Join Dr. Twitchell in this special Christmas episode of 'Calm Your Caveman' to explore the profound impact of awe on our mental and physical well-being. Learn about Professor Dacher Keltner's insights on the psychological need for awe, its various benefits such as reduced anxiety and depression, and its ability to expand our circle of care. Discover eight pathways to experience awe daily, including moral beauty, collective movement, nature, music, and more. Dr. Twitchell also shares her personal 'daily awe hygiene' practice and explains how cultivating awe can enrich our lives year-round.

00:00 Welcome to Calm Your Caveman: Christmas Special
00:57 The Power of Awe: Benefits and Impact
02:00 Understanding Awe: Definitions and Differences
03:25 The Positive Effects of Awe on Mind and Body
05:06 How to Seek Awe in Daily Life
06:55 Personal Awe Practices: My Daily Routine
10:05 The Unique Nature of Awe: Beyond Pleasure
11:00 Final Thoughts and Christmas Wishes

For full show notes, including resources mentioned, go to:
www.calmyourcaveman.com

In this episode, Dr. Twitchell dives into practical ways to manage your dopamine budget to help regulate emotions and combat anxiety. Building on last week's discussion about the dopamine system, Dr. Twitchell shares personal experiences of post-trip and post-accomplishment lows, illustrating how understanding and anticipating dopamine fluctuations can prevent these lows from having a lasting negative impact. She explains the importance of self-binding to prevent overspending your dopamine budget and describes how purposeful engagement in challenging activities can trigger beneficial dopamine responses. Dr. Twitchell also touches on how periods of abstinence can reset dopamine levels and improve overall pleasure sensitivity. As the holiday season approaches, listeners are guided to manage seasonal dopamine triggers and are given a preview of next week's topic on the emotion of awe. This episode is packed with actionable insights to help you maintain emotional balance year-round.


[00:00:00] - Introduction and Recap
[00:00:35] - Applying Dopamine Knowledge in Real Life
[00:01:34] - Managing Post-Trip and Post-Goal Depression
[00:10:46] - Self-Binding and Dopamine Management
[00:14:39] - Diet Changes and Dopamine
[00:19:52] - Embracing Pain for Pleasure
[00:21:49] - Christmas Season and Dopamine
[00:25:34] - Conclusion and Next Week's Topic


For full show notes, including resources mentioned, go to:
www.calmyourcaveman.com

In this episode of Calm Your Caveman, Dr. Twitchell delves into the crucial topic of managing your dopamine budget for effective anxiety management. Drawing on insights from three experts—psychiatrists Daniel Z. Lieberman and Dr. Anna Lemke, and neurobiologist Andrew Huberman—Dr. Twitchell explores the role of dopamine in pleasure, motivation, and anxiety. The episode highlights how our modern environment overstimulates the dopamine system, leading to anxiety and addiction, and offers strategies for managing dopamine levels through conscious regulation and moderation.


[00:00:00] - Introduction to Dopamine and Anxiety
[00:01:34] - Understanding Dopamine's Role
[00:03:26] - Evolutionary Perspective on Dopamine
[00:05:33] - Modern Challenges with Dopamine
[00:06:45] - The Concept of Dopamine Budget
[00:14:33] - Pain and Pleasure Balance
[00:20:54] - Addiction and Its Impact
[00:32:58] - Seeking Help and Treatment
[00:35:41] - Conclusion and Further Reading


For full show notes, including resources mentioned, go to:
www.calmyourcaveman.com