Master Stress: Tools for Managing Stress & Anxiety

This episode explains what stress is, and how it recruits our brain and body to react in specific ways. I describe the three main types of stress, and how two of them actually enhance the function of our immune system making us less vulnerable to infections. I review tools that allow us to control our stress in real-time, as well as tools to prevent long-term stress, burnout and stress-induced illness and anxiety. As always, we cover behavioral tools and supplements that can assist or hinder stress control.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Waking Up: https://www.wakingup.com/huberman

Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:00:31) Sponsors: AG1, LMNT

(00:04:41) Emotions: A Logical Framework of Brain-Body Loops

(00:10:29) Stress: The (Falsely Narrow) Animal Attack Narrative

(00:14:31) The Stress RESPONSE: Generic, Channels blood, Biases Action

(00:21:08) Tools to Actually Control Stress: Reduce Alertness or Increase Calm

(00:24:15) The Fastest Way to Reduce Stress In Real Time: “Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia”

(00:29:45) The Fastlane to Calm

(00:34:53) Important Notes About Heart Rate Deceleration: Vaso-vagal Lag

(00:36:50) Cyclic Sighing For Calm and Sleep Induction

(00:37:57) Nasal Breathing For Cosmetic, Immune and Performance Enhancement

(00:38:46) Two Breathing Centers In The Brain

(00:39:45) Breathing For Speaking Clearly

(00:40:39) The 3 Types of Stress: Short, Medium and Long-Term

(00:42:10) Positive Effects of Short-Term Stress: Immunity and Focus

(00:45:32) Adrenalin (Epinephrine) Deploys Killer Immune Cells

(00:46:40) Cyclic Deep Breathing IS Stress: Wim Hof, Tummo & Super-Oxygenation

(00:50:58) Inflammation Is Useful and Good, In the Short Term

(00:52:02) Procrastination and Self-Manufactured Nootropics

(00:53:00) Relaxation Can Causes Illness

(00:54:30) Immune Activation Protocol

(00:55:20) Medium Term Stress: A Clear Definition

(00:56:07) Stress Threshold

(00:57:10) Stress Inoculation Tools: Separating Mind & Body, On Purpose

(00:59:50) Use Vision to Calm the Mind When the Body Is Agitated

(01:02:36) Beyond NSDR

(01:04:36) Long Term Stress: Definition, Measurement, Cardiovascular Risks

(01:06:30) Tools for Dealing With Long Term Stress

(01:08:20) The Oxytocin Myth

(01:09:15) Serotonin: Satiety, Safety

(01:12:00) Delight and Flexibility

(01:13:30) Chemical Irritants We Make But Can Control: Tackykinin

(01:15:40) Impactful Gratitude

(01:16:25) Non-Prescription Chemical Compounds For Additional Anti-Stress Support

(01:18:04) Melatonin: Cautionary Note About Adrenal Suppression

(01:19:15) Adrenal Burnout Is A Myth… But Why You Need to Know About It Anyway

(01:21:10) L-Theanine For Stress Reduction and Task Completion Anxiety

(01:23:00) Beware Taurine and Energy Drinks With Taurine

(01:23:30) Ashwagandha: Can Powerfully Lower Anxiety And Cortisol

(01:25:50) Examine.com Is An Amazing Free Resource

(01:26:20) How This All Relates to Emotions: State Versus Demand = Valence

(01:32:00) Modulating Reactivity, Mindfulness, & Functionality With Objective Tools

(01:34:00) Next Steps

(01:35:40) Topic Suggestions, Subscriptions and Reviews Please

(01:37:40) Additional Resources, Synthesis

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer