344: How to Break Your Addiction to Junk Food, Social Media, and Negative Emotions | Alok Kanojia, MD
Nov 15, 2023
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Psychiatrist Alok Kanojia discusses addiction to food, porn, social media, negative emotions, and alcohol. They explore the negative impact of social media on emotions and the addictive nature of junk food and pornography. The design of addictive social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram is explored. Positive effects of video games on mental health are discussed along with the benefits of martial arts for gamers. The importance of self-awareness and caution in using supplements for mental health are emphasized.
Overstimulation from social media, processed foods, and pornography can hinder emotional regulation.
Engaging in activities that promote emotional well-being is crucial to combat the negative impacts of excessive stimulation.
Cultivating self-awareness is essential for battling addiction and improving mental health in a society filled with external distractions.
Deep dives
Effects of Overstimulation on the Brain and Mental Health
Overstimulation, from various sources such as social media, ultra-processed foods, and pornography, can have negative effects on our brain and mental health. Excessive stimulation prevents us from processing our emotions and events, leading to challenges in emotional regulation. Big media giants and technology play a role in competing for our attention, exacerbating the negative impact. To combat this, it is important to create time to decompress and engage in activities that promote emotional well-being.
Dr. Alok Kanojia's Personal Journey and the Establishment of Healthy Gamer
Dr. Alok Kanojia, a private psychiatrist and co-founder of Healthy Gamer, shares his personal journey of overcoming addiction and failure to become a Harvard-trained physician. Through Healthy Gamer, he applies performance psychiatry, Eastern mental health, and evidence-based addiction psychiatry to help gamers and discuss mental health issues. By sharing his own experiences, Dr. Kanojia aims to inspire and reassure others facing similar challenges. He highlights the importance of leveraging technology for good and recognizes the potential for positive change in society.
The Relationship Between Gaming and Martial Arts
There is an interesting overlap between gaming and martial arts. Many gamers find fulfillment in competitive gaming and martial arts because they provide a sense of challenge, progression, and a community. Martial arts can build confidence, offer a spiritual aspect, and empower individuals to defend themselves physically. While not all gamers are bodybuilders or martial artists, these activities can provide a sense of accomplishment and ego-friendly environments.
Understanding and Managing the Ego
The ego plays a protective role and arises when we experience negative emotions. In today's society, where comparison and external validation are prevalent, the ego can easily become overactive. By metabolizing negative emotions and working on emotional wellness, we can lessen the control of the ego. Becoming aware of ego-driven thoughts and comparisons is also crucial in gaining control. Meditation practices, like Shunya meditation, can help individuals connect with their true selves, beyond ego-driven constructs.
Importance of Cultivating Self-Awareness
Cultivating self-awareness is crucial for battling addictions and improving mental health. According to an addiction psychiatrist, lack of internal awareness is correlated with vulnerability to addiction. In his clinical work, he found that patients often relapse because they are blind to the psychological needs and stress building up within them. Cultivating self-awareness helps individuals better understand and manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. However, in our modern society, external distractions, such as technology and constant notifications, make it challenging to be self-aware.
The Healing Power of Dissolving the Self
The dissolution of the self, achieved through practices like meditation, exercise, or psychedelic experiences, has therapeutic value. It helps individuals transcend their ego and connect with others. Dissolving the self can lead to a state of wonder, awe, or a flow state, where one loses the sense of time and self-consciousness. Dissolving the self has been associated with healing, as shutting off the default mode network in the brain can reduce depression and anxiety symptoms. This state of transcendence allows individuals to gain a broader perspective and observe their thoughts and emotions without getting caught up in them.
Alok Kanojia is a psychiatrist in Boston, MA. His integrative medical and psychiatric training includes Harvard Medical School’s MGH/McLean Adult Psychiatry Residency Program, over 100 meditation therapies, and an evidence-based background in Ayurvedic mental health. He is the Cofounder and President of Healthy Gamer, a mental health platform for gamers.
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