🎬 Episode Moments

Tools for Overcoming Substance & Behavioral Addictions | Ryan Soave

huberman
April 21, 2025
28 Moments

🎯 All Moments (28)

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Parenting in the Digital Age: Setting Guardrails and Understanding Long-Term Impacts

Huberman and Soave discuss the challenges of parenting in the age of highly engaging digital content. They emphasize the importance of setting guardrails, understanding the long-term impacts of screen time, and recognizing that kids may not see the potential problems. They also note that social connection through video games can be beneficial, highlighting the complexity of navigating technology's role in children's lives.

Parenting knowledge
23:00
Duration: 0:00

GLP-1 Agonists and Addiction: A Potential New Treatment?

This clip discusses the potential use of GLP-1 agonists (like Ozempic) in addiction treatment. It notes initial research suggesting they may help with cravings and addiction in general. It also references the HALT acronym (hungry, angry, lonely, tired) and how these states can increase the risk of relapse.

Addiction Treatment knowledge
2:49:20
Duration: 1:30

Psychedelics and Addiction: Ethics, Support, and the Potential for Change

This clip discusses the potential of psychedelics like psilocybin and ibogaine for treating addiction. It emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations and therapeutic support when using these substances. It also touches on the concept of "state disorder" and how psychedelics can help people experience alternative states beyond survival mode.

Psychedelics knowledge
2:55:47
Duration: 3:50

Intensity Addiction: When High Stress Feels Normal

This clip explores the concept of "intensity addiction," suggesting that some individuals may have a nervous system that requires a high level of stress or activation just to feel normal. This is often seen in combat veterans. It discusses how their nervous systems are trained to function under extreme stress, making it difficult to adjust to mundane life.

Stress knowledge
2:50:50
Duration: 1:54

First Steps in Addiction Recovery: Medical Stabilization and Emotional Support

Ryan Soave outlines the initial steps in addiction treatment, emphasizing the importance of medical stabilization and assessment before addressing underlying stressors. He highlights that immediate cessation can be dangerous and that emotional support is crucial as individuals navigate the initial discomfort of withdrawal. This clip provides a clear understanding of the priorities in acute addiction care.

Addiction Treatment advice
6:00
Duration: 0:00

The Power of Connection: Facing Discomfort Together

Soave and Huberman delve into the power of human connection in the context of addiction and stress. They discuss how removing someone from their social context can be a potent stressor, referencing historical examples of tribal shaming. They emphasize the importance of proactive tools and the concept of discomfort as medicine against challenging emotions, highlighting the need to tolerate discomfort as a series of manageable moments.

Human Connection knowledge
1:25:31
Duration: 5:32

Yoga Nidra Transforms a Stressed Mom's Life

This is a powerful story about a woman who used yoga nidra to manage her stress and anxiety as a single mom. It highlights the potential of self-directed state shifting to improve emotional regulation and build distress tolerance, making it a valuable and relatable clip for parents and those seeking stress management techniques.

stress management story
1:33:52
Duration: 4:42

Best Time to Practice Yoga Nidra (and Therapy!)

This clip offers practical advice on incorporating yoga nidra and NSDR into one's routine, emphasizing the importance of proactive scheduling. It also draws a parallel to therapy, suggesting that the best time to engage in these practices is when you're not in crisis. This guidance is valuable for those seeking to build emotional fitness and regulate their autonomic nervous system.

time management advice
1:46:32
Duration: 1:22

Addiction Litmus Test: How to Know If a Behavior Has You

Ryan Soave discusses how to determine if a behavior has become an addiction by assessing its impact on one's life and the level of preoccupation with it. He suggests a 30-day abstinence test and emphasizes the importance of honesty and self-reflection. This provides a practical framework for individuals to evaluate their relationship with potentially addictive behaviors.

Addiction advice
16:00
Duration: 0:00

The Discomfort Appetite: Why We Might Crave Unhealthy Experiences

This clip introduces the concept of a "discomfort appetite," suggesting that humans have a need for a certain amount of discomfort in their lives. If this need isn't met through healthy activities, people may seek it out through unhealthy ones. This idea is insightful for understanding addictive behaviors and the importance of self-imposed discomfort.

