12-step programs as a no-cost tool to improve mental health
AA and other 12-step programs (OA, Al-Anon, ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics), CoDA, SAA, and so forth) are powerful, no-cost solutions for helping people introspection and growth. I’d love to hear you do an AMA on 12-step programs because they are readily available no-cost tools that can provide a space and structure for introspection, help people understand why they behave the way they do (and realize they’re not alone in behaving that way), take ownership over their character defects (people struggle with that terminology - just means maladaptive behaviors that no longer serve you), and make meaningful changes in their lives. Personally, I’ve been sober for 6 years. AA and working the steps have changed my life and given me a freedom and agency that I didn’t know was possible. It also led me to another life-changing 12-step program to deal with childhood trauma, Adult Children of Alcoholics. Many people start in one program and join another to address other areas in their lives they want to heal. Even with a younger sister in the program since our 20s (we’re in our 40s now) I had so many misperceptions about what the program entailed and what my options were for how to get sober. And I had no idea that trauma was at the root of my addiction and many of my behaviors. I needed to stop drinking for that to become clear.
Differentiate hormone supplements beneficial for Menopausal women VS menstruating women
Dr Dr Huberman, menopausal women's ovaries in general are not producing relevant amounts of sex hormones. Supplementation discussions are not differentiating between hormone supplements that can increase/balance sex hormones in menstruating & possibly perimenopausal women (whose sex hormones depend on ovarian function) VS post-menopausal women, whose ovaries have mostly ceased producing sex hormones. When discussing hormone supplementation/balancing, could you please keep in mind the mechanism, and define when a supplement/dietary change/protocol would benefit menstruating women VS post-menopausal women? Please and thank you!
Near Infrared Light - Potential for Eye/Retina Damage
Hello Dr. Huberman and Team. Thank you so much for all that you do. Your podcast and materials are very enriching. Apologies if this question has been answered, but if so, I did not find it. I have an infrared sauna at home, and also am building a red light therapy system, and I have read some materials to further educate myself. Thank you for this episode. It's unclear to me if I should wear infrared blocking goggles or glasses to limited exposure to infrared light to protect against the potential for long term retina damage. Or alternatively, whether limited amounts may actually be beneficial. To the extent there is any clear research indicating how to think about this, or lack thereof, I would love to get guidance. My typical infrared exposure (aside from sunlight, which would be in accordance with guidance in your tookits), would be as follows: * 2 to 3 times per week, about 45 minutes in an infrared sauna, with all infrared heaters turned on to maximum (i.e., NIR, MIR and FIR) * Daily, or almost, about 10-20 minutes of measured exposure to 600 watt RLT system (2 such units), at about 12 inches, with 660 and 850 wavelengths turned on I know you have indicated before that if light exposure hurts your eyes, then don't look at the light, and I think you've said this is a good guide for whether you are hurting your eyes. My sense is that the exposure that I have indicated above may not be a problem. Nonetheless, I am wearing blocking goggles for now. This is a problem, frankly, because I like to read in the infrared sauna, and you can't do that with the goggles. So, if it is low risk for eye damage, I would probably not wear the goggles. Thanks for any guidance you can give. And rest assured, I take your guidance as guidance only and take personal responsibility for health decisions that I make, including light exposure! And do my own further research or talk to my personal doctor where there is any meaningful risk (e.g., I don't worry that much about applying tools for improving Social Connection :) ). Again, thanks for all you're doing. You and your team are the best.
Increasing tenacity vs pushing yourself too hard
There is value in pushing yourself to do something even when you don't want to do it (as discussed in Oct 9 episode on willpower and tenacity). However, pushing yourself for a long time can also lead to burnout. After experiencing burnout, I am scared of pushing myself into it again. How to reconcile the two? How to recognise when pushing yourself is healthy and when it's detrimental?