
Tools for Managing Stress & Anxiety | Huberman Lab Essentials
Andrew Huberman
Jan 16, 2025
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Avoid melatonin supplements to protect reproductive hormones
You should avoid melatonin supplements because commercial doses are outrageously high and can negatively impact reproductive hormones.
Utilize ashwagandha for acute stress management
Ashwagandha can be very effective for lowering cortisol, but it should be used only during periods of high stress rather than taken continuously year-round.
Utilize panoramic vision to reduce stress
When stressed, deliberately dilating your gaze to a panoramic view, instead of tunnel vision, sends a direct calming signal to your brainstem.
Raise your stress threshold through intense exercise and calm practice
You can raise your stress threshold by deliberately activating your body with intense exercise or cold exposure and then practicing keeping your mind calm.
Manage stress to protect your immune system during vacations
People often get sick when they finally relax after a stressful period because the sudden drop in adrenaline causes their immune system to crash as well.
Utilize hyperventilation techniques to enhance immune response
Deliberate hyperventilation, like Wim Hof breathing, releases adrenaline that can help your immune system fight off infections, as shown in studies where it prevented symptoms from an E. coli injection.
Leverage short-term stress to enhance immunity
The acute stress response is beneficial for your immune system, as the release of adrenaline helps your body combat bacterial and viral infections.
Practice physiological sigh to quickly calm your nervous system
The physiological sigh, a double inhale followed by a long exhale, is the fastest known way to calm the nervous system by reinflating the lungs' air sacs and expelling carbon dioxide.
Foster social connections to combat long-term stress
The most powerful way to mitigate long-term stress is through social connection, which releases serotonin and reinforces brain connections that wither under chronic stress.
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