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Weekly · Sunday Morning

Five longevity claims.
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Rapamycin extends mouse lifespan 9–14%
NAD+ precursors reverse aging in humans
Blue-light glasses improve sleep quality
Walking 10 min after meals blunts glucose
Verdict change — caffeine half-life downgraded

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Therapy, Treating Trauma & Other Life Challenges | Dr. Paul Conti — Whalespan

Content›Video›Therapy, Treating Trauma & O…

Therapy, Treating Trauma & Other Life Challenges | Dr. Paul Conti

Andrew Huberman2h 24m · 2022-06-06

Claims Made

213

Claims Supported

163

Support Rate

77%

Support rate

163 of 213 claims supported

163 supported50 partial / not

Claims from this content

121

✓Well SupportedInside Tracker's platform helps users understand blood test data and provides protocols to adjust numbers into ideal ranges.✓Well SupportedInside Tracker analyzes blood and DNA data to provide personalized nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle recommendations for optimizing health markers.✓Well SupportedBiological age, rather than chronological age, is the key factor for healthspan.✓Well SupportedThe most significant factor in therapy outcome is the rapport built between the therapist and the client, rather than the therapist's experience or credentials.Well Supported

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AV

A. Volkovreader

4h

Bookmarking — the dossier-vs-overview split is the right call. Most of the time I want overview; sometimes I want receipts.

NP

N. Park

2d

Would love a "what would change this verdict" RSS feed. Sign me up if it exists.

✓

Grief processing can be hindered by guilt and shame.

✓Well SupportedThe limbic system perceives resolving an emotional issue in the present as also resolving it in the past.

✓Well SupportedIndividuals should evaluate a therapist's approach and progress within the first three to four sessions.

✓Well SupportedBlinkist provides 15-minute condensed takeaways from nonfiction books, which can help jog memory and surface missed key points.

✓Well SupportedDeveloping an 'observing ego' allows individuals to step back and examine their internal thoughts and feelings, which can be a productive way to process experiences.

◐Partially SupportedRitalin increases dopamine and norepinephrine/adrenaline.

◐Partially SupportedViewing past trauma from an external perspective can foster compassion and reduce guilt and shame.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics can catalyze therapeutic progress by shifting focus to deeper brain regions associated with humanness, allowing individuals to gain clarity, self-compassion, and release guilt.

✓Well SupportedTrauma is defined as an experience that overwhelms coping skills, changes brain function, and alters an individual's behavior, mood, anxiety, sleep, or physical health.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals should take ownership of their therapy by assessing if their needs are being met and communicating with their therapist about potential adjustments.

◐Partially SupportedThe limbic system's disregard for time means that making things right in the present can be perceived as making things right in the past, driven by trauma.

◐Partially SupportedTrauma can alter brain function, leading to increased vigilance and defensive behavior.

◐Partially SupportedMedications can be used to increase distress tolerance, facilitating therapeutic understanding and discussion.

✕Not SupportedPatients on multiple medications for individual symptoms may experience side effects requiring additional medications.

◐Partially SupportedAdequate sleep, nutrition, and natural light exposure are essential building blocks for overall well-being.

◐Partially SupportedMedications can help reduce rumination by calming overactive distress centers in the brain, thereby breaking maladaptive negative thought loops.

◐Partially SupportedWriting and talking to a trusted person can process trauma and gain insight.

◐Partially SupportedThought redirection can manage internal arousal in the moment, but confronting trauma is the long-term solution.

◐Partially SupportedThe limbic system overrides logic when they conflict, influencing behavior.

◐Partially SupportedConfronting past trauma is necessary for managing internal arousal states such as sleepiness, exhaustion, anxiety, or anger.

◐Partially SupportedSublimation is a defense mechanism where anxiety or negative energy is channeled into positive actions.

◐Partially SupportedProcessing past traumas and emotions can lead to significant subjective improvement in well-being.

✓Well SupportedMany individuals with severe substance use disorders fail treatment because underlying trauma has not been addressed.

◐Partially SupportedTherapeutic progress is difficult to retain if therapy sessions occur less than once per week.

◐Partially SupportedThere are no reliable blood tests to assess neurotransmitter levels like dopamine or serotonin in the brain.

◐Partially SupportedTrauma can alter brain function, leading to increased vigilance, defensive behavior, and a changed worldview, which is maladaptive in modern, longer lifespans.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics used in a legal clinical setting with professional guidance can reduce chatter in the outer cortex and increase communication in deeper brain regions.

◐Partially SupportedExamining trauma can lead to re-evaluating associated guilt and shame, shifting self-blame.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic medicines can lead to profound shifts in self-perception and understanding of truth that resonate deeply with individuals post-experience.

✕Not SupportedStimulants used inappropriately for conditions like ADD without a diagnosis can negatively affect physical function, judgment, and vigilance.