Addiction knowledge
2:33:52
Duration: 0:14

Is Addiction the Problem? Understanding the Trauma, Stress, and Addiction Cycle

This clip delves into the common question of whether addiction is the primary problem or a symptom of a deeper issue. It explains the trauma, stress, and addiction cycle, highlighting how addiction can be an attempt to find relief from underlying wounds and stress. This explanation provides a more nuanced understanding of addiction.

Addiction knowledge
2:46:54
Duration: 2:06

Take Control: Become the Author of Your Life

This clip emphasizes the importance of moving from being at the effect of life to being at cause. It connects this concept to authenticity and authorship of one's life, highlighting how practices like nidra can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, create a pause, and allow for conscious choices rather than reactive patterns. This is particularly valuable for those seeking to break free from negative cycles and take control of their lives.

personal development knowledge
1:40:15
Duration: 2:39

The Gravitational Pull of Digital Content: How Sensory Richness Impacts Our Perception of Reality

Huberman and Soave explore how the sensory richness of digital content can make real life seem underwhelming, potentially leading to dependence. They discuss the dopamine dynamics involved and how chasing a feeling can drive addictive behaviors. This clip provides a valuable perspective on the impact of technology on our perception of reality and the pursuit of pleasure.

Dopamine knowledge
29:00
Duration: 0:00

Addiction as a Mask: Reordering Priorities for a Fulfilling Life

Ryan Soave and Andrew Huberman discuss how addiction often fills a void or masks dysfunction in a person's life. They touch on the importance of reordering one's priorities and defining what a good life truly means to them. Soave introduces the Jellinek Curve, illustrating the cyclical nature of addiction and recovery, highlighting that sustainable recovery involves building a fulfilling life beyond substance dependence. He also introduces the emotional weather forecast tool.

Addiction Recovery knowledge
46:51
Duration: 5:33

Navigating Life's Storms: Tolerating Distress for Growth

Huberman and Soave explore the concept of balance as a dynamic process, emphasizing the importance of tolerating distress. They use a sailing analogy to illustrate how navigating through storms is essential for progress, rather than avoiding them altogether. Soave highlights the human tendency to confuse discomfort with threat, leading to reactive behaviors. He stresses the importance of building distress tolerance through proactive practices and recognizing the body's stress response.

Distress Tolerance knowledge
1:12:04
Duration: 2:22

What is Yoga Nidra? A Detailed Explanation

This clip provides a detailed explanation of yoga nidra, including the process, the importance of guided practice, and the role of intention. It also distinguishes yoga nidra from non-sleep deep rest (NSDR), highlighting the key element of self-directed relaxation. This information is valuable for those interested in exploring different meditation techniques and understanding the science behind relaxation practices.

meditation knowledge
1:34:57
Duration: 3:37

Breaking the Cycle: Recognizing and Intervening in Automatic Reactions

Soave and Huberman explore how the brain reacts to perceived threats, highlighting the tendency to revert to past experiences and automatic reactions. They emphasize the importance of recognizing this cycle and intervening to create a break, even if it's just for 20 seconds, to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and make more strategic decisions. They also discuss the value of practices like meditation for stilling the mind and increasing awareness of subtle emotional shifts.

Stress Response knowledge
1:20:04
Duration: 5:27

Life as a Train: Passenger vs. Active Participant

This clip offers a thought-provoking analogy of life as either a passenger in the dining car of a train or strapped to the front experiencing space and time as they're happening. It connects this analogy to the benefits of Nidra and NSDR in fostering an ability to see life unfold as an observer while still participating. This perspective shift can be incredibly impactful for listeners seeking to be more present and engaged in their lives.

