Episode 86: Dr. Loretta Breuning

Loretta Graziano Breuning, Ph.D. is the author of Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin, and Endorphin Levels. She founded the Inner Mammal Institute to help people build new neural pathways to turn on their happy chemicals in new ways. (www.InnerMammalInstitute.org) As a Professor of Management at California State University, and a mom, Loretta was not convinced by prevailing theories of human motivation. While researching alternatives, she uncovered the brain chemistry we share with animals. She learned that each happy chemical evolved to motivate a specific survival behavior, not to make you feel good all the time for no reason. Then everything made sense, and she began creating resources to spread this knowledge: books, videos, blogs, podcasts, infographics, slide shows, social media, and a training program. Loretta's work has helped thousands of people "make peace with the animal inside." And she still marvels every day at the overlap between a wildlife documentary and the lyrics to a love song. Dr. Breuning’s work has been translated into Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, French, Turkish, and German. She has been quoted in Forbes, NPR, the Wall St. Journal, Fox, Time, NBC, Psychology Today, Cosmopolitan, Real Simple, and Psychologies. Her podcast is "The Happy Brain," and she's been a guest on many podcasts, including Almost 30, James Altucher, Brainfluence, Recovery Unscripted, Fat Burning Man, Humans 2.0, and Yogabody. Details at InnerMammalInstitute.org. To become a Certified Inner Mammal Trainer and help people make peace with their inner mammal, check out our new training program at InnerMammalInstitute.org/training.

In this Episode:

Dr. Breuning’s personal and professional journey

Neurochemistry & the disease model

Neural pathways & reward center wiring

Alternative experiences & dealing with life on life’s terms

Understanding brain wiring and behavior

Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphin

The Inner Mammal Institute and Inner Mammal Method

Satiation

Expectation management and Distress Intolerance

Dr. Breuning’s take on addiction and Building Neuropathways

What’s next?

Signature Question

Follow Dr. Breuning:

Website: https://innermammalinstitute.org/

Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/loretta-g-breuning-phd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorettabreuning/

Books: https://www.amazon.com/Loretta-Graziano-Breuning/e/B001K8RYKU%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.