Overcome Addictions and Obsessions of All Kinds | Dr. Anna Lembke
Stanford addiction psychiatrist Anna Lembke joins Andrew Huberman to explain how dopamine drives addiction. Drawing on her new book Radical Surrender, she argues that many addictions are really an addiction to control.
The gist
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Lembke says a 30-day break resets reward pathways; acute withdrawal lasts 10 to 14 days, and about 80% feel better by weeks three or four.
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She argues severe addiction is really an addiction to control, and that letting go through spiritual surrender or 12-step practice opens the brain to change.
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Huberman says clinical psilocybin helped him, while Lembke warns that emergency visits and hospitalizations from hallucinogens are rising as use grows.
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Lembke calls codependency, trying to control loved ones, its own addiction; when that person joins Al-Anon or Co-Dependents Anonymous, the addict often recovers.
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Her own routine starts with a morning prayer and no screens until exercise and breakfast are done, guided by the rule "do the next right thing."
"And then of course 12 steps for people with codependency is really, really helpful. There are wonderful 12-step meetings in our community. I've been to some of them, especially for parents of kids with severe addiction."
▶ Play at 1:44:01
Andrew Huberman recommends it
"We also discussed her new book, Radical Surrender, which I can tell you because I've read it, is an absolutely fascinating and actionable exploration into how giving up our attempt to control certain things actually allows our brain to access new strategies to overcome major c..."
▶ Play at 1:20
Andrew Huberman uses it
"I've had positive experiences with clinical use, not recreational use, but clinical use of psilocybin, but it is no easy ride... it involves therapy before, during, and after. And I felt it benefited me tremendously. But I can think of many, many people for whom it would proba..."
▶ Play at 1:05:079 creators recommend it, including DJ Shipley, Bryan Johnson, and Joe Rogan.
See all on the Psilocybin page"When you get the codependent person in that family to let go and just surrender and just start going to Al-Anon meetings or Codependency Anonymous and take care of themselves... as soon as the codependent lets go, this person gets into recovery. It's like clockwork. ... Codepe..."
▶ Play at 1:35:293 creators recommend it, including Joe Manganiello and Zac Clark.
See all on the Al-Anon page"Then of course 12 steps for people with codependency is really, really helpful. There are wonderful 12-step meetings in our community... But Codependency Anonymous, Al-Anon, very, very helpful for those types of things."
▶ Play at 1:44:25"One of the most important things I tell myself and my patients is do the next right thing. That is a core piece of radical surrender, because instead of trying to engineer some distant future, I'm owning that I have no idea what the future holds. But I probably do have control..."
▶ Play at 1:24:34What they recommend · 8 picks
Health & fitness
6 picks · Anna Lembke and Andrew Huberman
"We introduce it really as an experiment. We invite them to be the scientists in their own lives and to give it up for 30 days, not a lifetime. Why 30 days? Because on average, t..."
"One of the most important things I tell myself and my patients is do the next right thing. That is a core piece of radical surrender, because instead of trying to engineer some ..."
"When you get the codependent person in that family to let go and just surrender and just start going to Al-Anon meetings or Codependency Anonymous and take care of themselves......"
Andrew, Joe, Tim and Mark agree on 45 things
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2 picks · Andrew Huberman
"We also discussed her new book, Radical Surrender, which I can tell you because I've read it, is an absolutely fascinating and actionable exploration into how giving up our atte..."
"I've never been a powder taker except creatine. I confess it's bettered my life."
Anna Lembke
5 picks · guest
"We introduce it really as an experiment. We invite them to be the scientists in their own lives and to give it up for 30 days, not a lifetime. Why 30 days? Because on average, t..."
"One of the most important things I tell myself and my patients is do the next right thing. That is a core piece of radical surrender, because instead of trying to engineer some ..."
"When you get the codependent person in that family to let go and just surrender and just start going to Al-Anon meetings or Codependency Anonymous and take care of themselves......"
Andrew Huberman
3 picks · host
"We also discussed her new book, Radical Surrender, which I can tell you because I've read it, is an absolutely fascinating and actionable exploration into how giving up our atte..."
"I've never been a powder taker except creatine. I confess it's bettered my life."
"I've had positive experiences with clinical use, not recreational use, but clinical use of psilocybin, but it is no easy ride... it involves therapy before, during, and after. A..."
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