Tools for managing stress & anxiety | Huberman lab podcast 10#

Question 1

Key takeaways Tools for managing stress and anxiety

Answer 1

Stress is a generic system the body uses to turn on what it needs, turn off what it doesn’t, and stimulate the body or mouth to move to action

We can’t control the external world but can – and should – do our best to control how we respond to things

“We can’t use the mind to control the mind, we need tools” – Dr. Andrew Huberman

The goal of all stress management is to remain calm of mind when the body is activated

The physiological sigh is the best real-time tool to calm down: two inhales through the nose followed by an extended exhale through the mouth

Managing medium-term stress (stress lasting days to weeks) is best done by increasing your stress threshold through short, difficult bursts to become more comfortable at higher levels of activation – try sprints, cold shower, bike intervals, etc.

Social connections (e.g., significant other, platonic, pet, joy of participating in or watching event) mitigates long-term stress by releasing serotonin and suppressing tachykinin