Dr. Anna Lembke

Mm-hmm.

That's the irony, right? We're really wired to outrun the pain. We are. Like we reflexively seek out pleasure and avoid pain, and yet that's the very thing that doesn't get us to where we want to go.

That's the irony, right? We're really wired to outrun the pain. We are. Like we reflexively seek out pleasure and avoid pain, and yet that's the very thing that doesn't get us to where we want to go.

Yes.

Yes.

Yeah, that's exactly right. There are so many ways that we can now distract ourselves from our own suffering or our own awareness.

Yeah, that's exactly right. There are so many ways that we can now distract ourselves from our own suffering or our own awareness.

Yeah, I mean, I feel like in many ways it's been a real gift in my life. You know, it's really informed my life in ways that... I mean, I've learned things from that experience that I think it would have been almost impossible for me to learn otherwise.

Yeah, I mean, I feel like in many ways it's been a real gift in my life. You know, it's really informed my life in ways that... I mean, I've learned things from that experience that I think it would have been almost impossible for me to learn otherwise.

couple things. First of all, a lot of people get better. And when people with addiction get better, it's so much better that it's incredibly rewarding to see. And they're amazing people. Absolutely. Like some of the most tenacious, talented people you'll ever meet. And when they get better, it impacts so many other people, right? Their friends, their family, the people they work with.

couple things. First of all, a lot of people get better. And when people with addiction get better, it's so much better that it's incredibly rewarding to see. And they're amazing people. Absolutely. Like some of the most tenacious, talented people you'll ever meet. And when they get better, it impacts so many other people, right? Their friends, their family, the people they work with.

So it's very rewarding work and not at all burdensome. Of course, you know, for patients who don't get better or patients who die, it's a terrible feeling. And there is a sense of responsibility and guilt. Even when I feel like there was nothing that I could have done otherwise, you know, I carry those losses with me. So it's hard.

So it's very rewarding work and not at all burdensome. Of course, you know, for patients who don't get better or patients who die, it's a terrible feeling. And there is a sense of responsibility and guilt. Even when I feel like there was nothing that I could have done otherwise, you know, I carry those losses with me. So it's hard.

I mean, every patient I've had who's died while under my care, those are incredibly painful. And I will never, you know, those people will be with me as a part of me for all of my life.

I mean, every patient I've had who's died while under my care, those are incredibly painful. And I will never, you know, those people will be with me as a part of me for all of my life.

Yeah, young and old. Yeah, it's especially tragic to lose young people. And it always feels like they're second guessing. Like, oh, if only I had done that or if only we had intervened here. But I just think that's the nature of death. We can't get away from the feelings of guilt around it, no matter who we are and no matter the circumstances.

Yeah, young and old. Yeah, it's especially tragic to lose young people. And it always feels like they're second guessing. Like, oh, if only I had done that or if only we had intervened here. But I just think that's the nature of death. We can't get away from the feelings of guilt around it, no matter who we are and no matter the circumstances.

Oh, yeah. I mean, it's, you know, some kids use with their parents or their caregivers. They're exposed very early. If we... seriously conceptualize digital media as a drug. I mean, then we've got, you know, even younger cohorts starting with that. And we do know that kids can get addicted to digital media and, as a result, die from that.

Oh, yeah. I mean, it's, you know, some kids use with their parents or their caregivers. They're exposed very early. If we... seriously conceptualize digital media as a drug. I mean, then we've got, you know, even younger cohorts starting with that. And we do know that kids can get addicted to digital media and, as a result, die from that.

I mean, there was just this tragic case of a young man who essentially got addicted to a chat box. I think he was 14. Not my patient. It was written up in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.