental health. She shares practical coping mechanisms and underscores the power of language in managing addiction.
One of the episode's key takeaways is the 'dopamine fast', a technique to help those grappling with addiction reset their brain's reward system. The conversation wraps up with insights into physical brain testing as a tool for better understanding addiction. This episode is a treasure trove of information for anyone dealing with addiction or supporting someone who is. Dr. Lembke's expertise offers a fresh perspective on finding balance in an age of indulgence.
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