mindfulness knowledge
1:38:51
Duration: 1:24

Emotional Fitness: The Gym for Your Mind

This clip draws an analogy between physical fitness and emotional fitness, emphasizing the importance of practices like yoga nidra as a "gym for your mind." It connects the current mental health crisis to an inability to regulate the autonomic nervous system and highlights the role of relaxation practices in improving sleep and overall well-being. This analogy is valuable for promoting the idea of emotional fitness as a proactive and essential aspect of overall health.

mental health knowledge
1:50:18
Duration: 0:26

Alcoholism & Community: Finding Support in Sobriety

This clip discusses the social acceptability of alcohol and the challenges of sobriety, highlighting the importance of finding a supportive community like a 12-step program. It also challenges the negative stereotypes associated with 12-step meetings and emphasizes their focus on living a fulfilling life. This information is valuable for those struggling with alcohol addiction and seeking support.

alcohol addiction knowledge
1:55:30
Duration: 4:51

How to Help Someone Struggling with Addiction: Communication and Support

This clip provides advice for helping someone struggling with addiction. It highlights the importance of talking to them without shaming them and seeking help for oneself if needed. It also suggests offering to accompany them to an open 12-step meeting and finding a therapist for assessment.

Addiction advice
2:59:54
Duration: 2:38

Building Resilience: Proactive Tools for Managing Stress

Soave provides actionable strategies for building distress tolerance, distinguishing between proactive and reactive practices. He highlights the importance of scheduling proactive activities like yoga nidra, mindfulness, therapy, and cold plunges to raise nervous system capacity. He also shares a science tidbit for managing the adrenaline response, emphasizing the importance of creating a gap between stimulus and response and activating the parasympathetic nervous system.

Distress Tolerance advice
1:16:28
Duration: 3:36

Change Your Breath, Change Your Mind

This clip offers a simple yet powerful piece of advice: "If you want to change your mind, change your breath." It emphasizes the accessibility of breathwork as a tool for activating the parasympathetic nervous system and managing stress. It also suggests incorporating short breathwork practices into daily routines. This actionable advice is valuable for anyone seeking quick and effective ways to regulate their emotional state.

breathwork advice
1:51:01
Duration: 1:25

The Reward is in the Process: Finding Joy in the Struggle

This clip offers a powerful perspective on struggle and discomfort. It highlights the idea that the reward lies in the process and effort, not just the outcome. This clip would resonate with people facing challenges, encouraging them to embrace the struggle as a source of growth and satisfaction.

Personal Development motivation
2:31:21
Duration: 1:12

Defining Addiction: Is It a Problem or a Solution?

Ryan Soave defines addiction by asking "Does it have you, or do you have it?" He suggests addiction is the solution to an underlying stressor, not the problem itself. This perspective reframes how we understand and approach addictive behaviors, emphasizing the need to address the root causes rather than just the symptoms.

Addiction knowledge
1:00
Duration: 24:00

The Danger of Easy Dopamine: Why Quick Rewards Can Lead to Addiction

This clip highlights the dangers of easily accessible dopamine sources like porn, alcohol, and quick money. It emphasizes that while these things provide initial rewards, they can lead to internal imbalances and cravings. This is a shareable insight for anyone struggling with addiction or seeking to understand the nature of reward and craving.

Addiction knowledge
2:30:03
Duration: 1:04

The Emotional Weather Forecast: A Daily Tool for Managing Your State

Ryan Soave details the emotional weather forecast tool, which involves understanding one's assets and liabilities, practicing gratitude, planning the day, assessing emotional state, and anticipating potential disturbances. He emphasizes that this practice is not about avoiding negative emotions, but about preparing for them and striving for positive actions in the face of challenges, ultimately chunking down the day to be more manageable.

Emotional Regulation advice
55:21
Duration: 5:57

Practical First Steps for Overcoming Addiction: Community and Admission

This clip offers practical advice for individuals struggling with addiction, especially those without immediate access to professional treatment. It emphasizes the importance of community, admission, and finding support through 12-step meetings. This clip provides actionable steps and hope for those seeking recovery.

Addiction Treatment advice
15:11
Duration: 142:44