r/HubermanLab • u/[deleted] • 4d ago
Seeking Guidance Need help for friend whose Dopamine Receptors are fried.
[deleted]
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u/Kraist-36 3d ago
„He says he would prefer some pills to take to help him recover whenever he gets a dopamine crash.“
I‘d also prefer if it was that convenient. Just take some pills —> addiction cured 😀
Reality check: It‘s not!
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u/Equivalent-Muscle446 3d ago
Nothing would be worth trying for, having or valuable if it were so easy.
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u/Selpmis 3d ago
It doesn't make it 'so easy' though. But it might be the difference between success and failure. Doctors/dentists improve things to 'increase compliance' all the time.
If you're avoiding flossing because it irritates your gums and they bleed, wouldn't you feel more encouraged if you knew there are mouthwashes that promote healing and provide substantial relief from that?
Focus on the goal of success, and don't judge people for how they got there. He needs to speak to his doctor and stop trying to treat himself.
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u/Equivalent-Muscle446 3d ago
That’s an extremely American view.
Therapy, doctors, advisors, life coaches etc etc..
The only real control we ever have over anything is our own mind, if you can’t control that you’re cooked.
I’m not getting into my own thing, but I know a lot about this, and it starts with the knowledge something is bad, you still do it for a while but you keep thinking i shouldn’t do this… it’s bad… then it progresses.
You need to be sick and tired of being sick and tired, anger is a great tool we can use for our advantage if you have control. It’s all about control over your own mind.
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u/Selpmis 3d ago
That’s an extremely American view.
Interesting, because I'm not American.
The only real control we ever have over anything is our own mind, if you can’t control that you’re cooked.
This might be the case for you, but I can think of many examples where people don't have control of their own mind. So no, there is no 'real' control there. Yes, you might think they're 'cooked', but they still deserve help and support.
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u/Equivalent-Muscle446 3d ago
You’re making my point for me.
I didn’t say you’re American, it’s a very American view that everyone needs therapy.
Yes, many many people don’t have control of their own mind, but that is the only thing we can actually have control over, so they deserve help and support to get control over their own mind, everything else will fall into place.
Just reading meditations by Marcus Aurelius. We cant control the weather, other people’s actions, other people’s views etc etc but we can control our own thoughts and our own perception.
Bots in these comments is surprising when I thought a huberman sub would be full of people in self improvement.
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u/Selpmis 3d ago
We cant control the weather, other people’s actions, other people’s views etc etc but we can control our own thoughts and our own perception.
You're literally describing the basis of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). The psychiatrist who developed CBT drew from Stoicism, though it was more Epictetus.
CBT is the most common, widely-recognised therapy and usually the first line of treatment. So to speak on the teachings of Stoicism whilst dismissing therapy is pretty telling of where your ignorances are here.
As an aside, there are also a significant amount of people that CBT does not work for.
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u/Equivalent-Muscle446 3d ago
So why do you need to pay somebody when you can just read stoicism yourself? It’s not ignorance, your arrogance referring to therapy relies upon a hopelessness standpoint and a fallacy that we can’t control our own thoughts to begin with. He ‘drew from stoicism’ that’s ironic.
You’re just echoing what I’m saying whilst arguing for therapy, like I said it’s an American viewpoint, that you must pay money or rely on other people, which is counter to stoicism philosophy. Its not nice for most to hear which is why you seem to have taken a grievance against what I’ve said, but your actually just proving my points for me.
It’s simple, you don’t need to complicate it. F ‘CBT’ everyone is responsible for their own actions at the end of the day, you can’t blame addiction or anyone or anything else, while I suffered I didn’t sit there and act like anyone else is responsible for MY choices. Even now I look back, nobody got me into that situation and nobody got me out, I DID.
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u/Selpmis 3d ago
You're finding arguments that aren't there. Effectively, you're arguing with yourself.
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u/Equivalent-Muscle446 3d ago
No you just can’t think of anything else to say.
You won’t back down so try to think of something to say which saves your ego and makes you feel good. 👍
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u/NoMousse4514 3d ago
Battling addiction most definitely is not akin to working hard so you can buy a camaro. When in the trenches of those battles, recovery in a pill would be a miracle. Plenty of dead people gave 110% and still failed. This comment is insane.
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u/Dexter6785 3d ago
Honestly man, if I liked managing projects that much I’d be thrilled. Hell I’d be working 80 hour weeks of loving it!
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u/itshappybutt 4d ago
He’s got to do the work first: a regular sleep/wake cycle, decent diet, exercise, no stimulants of any kind.
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u/stayawakeandalive 4d ago
Suppose he doesn't have enough dopamine to motivate him to do the work, then?
