Huberman Lab
Dr. Paul Conti: Therapy, Treating Trauma & Other Life Challenges
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Trauma changes the way our brains function and can be seen in behavior, mood, anxiety, sleep, and physical health.
- Recognizing changes in behavior, mood, anxiety, sleep, and physical health can indicate underlying trauma.
- Healing from trauma involves addressing emotional arousal and negative fantasies directly, through journaling, self-reflection, and talking to a trusted person.
- When seeking therapy for trauma, it is important to find a qualified therapist experienced in trauma treatment and consider therapeutic approaches like CBT, DBT, EMDR, or somatic experiencing.
- Psychedelics, when used under professional guidance, can help individuals be fully present and release negative thought patterns, but require caution and respect.
Deep dives
Trauma and its Definition
Trauma is defined as an experience that overwhelms our coping skills and leaves us different as we move forward. It changes the way our brains function and can be seen in our behavior, mood, anxiety, sleep, and physical health. Trauma that changes brain functioning can lead to guilt and shame, which often lead us to avoid looking at the changes inside us. However, facing trauma and putting words to it through dialogue, writing, or talking to a trusted other can help us explore the changes inside us and bring about a sense of relief and understanding.
Identifying Trauma
Determining if someone has trauma is not always easy, as it involves recognizing changes in behavior, mood, anxiety, sleep, and physical health. Trauma that rises to the level of changing brain function is not just about having a negative experience, but something that overwhelms coping skills and alters the way we perceive the world. People with trauma often experience reflexive guilt and shame, which can lead to burying and avoiding the trauma. However, listening to one's own internal dialogue and observing repeated negative thoughts or behaviors can be an indication of underlying trauma.
Addressing Arousal and Negative Fantasies
Dealing with emotional arousal and negative fantasies caused by trauma is essential for healing. It is important to approach trauma directly instead of avoiding or repeating it. Various approaches can be helpful, including journaling, self-reflection, and talking to a trusted person. Through introspection and questioning the origins of negative thoughts, individuals can gain new perspectives and challenge maladaptive thinking patterns. Bringing a sense of curiosity to one's thoughts and emotions can help identify patterns, separate oneself from trauma-related beliefs, and foster a compassionate understanding of oneself.
Finding a Therapist and Therapeutic Approaches
Finding a therapist who specializes in trauma can be beneficial for individuals seeking professional help. A skilled therapist can provide a safe space to explore trauma, guide the therapeutic process, and facilitate healing. When looking for a therapist, it is important to assess their qualifications, experience, and expertise in trauma treatment. Additionally, therapeutic approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and somatic experiencing have shown effectiveness in trauma treatment. However, the choice of therapeutic approach may vary based on individual needs and preferences.
The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelics
Psychedelics, such as psilocybin and LSD, have gained momentum as therapeutic tools due to positive data from academic and clinical studies. Used under professional guidance and in the right set and setting, they can have a significant positive impact. These substances are believed to take us out of the cortex, where we tend to get caught up in survival-focused thoughts, and into deeper parts of the brain associated with our experience of true humanness. By narrowing our attentional perspective, psychedelics can help us be fully present and release us from negative thought patterns. However, their use should be approached with caution and respect due to potential risks.
The Value of Medication in Therapy
Medication can be a valuable tool in therapy when used appropriately and under professional guidance. In the case of conditions like ADHD, bipolar disorder, and OCD, medication can help stabilize symptoms and enable more effective engagement in therapy. It is important not to over-rely on medication as a solution, and therapy should always be a central component of treatment. It is crucial to match the right medication to the specific diagnosis and individual needs, and to regularly assess its effectiveness. Overuse or misuse of medication can lead to negative effects and further complications.
Considerations and Risks of Cannabis
Cannabis can have potential benefits in managing conditions like anxiety and sleep issues for some individuals. However, it is important to be mindful of the risks and limitations associated with cannabis use. While it is often considered safer than alcohol, cannabis can still have negative effects and impact cognitive function, judgment, and vigilance. Usage should be approached cautiously, and individuals should be aware of their specific needs and the potential hazards. Responsible and informed use in accordance with applicable laws and regulations is essential.
