Everyday Better with Leah Smart Why Willpower Isn’t Enough (And What Actually Works Instead) with Dr. Anna Lembke
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May 13, 2025 
In this engaging conversation, Dr. Anna Lembke, a renowned psychiatrist and author of "Dopamine Nation," dives deep into the intricacies of addiction. She explains how the brain's pleasure-pain balance fuels compulsive behaviors and explores the impact of modern distractions on mental health. Anna shares insights on resetting dopamine levels and highlights the importance of genuine connections in recovery. With thoughts on radical honesty and the role of technology, she offers a fresh perspective on navigating mental health challenges.
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Anna's Romance Novel Addiction
- Anna Lembke shared a personal story about her late-night romance novel reading habit.
- She played a student to realize her compulsive overconsumption and decided to change it.
Pleasure-Pain Brain Balance
- Pleasure and pain are processed in the same brain regions, balancing each other for homeostasis.
- Chronic overconsumption causes dopamine deficits, driving compulsive use to feel normal.
Culture Rewards Overwork
- Workaholism is culturally celebrated, complicating recognition of compulsive overconsumption.
- Societal values influence which behaviors are judged as harmful or rewarded.
