Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee BITESIZE | Why We Are All Addicts | Dr Anna Lembke #345
14 snips
Mar 17, 2023 
Dr. Anna Lembke, a Stanford University psychiatry professor and author of 'Dopamine Nation,' discusses the pervasive issue of addiction in modern society. She explores how our environment and technology contribute to unhealthy behaviors, emphasizing the balance between pleasure and pain. Lembke highlights the need for self-awareness and moderation in our pursuit of enjoyment. She also offers practical strategies, like dopamine fasting, to regain control and promote mental well-being.
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The Modern Plague of Addiction
- We live in a dopamine-overloaded world where everything is excessively stimulating, accessible, and potent.
- This constant overstimulation has essentially turned us all into addicts, contributing to modifiable risk factors like poor diet and lack of exercise.
The Pleasure-Pain Balance
- Pleasure and pain are processed by the same brain areas, operating like a balance that seeks equilibrium.
- When we experience pleasure, our brain downregulates dopamine, leading to a 'come down' and craving for more.
Email Attachment
- Dr. Anna Lembke acknowledges her own struggle with email addiction, despite avoiding social media.
- She practices a weekly digital Sabbath, finding it difficult initially but ultimately freeing.
