The Huberman Lab Podcast discusses neuroscience: how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health. We also discuss existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. His laboratory studies neural regeneration, neuroplasticity, and brain states such as stress, focus, fear, and optimal performance. For more than 20 years, Dr. Huberman has consistently published original research findings and review articles in top-level peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Science, Cell, Neuron, and Current Biology. He is a regular member of several National Institutes of Health review panels and a Fellow of the McKnight Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Dr. Huberman regularly consults for technology development companies, professional athletic organizations, and various units of U.S. and Canadian Special Operations.
GUEST SERIES | Dr. Paul Conti: How to Understand & Assess Your Mental Health
This is episode 1 of a 4-part special series on mental health with psychiatrist Dr. Paul Conti, M.D., who trained at Stanford School of Medicine and completed his residency at Harvard Medical School before founding his clinical practice, the Pacific Premiere Group. Dr. Conti defines mental health in actionable terms and describes the foundational elements of the self, including the structure and function of the unconscious and conscious mind, which give rise to all our thoughts, behaviors and emotions. He also explains how to explore and address the root causes of anxiety, low confidence, negative internal narratives, over-thinking and how our unconscious defense mechanisms operate. This episode provides a foundational roadmap to assess your sense of self and mental health. It offers tools to reshape negative emotions, thought patterns and behaviors — either through self-exploration or with a licensed professional. The subsequent three episodes in this special series explore additional tools to further understand and improve your mental health.
For the full show notes, including articles, books, and other resources, visit hubermanlab.com.
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Timestamps
(00:00:00) Dr. Paul Conti
(00:03:46) Sponsors: BetterHelp & Waking Up App
(00:06:55) What is a Healthy Self?
(00:10:41) Agency & Gratitude; Empowerment & Humility
(00:16:13) Physical Health & Mental Health Parallels
(00:20:21) Structure of Self; Unconscious vs. Conscious Mind; “Iceberg”
(00:26:15) Defense Mechanisms; Character Structure “Nest”, Sense of Self
(00:31:27) Predispositions & Character Structure
(00:36:01) Sponsor: AG1
(00:37: 27) Character Structure & Action States; Physical Health Parallels
(00:46:20) Anxiety; Understanding Excessive Anxiety
(00:53:12) Improving Confidence: State Dependence & Phenomenology; Narcissism
(00:59:44) Changing Beliefs & Internal Narratives
(01:06:04) Individuality & Addressing Mental Health Challenges
(01:11:21) Mental Health Goals & Growth
(01:17:32) Function of Self
(01:23:00) Defense Mechanisms: Projection, Displacement
(01:30:14) Projection, Displacement, Projective Identification
(01:34:50) Humor, Sarcasm, Cynicism
(01:40:41) Attention & Salience; Negative Internal Dialogue
(01:45:02) Repetition Compulsion & Defense Mechanism, Trauma
(01:58:55) Mirror Meditation & Self Awareness; Structure & Function of Self, “Cupboards”
(02:04:57) Pillars of the Mind, Agency & Gratitude, Happiness
(02:13:53) Generative Drive, Aggressive & Pleasure Drives
(02:21:33) Peace, Contentment & Delight, Generative Drive; Amplification
(02:24:18) Generative Drive, Amplification & Overcoming
(02:33:00) Over-Thinking, Procrastination, Choices
(02:42:20) Aggressive, Pleasure & Generative Drives, Envy
(02:49:46) Envy, Destruction, Mass Shootings
(02:55:38) Demoralization, Isolation, Low Aggressive Drive
(03:02:50) Demoralization, Affiliate Defense
(03:09:32) Strong Aggressive Drive, Competition, Generative Drive Reframing
(03:20:02) Cultivating a Generative Drive, Spirited Inquiry of the “Cupboards”
(03:26:06) Current Mental Health Care & Medications
(03:35:33) Role of Medicine in Exploration
(03:40:41) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Social Media, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter
Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac