Eps 266: Unraveling Anxiety with Dr. Jud Brewer

My guest today is Jud Brewer.

Dr. Jud is a thought leader in the field of habit change and the “science of self-mastery”, having combined over 20 years of experience with mindfulness training with his scientific research therein. 

He is the Director of Research and Innovation at the Mindfulness Center and associate professor in Behavioral and Social Sciences and Psychiatry at the Schools of Public Health & Medicine at Brown University. He is also the executive medical director of behavioral health at Sharecare Inc. and a research affiliate at MIT.

A psychiatrist and internationally known expert in mindfulness training for addictions, Brewer has developed and tested novel mindfulness programs for habit change, including both in-person and app-based treatments for smoking, emotional eating, and anxiety.

Takeaways from the show:

• Jud’s journey with anxiety
• Number needed to treat
• Where anxiety comes from
• Why anxiety has increased in the past year
• Tools to help parents stay calm
• The benefits of mapping habit loops
• How our brains are wired for reward value
• The power of fear and worry in parents
• Becoming disenchanted by your behaviors
• Bigger better offer
• The reward value of worrying vs. being curious
• Mindfulness of emotions
• Cause and effect relationship

For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here.

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