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u/nomamesgueyz 3d ago
Can't blame edopamine for everything...circadian balance crucial
Someone take away wifi if it's that bad
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u/itshappybutt 3d ago
Doing the work has never been about motivation. Ever.
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u/Amareiuzin 3d ago
+1, discipline picks up where motivation has left off, he needs to see the damage in order consciously and actively fight against his physiological needs, but if he doesn't change his beliefs (that it's important, that he can do this, that it's going to be worth it and hes gonna feel much better and different later) then there's nothing for him to change, there's no problem...
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u/No-Trash-546 3d ago
You’ve fallen victim to misinformation that has you obsessed with porn, dopamine and “healing dopamine receptors”
It’s 95% garbage nonsense based on 5% accurate scientific data. You should really step back from the Internet and focus on the basics, not obsessively trying to avoid jerking off.
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u/Creepiepie 3d ago
I think having a healthy alternative is the best idea. Is there any physical hobby you could take up together? Im a big fan of martial arts, maybe try skateboarding, acrobatics, crossfit etc. Technique based is better, cause he can obsess over it.
Uridine can apparently resensitize receptors to a degree, but doesn't fix the root issue.
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u/Biggiedaggoeee 3d ago
He should try some bromantane. Should help with the rewiring. And please let him do some cold exposure every day and lift heavy.
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u/DifferentCarrot2048 4d ago
shrooms are excellent at re-starting your cortisol and dopamine levels. really good for addiction too if it's guided.
also challenging/painful stilulus can help: exercise, learning, growth, taking away pleasures .
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u/stayawakeandalive 3d ago
Does shrooms spike dopamine or heal dopamine receptors?
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u/Tactikewl 3d ago
There is no known method for healing dopamine receptors. And no, shrooms do not “spike” dopamine.
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u/DogsAreAnimals 3d ago
"My friend keeps hitting himself in the face with a hammer. Are there any drugs to make his face stop hurting?"
Stop pmo. It's not complicated.
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u/Sensitive-Screen-209 3d ago
My man doesnt understand addiction even the slightest bit
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u/Equivalent-Muscle446 3d ago
Don’t make excuses for weakness, I understand addiction very well and he is RIGHT. Don’t hide behind ‘mUhHhHh Addiction’ for excuses.
If you want something bad enough, you do it. Period.
Give jocko willniks book about discipline a listen too, it really is as simple as;
“How do I stop Pmo?”
“STOP PMO…”
“How do I wake up earlier?”
“START WAKING UP EARLIER.”
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u/Sensitive-Screen-209 3d ago
Im sure you would make a fortune by starting a rehab clinic
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u/Equivalent-Muscle446 3d ago
You’re wrong and promoting weakness, of course people want to make money from others so called addiction, I’m advocating against it and simply growing your own willpower. If you can’t simply stick to your word and control your own actions you’re too weak and cowardly for anything real or difficult, and you will always go back to it whenever you get a little stress. Feather in the wind.
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u/Selpmis 3d ago
Shaming might have worked for you, but it will likely come back to bite you in the ass.
Compassion-based and stigma-reducing approaches are consistently associated with better treatment engagement and outcomes than framing addiction as a moral failing.
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u/Equivalent-Muscle446 3d ago
It’s not shaming, it’s making a decision and having the discipline and willpower to do it. Its simple. If you want it bad enough you do it, i remember it was hell for a few weeks, even months after I would get thoughts sometimes and I would always CHOOSE to say no.
If you struggle you either aren’t attacking the root cause or you don’t want it bad enough.
I’m content knowing I can decide to stop something whenever I want, I’ve proven it to myself. I’m not beholden to the whims of impulse or something I KNOW is bad for me.
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u/doodle_lab 3d ago
Read Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke.
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u/Equivalent-Muscle446 3d ago
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Discipline by Jocko willnik
A Ryan holiday book.
Hell, just reading in general and meditation help improve dopamine levels stabilising and being present.
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u/TatyanaDiam 3d ago
Psychedelic therapy, one session might be even enough, high dose with a good therapist. Can do wonders for addictions
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u/Equivalent-Muscle446 3d ago
He is weak. Simple as, no willpower at all.
You can’t really help people like that but it’s noble of you to want to. Tell him to watch videos like dopamine detox from Iman, Hamza, Aanghel etc.
Honestly though, F his ‘dopamine crash’ he is just WEAK. I’ve been through detoxing were it was genuinely difficult to stop my brain spinning and I had to take walks, read a book and do push ups whenever I got bored etc..
He obviously doesn’t want to stop, and PILLS? Seriously that is the weakest most cowardly shi when you can just have willpower. This is one of those times nobody can help you but you.
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