Overcoming anxiety and breaking destructive habits | Judson Brewer, PhD, Md

This episode explores the nature of anxiety and destructive habits, and how mindfulness practices can help to rewire the brain and break these habits. Against the backdrop of a discussion about the limitations of traditional treatments for anxiety, Professor Judson Brewer details his personal journey into psychiatry and neuroscience, highlighting the unexpected effectiveness of mindfulness in his research and clinical practice. More significantly, the conversation delves into the neuroscience of mindfulness, explaining how it works to deactivate the default mode network, which is associated with self-referential thinking and rumination. For instance, the discussion illustrates how paying attention to the actual sensations and consequences of behaviors, such as smoking or overeating, can lead to a re-evaluation of their reward value, ultimately breaking the habit loop. The episode concludes by emphasizing the importance of cultivating awareness in daily life, not just through formal meditation practices, to achieve lasting habit change and manage anxiety. This approach shifts the focus from willpower to understanding and working with the brain's reward system, offering a more sustainable path to well-being.