Dr. Anna Lembke On How To Control Impulsive Behavior & Manage Dopamine Effectively

The Adversity Advantage with Doug Bopst

Today's guest is one of the world's leading experts in the neuroscience of addiction and recovery, and has been one of the most popular guests on the podcast. Anna Lemke MD joins me today for round two. Anna is chief of the Stanford medicine, dual diagnosis clinic, and professor and medical director of addiction medicine at Stanford university's school of medicine.

Dr. Lembke has testified before Congress and consulted with governors and senators from Kentucky to Missouri to Nevada. You may also recognize her from her appearance on the hit Netflix movie, “The Social Dilemma.” Aside from this. Anna has also written two books, “Drug Dealer MD,” and her latest book, the New York times bestseller “Dopamine nation.”

We talk about what dopamine is and why it’s so important. Anna explains the neuroscience of dopamine, when it’s used and why it goes hand in hand with addiction. She also reveals how to change your brain, stop impulsive behavior and have a healthy relationship with dopamine and more!

What to Listen For:

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:30 What is dopamine and why is it so important?
• 05:32 Dopamine explained with real life examples (specifically addiction)
• 11:20 How to CHANGE your brain!
• 17:33 What causes depression and why “quick fixes” make things worse
• 21:24 How to STOP impulsive behavior
• 24:17 How to know if you have an unhealthy relationship with dopamine?
• 27:53 Does social media have the same impact on your brain as drugs?
• 31:45 How social media changes your brain and cleads to other addictions
• 34:17 What role does stress play?
• 35:47: THIS might explained why you can’t pay attention
• 40:20 Tools for retraining your brain to be more focused

Episode Resources:

• Dopamine Nation |

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