✓Well SupportedPrioritizing sleep is a fundamental aspect of health and wellness.

◐Partially SupportedCannabis may help with chronic pain by improving sleep through reduced focus on pain.

◐Partially SupportedProcessing trauma by putting words to it can diminish its power.

◐Partially SupportedDirectly confronting trauma without proper preparation or support can lead to a worse psychological state.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals with addiction arising from trauma have been observed to die from their addiction.

◐Partially SupportedTrauma can alter the emotional coloring and meaning of past memories.

◐Partially SupportedLimiting news consumption is a valid prescription for individuals experiencing trauma.

◐Partially SupportedSunlight is a basic element of self-care that is often undervalued.

◐Partially SupportedSelf-generated intensive therapy through journaling, thinking, and walking may be useful for individuals lacking access to traditional therapy, but is person-dependent and carries risks.

◐Partially SupportedHealthy catharsis, such as telling a story and feeling emotions, is an option for dealing with internal arousal, and packing down emotions is also sometimes necessary for functionality.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics like psilocybin and LSD may reduce communication in the outer parts of the cortex, which are associated with survival mechanisms, language, vision, and executive function.

◐Partially SupportedTraumatic memories are evolutionarily adaptive for survival by ensuring remembrance of dangerous foods or people.

◐Partially SupportedEating well is a basic premise of self-care.

◐Partially SupportedTherapy is often difficult and can be excruciating, involving hard psychological work, rather than being consistently pleasant or enjoyable.

◐Partially SupportedRegularly eating and sleeping are fundamental to maintaining health, and neglecting them can lead to a loss of edge.

◐Partially SupportedWithout clinical guidance, MDMA use may result in wellbeing and positive thoughts without solving problems.

◐Partially SupportedMDMA floods certain brain areas with positive neurotransmitters, creating permissiveness to approach difficult topics without fear or self-blame.

◐Partially SupportedMDMA can be a powerful anti-trauma mechanism when used clinically.

◐Partially SupportedA healthcare approach for high cholesterol should prioritize lifestyle changes like weight loss and exercise before prescribing medication.

◐Partially SupportedMedication for ADHD is effective for attention deficit from ADHD but not for attention deficit from other causes.

◐Partially SupportedCannabis may narrow attentional perspective, aiding present-moment focus by gating out intrusive thoughts.

◐Partially SupportedGetting natural light is a basic premise of self-care.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelics like ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA are being researched for therapeutic applications.

◐Partially SupportedCertain genetic profiles can lead to a strong euphoric response to alcohol, increasing habituation risk.

◐Partially SupportedMDMA shows benefit for trauma treatment by reducing guilt, shame, hypervigilance, and avoidance.

◐Partially SupportedCannabis is likely safer than alcohol but not uniformly safe and should be approached with respect for its potential to alter brain function.

◐Partially SupportedTherapeutic approaches can include drug therapies such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, alcohol, cannabis, ketamine, psychedelics, and MDMA.

◐Partially SupportedPaul Conti found three separate MDMA dosings in a clinical trial to be profound, beneficial, and varied.

◐Partially SupportedOpiates prescribed for minor surgery can alleviate internal pain stemming from trauma but quickly lead to addiction and danger.

◐Partially SupportedClinical guidance during mdma sessions helps individuals process experiences and extract insights.

◐Partially SupportedGetting sunlight in one's eyes is a fundamental self-care practice.

✕Not SupportedInappropriate use of stimulants can lead to addiction, behavioral changes, and a shift towards a more defensive worldview.

✕Not SupportedShort-term benefits of stimulant use are outweighed by significant long-term risks.

◐Partially SupportedProzac can be used short-term or long-term to increase serotonin for mood, anxiety, and distress tolerance.

◐Partially SupportedAntidepressants can increase distress tolerance, which is beneficial for individuals undergoing therapy to process trauma or stressors.

◐Partially SupportedMedication is often warranted for conditions like bipolar disorder, OCD, and ADD.

◐Partially SupportedLow doses of antipsychotics can reduce hypervigilance and avoidance behaviors.

◐Partially SupportedMedication is almost always warranted alongside therapy to alleviate OCD symptoms.

✕Not SupportedMDMA use can lead to excessive focus on a single concept.

◐Partially SupportedSome individuals benefit from consolidating therapeutic insights immediately after a session through activities like walking or quiet reflection, while others need to set the material aside and reflect on it later.

◐Partially SupportedIntensive therapy (e.g., 30 hours in a week) is typically indicated for individuals experiencing severe distress, suicidal ideation, severe addiction, or a crisis point.

◐Partially SupportedTraumatic events can lead to automatic, unhealthy changes in reflexes related to self-perception, life navigation, and happiness, often manifesting as heightened anxiety, vigilance, guilt, shame, and a sense of non-belonging.