The Importance of Addressing Trauma in Therapy
Addressing trauma is a crucial aspect of therapy, as trauma can significantly impact a person's well-being and functioning. Trauma can shape our perspectives and behaviors, and it is important to process and work through these experiences to achieve healing and growth. Therapy and therapeutic approaches aim to unravel the effects of trauma, allowing individuals to develop better coping mechanisms, release guilt and shame, and gain a deeper understanding of themselves. Through effective therapy, individuals can find relief, enhance their functionality, and positively transform their lives.
Importance of Self-Care and Basic Needs
Taking care of oneself is a fundamental aspect that is often overlooked. Basic needs such as sleep, proper nutrition, exercise, and social interactions play a crucial role in maintaining good mental health. Neglecting these basic needs can have a negative impact on overall well-being and hinder the healing process.
Language and its Impact
Language is a powerful tool that can both help and harm. It is important to use language carefully, both in discussing trauma and in everyday interactions. Specificity in language is essential to convey the severity of trauma and other mental health issues. However, the overcontrol or inappropriate use of language can perpetuate division, anger, and vulnerability. We must find a middle ground and set standards for how we communicate to foster understanding, respect, and empathy.
My guest this episode is Dr. Paul Conti, M.D., a psychiatrist and expert in treating trauma, personality disorders and psychiatric illnesses and challenges of various kinds. Dr. Conti earned his MD at Stanford and did his residency at Harvard Medical School. He now runs the Pacific Premiere Group—a clinical practice helping people heal and grow from trauma and other life challenges. We discuss trauma: what it is and its far-reaching effects on the mind and body, as well as the best treatment approaches for trauma. We also explore how to choose a therapist and how to get the most out of therapy, as well as how to do self-directed therapy. We discuss the positive and negative effects of antidepressants, ADHD medications, alcohol, cannabis, and the therapeutic potential of psychedelics (e.g., psilocybin and LSD), ketamine and MDMA. This episode is must listen for anyone seeking or already doing therapy, processing trauma, and/or considering psychoactive medication. Both patients and practitioners ought to benefit from the information.
For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.
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Timestamps
(00:00:00) Dr. Paul Conti, Trauma & Recovery
(00:02:48) Sponsors: AG1, LMNT
(00:07:00) Defining Trauma
(00:14:05) Guilt & Shame, Origins of Negative Emotions
(00:21:38) Repeating Trauma, the Repetition Compulsion
(00:28:23) How to Deal with Trauma & Negative Emotions/Arousal
(00:37:17) Processing Trauma, Do You Always Need a Therapist?
(00:45:30) Internal Self-talk, Punishing Narratives & Negative Fantasies
(00:51:10) Short-Term Coping Mechanisms vs. Long-Term Change
(00:53:22) Tools: Processing Trauma on Your Own, Journaling
(00:57:00) Sublimination of Traumatic Experiences
(01:02:34) Tool: Finding a Good Therapist
(01:07:20) Optimizing the Therapy Process, Frequency, Intensity
(01:14:51) Tool: Self-Awareness of Therapy Needs, Mismatch of Needs
(01:16:35) Self-talk & Journaling, Talking to Trusted Individuals
(01:19:00) Prescription Drugs & Treating Trauma, Antidepressants, Treating Core Issues
(01:28:35) Short-term vs. Long-Term Use of Prescription Drugs, Antidepressants
(01:32:18) Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) & Prescription Drugs
(01:37:31) Negative Effects of ADHD Prescription Drugs
(01:40:37) Alcohol, Cannabis – Positive & Negative Effects
(01:44:53) Psychedelics: Psylocibin & LSD, Therapeutic Uses, Trauma Recovery
(01:54:32) Sentience, Language, Animals
(01:55:48) Psychedelic Hallucinations, Trauma Recovery
(02:00:01) MDMA (Therapeutic Uses)
(02:04:47) Clinical Aspects of MDMA
(02:07:28) Language, Processing Trauma, Social Media, Societal Divisions
(02:15:09) Defining “Taking Care of Oneself”
(02:21:13) Dr. Conti, Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Instagram, Twitter, Neural Network Newsletter
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