With Pleasure Comes Pain -Our Addiction to Dopamine- with Dr.Lembke | Empowering Neurologist EP131

We all want to feel content and connected, and what we are going to explore today is the idea that contentment and connectedness relates to keeping the neurotransmitter dopamine in check.

In her new book, Dopamine Nation, Dr. Anna Lembke, a psychiatrist and author, explores the exciting new scientific discoveries that explain why the relentless pursuit of pleasure ultimately leads to pain, and more importantly, what each of us can do about it. In the book, Dr. Lembke reviews the experiences of many of her patients who are suffering with addiction and hoping for redemption. And these compelling stories give all of us hope for managing our pleasure-directed consumption and transforming our lives.

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Anna Lembke, MD, is a professor in the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, and Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Clinic.

In 2016, she published Drug Dealer, MD – How Doctors Were Duped, Patients Got Hooked, and Why It’s So Hard to Stop (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2016), highlighted in the New York Times as one of the top five books to read to understand the opioid epidemic.

Dr. Lembke recently appeared on the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, an unvarnished look at the impact of social media on our lives.

Her forthcoming book that we review on today’s podcast, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, explores how to moderate compulsive overconsumption, including digital products, in a world where feeling good is the highest good.

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[melissal]

I think I’m addicted to YouTube videos about dopamine

[connie]

I am a recovered alcoholic of nearly 40 years and I would put out that when first abstaining from alcohol, we substitute feel good things like sugar, being massively busy or exercising, , , coffee, cigarettes and over the top behaviour.... and slowly the balance comes but it takes years with some... others like myself at least 2 just my story

[zbozzz]

What an amazing interview. How amazing is this world of free to access information of this calibre!!
Thanks Dr Perlmutter as always 🙏

[howardmiller]

This explains why Bikram hot yoga (hatha yoga at 105F for 90 minutes) one of the most *painful* exercises I have ever done ends up making me feel blissful and relaxed for up to 48 hours. And it explains why 10 minutes in the steam room after a resistance work out is so relaxing to thereafter.

[latinaalma]

If you never have had any adversity to overcome as a child, how you develop psychological resilience? I had Ricketts as a young child resulting in very bowed legs that required clunky metal braces on my legs as a preschooler. I called them "my boots"..I remember my legs aching at night..not unbearably, but the aches were there. My legs straightened over time. Then I was encouraged to take acrobatics, stretching of legs, ballet, stregthening my leg muscles further. I was encouraged to climb trees, swim, then long distance swim. Even in retirement I jogged and now walk distance.As a result, my legs have always been the strongest parts of my body at age 74.That little bit of pain I experience in my legs when I have always pushed them throughout my life had always been a mood lifter for me...THIS explains it. ALSO I believe it affected my personality...it made me perform at the extreme end of conscientioisness. I am highly motivated. As a child I had no option but to get up and walk in those braces ...we have an instinctual drive to WALK as toddlers and young children, it is biologically driven. That perseverance I developed as a child carried over to my education carrying me through the ten years of higher ed it took to get my PhD....the continued conscientiousness in my career, then the committment it took to live under my income, save and invest to retire early at 50 to reach my goal to sail for my first 10yrs of retirement...I LOOK for long term challenging goals and I think I owe that, at least the beginning of that habit, and NEED for longterm goals that require sacrifice, down to those braces.

I am sure adults pitied me as a little child in those things but they turned out to be my BEST friend in life developmentally. So I believe in challenging children and developing in them resilience....taking on things that will be uncomfortable that result in a benefit to them. Packing children in cotton batting really diminishes their opportunity for these hidden positive experiences of mastery. Sybil Francis PhD clinical.psychologist. & professor since 1979

[soulcostume]

Listening to Dr. Lembke is a therapy itself.
Dr. David is known for his calming voice.
Thank you for this treat💞

[peterhernandez]

Glutamate and substance P (SP) are the main neurotransmitters associated with the sensation of pain. Lastly, dopamine is for pleasure. Neurotransmitter homeostasis is gotten by not tipping to much to either side. greetings from Ecuador, Portoviejo city. and thank you for sharing

[gazels]

Excellent discussion. This really helps us understand ourselves and others at a deeply empathetic level. We all have our demons and understanding them and trying to face them with grace and dignity is healing and makes it all the more possible. There is so much hope and this discussion proves that. Thank you very much. I have pre ordered Dr. Lembke's Audible book as well. Looking forward to it.

[dawndan]

Very interesting interview. Hopefully I can apply what I’ve learned today in combating my own addictions. Thank you so much for sharing this information.

[emh]

When I was young and would see those Laugh Now Cry Later faces, they made so much sense to me .

[life_Only]

I back you Dr Lembke on your findings. After few years of substance abuse, I finally utilised covid to stop for good with 1 tool that’s educating myself about my weird brain. It’s been nearly 2 years and I could not have felt better. Thank you both 🙏🏽

[KaceyAnnReynolds]

As a personal trainer working with clients who are addicted to food, I have seen how these people slowly get addicted to all forms of pleasure, social media, Netflix binging, sexting strangers, compulsive shopping, gossip, and even being hurtful to friends and Then they feel so much remorse, pain, and shame, so they overeat even loss surgery is the final step, which sometimes leads to addiction to more serious substances, and higher rates of suicide.... The core issue is addiction which the surgery cannot cure, and it will only worsen if the addiction issue is left unhealed.... I have had to set boundaries, as I feel unqualified to coach clients who have serious food addictions, it is too mentally draining for

[msanchez]

Really great conversation. I am in recovery from alcohol and opiates, and I can relate a lot. This is helping me to make more sense of what I've been through.

[richardflamburis]

I am clean and sober going on 39 yrs of complete abstince from all drugs, including alcohol, whether prscribed or street obtained. There is an occasional PTSD, less and less as I experience this spiritual transitioned that is referred to, by many, called life. I started shooting heroin at 15 and was

[dauber]

That was great… but see you in four weeks 😬

[lorilea]

I am grateful to have found this video this morning, thank you for my introduction to Dr. Lemke.
A week and a day without sugar, i was just tested at a conference laden with sweet treats i easily avoided; free alcohol, not so much.
One day sober.

[s.d]

I'm wondering if exercise can be used throughout the day to mitigate withdrawal symptoms. Example, 3 sets of 6 reps everytime someone starts feeling that depressed, bored and irritable/anxious feeling during some types of withdrawal. If it's isolated exercises, one could pick different muscles each time and therefore not damaged by overuse. I used to try this with stretching and wouldn't recommend that.

[johndoudna]

Great interview on an interesting subject with intelligent, articulate, participative persons. Thank you both.

[philllove]

True i love her analogy on pain biochemically in comparison to raising children in tough love

[CalmVibesVee]

Good topic as I am trying to fast from sweeteners right now. I have overused stevia greatly. Been keto and IF 4yrs and it has greatly improved my life also keeps me sober and no more overeating. Its been a miracle for my life actually.
2-3 day fasting for healing my gut is my goal and frequent use of sweetener has held me back. So Im trying to learn about dopamine healing as I think its applicable in my detox approach. Thank you 🙏🏼