◐Partially SupportedCommunicating with a trusted person or clergy member is beneficial when journaling or processing difficult experiences.

✕Not SupportedMisuse of amphetamines can subtly shift brain function, leading to increased impulsivity and decreased trust without the user's full awareness.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals experiencing 'scary thoughts' should seek external resources rather than managing issues independently.

◐Partially SupportedMDMA, when administered in a clinical trial setting with a clinician present, can have cardiac effects.

◐Partially SupportedShort-term coping mechanisms like negative thoughts or anger can worsen long-term outcomes and contribute to addictive pathways.

◐Partially SupportedArticulating trauma without facing recoil can reduce shame and shift internal experience.

◐Partially SupportedAddressing trauma leads to improved outcomes such as increased happiness or greater functionality, even if some negative affect is sublimated into productivity.

◐Partially SupportedSupplements can benefit sleep depth and transition time, focus, anxiety management, and other aspects of mental and physical health and performance.

◐Partially SupportedContinuing unhelpful therapy can lead to nihilism or a false sense of accomplishment.

◐Partially SupportedVicarious experiences of traumatic events can have a similar brain-altering effect as direct trauma.

◐Partially SupportedEngaging in activities like thinking, speaking, or writing can help shift cognitive patterns and facilitate the development of new thoughts.

◐Partially SupportedA significant portion of overdose deaths may stem from addiction rooted in trauma, where individuals use substances to soothe internal pain.

◐Partially SupportedIncreasing the intensity of therapy, such as through concentrated sessions, can be beneficial for processing distress and prior trauma.

◐Partially SupportedWhen used professionally and in the right setting, psychedelics can have an immense positive impact.

◐Partially SupportedAdequate sleep is a basic premise of self-care.

◐Partially SupportedTrauma can lead to persistent fear-based future projection originating from the cortex.

◐Partially SupportedPsychedelic medicines can act as anti-trauma mechanisms when used clinically.

◐Partially SupportedChronic trauma can alter brain function.

◐Partially SupportedAddressing root trauma is essential for changing negative self-talk and feelings that can lead to substance use.

◐Partially SupportedDeveloping negative fantasies about future events can cause distress.

◐Partially SupportedHuman brains are not evolutionarily adapted to modern lifestyles, which can lead to maladaptive wiring.

✕Not SupportedInappropriate use of amphetamines like Adderall or Ritalin can lead to paranoia and altered perceptions of reality.

◐Partially SupportedConfronting trauma can be done with a professional therapist, by talking to another person, or through writing.

✕Not SupportedThe study of psychedelics is correcting a misguided glorification of outer brain structures.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals with true ADD generally tolerate stimulants well without typical adverse effects.

◐Partially SupportedThe belief that functional ability and success are tied to poor self-care can lead to neglecting basic health practices.

◐Partially SupportedJournaling can help create distance from distressing thoughts and feelings.

◐Partially SupportedIgnoring basic self-care practices can be a trauma-driven automatic response.

◐Partially SupportedCannabis can be clinically helpful under certain circumstances, but it can also be harmful.

✕Not SupportedUsing amphetamines to study or work more is associated with a high level of risk.

◐Partially SupportedNot taking care of oneself can serve as a distraction or be tied to a sense of power.

◐Partially SupportedIntensive therapy, such as 30 clinical hours over one week, can yield exponential gains and is worth more than the same hours spread over time.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals experiencing suicidal thoughts, thoughts of death, or feelings of unworthiness to live must seek professional help.

◐Partially SupportedExternal perspectives are necessary for brains to recognize and move beyond repetitive thought patterns.

✕Not SupportedUsing powerful tools like MDMA without clinical guidance incurs risk.

◐Partially SupportedNegative experiences are more likely to be retained in memory than positive ones.

✕Not SupportedAlcohol is generally not a good coping mechanism for distress.

◐Partially SupportedThe optimal way to show up to therapy is whatever allows the individual to be fully present.

◐Partially SupportedLiving in circumstances that promote a sense of well-being is a basic premise of self-care.

◐Partially SupportedInteracting with positive people is a basic premise of self-care.

◐Partially SupportedWhen multiple medications are prescribed, it is common for some to be counterproductive.

◐Partially SupportedMDMA may increase dopaminergic and serotonergic transmission, creating a brain state that facilitates inner landscape exploration.

◐Partially SupportedMDMA's dopaminergic and serotonergic state can make individuals prone to suggestion, making clinician guidance valuable.

◐Partially SupportedAttention deficit can stem from factors including anxiety, depression, poor sleep, poor diet, stress, and trauma.

✕Not SupportedAt higher levels of distress, cannabis can narrow cognitive focus onto negative thoughts, potentially harming conditions like depression, anxiety, or trauma.