Overcome Addictions and Obsessions of All Kinds | Dr. Anna Lembke

With Andrew Huberman, Anna Lembke · Monday, November 9, 2026

Dr. Anna Lembke returns to discuss the underlying neurobiology of dopamine, addiction, and homeostasis, revealing how severe addiction frequently stems from an obsession with control rather than the substance itself. She outlines how modern overabundance fuels digital compulsions, codependency, and anxiety, and explains how spiritual surrender and prayer activate distinct neural circuits—centering on the periaqueductal gray and serotonin system—to restore neuroplasticity and recovery.

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Key takeaways

Severe addiction targets control rather than molecules or specific behaviors. Read more →
Codependency operates as a behavioral addiction where you treat other people's emotional reactions as your primary drug of choice. Read more →
Digital media accounts for approximately 50 percent of patient referrals at Stanford's adolescent addiction clinic. Read more →
GLP-1 receptor agonists are putting severe, treatment-resistant alcohol addiction into recovery by blunting dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. Read more →

4 articles from this episode

Anna Lembke Says Severe Addiction Is an Obsession With Control

Anna Lembke explains why excessive optimization fuels anxiety and how surrendering control restores neuroplasticity.

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Anna Lembke on Breaking Codependency by Dropping the Rope

Dr. Anna Lembke explains why managing other people feeds anxiety, how codependency operates like addiction, and why dropping the rope enables recovery.

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