Shankar Vedantam

Anna, I feel like we may have painted an overly negative picture of dopamine in this conversation.

Yes, you can have an unhealthy relationship with dopamine, but the problem is not with dopamine per se, but the ways we go about triggering it.

You say that relationships are a powerful way to trigger dopamine in a healthy fashion.

Can you talk about that idea?

I'm wondering if you can tell me a little bit about the role of community here.

There are many groups that have sprung up to try and fight addictions, you know, groups like AA or NA or Gamblers Anonymous, for example.

Tell me about the role that they play.

And in some ways, is it part of the same equation that we're looking at here, the role of human relationships in battling addiction?

Yeah.

One important idea that Anna has adopted in her own life powerfully resonates with the message of groups such as AA and NA.

Change begins with telling the truth.

One of the things I find so striking about this conversation, Anna, is that you're someone who spends her day helping patients, but I'm not getting the sense that you see yourself as better or even different from the people you're trying to help.

I understand that you're a fan of the philosopher Martin Buber, who has talked about what it's like to truly engage with another person.

When we come back, your questions answered.

We revisit listener questions about Anna Lembke's research.

You're listening to Hidden Brain.

I'm Shankar Vedantam.

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