Huberman Lab Dr. Anna Lembke: Understanding & Treating Addiction
1919 snips
Aug 16, 2021 
Dr. Anna Lembke, Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, dives deep into the fascinating world of addiction. She discusses the complexities of various addictions, including the impact of dopamine on behavior. Lembke emphasizes the importance of truth-telling in recovery and confronts the role of shame. The conversation explores innovative treatments, including psychedelics, while advocating for a 30-day reset to reshape our dopamine systems. Listeners gain insights into avoiding relapses and the significance of community support in overcoming addiction.
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Dopamine Baseline
- Dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and movement, is released at a baseline rate.
- Pleasure and pain cause deviations from this baseline, not just dopamine "hits" in a vacuum.
Lowered Dopamine Baseline
- Chronic exposure to high-dopamine substances or behaviors can lower the baseline dopamine level.
- This lowered baseline contributes to a dopamine deficit state, similar to depression.
Pleasure and Pain in Addiction
- Pleasure is a complex experience, involving both seeking highs and escaping pain.
- Addiction often starts with seeking pleasure but shifts to avoiding pain and withdrawal.
