Best protocols for reducing anxiety

To manage anxiety effectively, Andrew Huberman has suggested several approaches:

1. Social Connection: Strong social connections can effectively mitigate long-term stress. Humans are highly social creatures, and quality interactions with others can reduce stress more than simple proxies of social connection, like texting 1.

2. Writing Protocol: Writing about stressful or traumatic experiences can have long-lasting positive effects on both mental and physical health. Dr. Huberman suggests starting with events that are stressful but not necessarily the most traumatic, to see if the protocol is suitable before progressing to more intense subjects 2.

3. Lifestyle and Supplementation: The foundational elements for supporting mental and physical health include quality nutrition, consistent quality sleep, and social connection. These fundamentals indirectly support trauma relief and overcoming fear. Ensuring proper sleep in particular helps to regulate the autonomic nervous system, enabling better function of fear and cognition circuits 3.

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     1

     Social Connection Insights

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     2

     Writing for Healing

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     3

     Overcoming Fear Factors

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These approaches are best tailored to individual needs and a consult with a healthcare provider is recommended for personalized advice.