Erasing Fears & Traumas Based on the Modern Neuroscience of Fear
from Huberman Lab
by Scicomm Media
Published: Mon Dec 06 2021
Show Notes
In this episode, I discuss fear and trauma, including the neural circuits involved in the "threat reflex" and how specific experiences and memories come to activate that system. I also discuss how our body is involved in trauma and fear. First, I describe the logic of fear mechanisms and how "top-down" processing-- meaning connections from the parts of the brain that assign meaning to our feelings, are involved in fear and erasing fears and traumas. Then I discuss what successful fear and trauma treatment must include and consider various treatments for whether they meet that standard, such as EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Ketamine, other drug-assisted therapies, and more. I also review new data on how 5 minutes per day of deliberate, self-imposed stress can erase fear and depression. And I review the role that social connection plays in erasing or maintaining fears by activating specific molecular pathways in the brain and body. Finally, I review supplementation with over-the-counter compounds for their effects on anxiety and fear and when to take them, if at all.
Read the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com.
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman
LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab
Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman
Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman
Timestamps
Introducing Fear, Trauma & Trauma
Sponsors: AG1, LMNT & Waking Up
What is Fear?
Autonomic Arousal: “Alertness” vs. “Calmness”
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (HPA axis)
“The Threat Reflex”: Neural Circuits for Fear
Controlling Fear: Top-Down Processing
Narratives: “Protective or Dangerous”
Attaching Fear to Events: Classical Conditioning & Memory
How Fear Learning Occurs: Long Term Potentiation, NMDA
Extinguishing (Reducing) Fears
Cognitive (Narrative) Therapies for Fear
Repetition of Narrative, Overwriting Bad Experiences with Good
EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
Social Connection & Isolation Are Chemically Powerful
Trans-Generational Trauma
PTSD Treatments: Ketamine, MDMA, Oxytocin
How Do You Know If You Are Traumatized?
Deliberate Brief Stress Can Erase Fears & Trauma
Erasing Fears & Traumas in 5 Minutes Per Day
Nutrition, Sleep, & Other General Support Erasing Fear & Trauma
Supplements for Anxiety, Fear: Saffron, Inositol, Kava
Synthesis
Zero-Cost Support, Sponsors, Supplements, Instagram, Twitter