This episode, I discuss grief and the challenges of processing losses of different kinds. I explain the biological mechanisms of grief, including how neural circuits for emotional and factual memory combine with those for love and attachment, to create feelings of absence and yearning. I discuss how grief is distinct from depression, yet why they can feel so similar. I also provide science-based tools to assist with the grieving process, including how to reframe and remap the relationship with those we have lost while still maintaining a strong emotional connection to them. I also explain the importance of having and building strong foundational psychological and biological states so that we can better cope with grief when it happens. Finally, I describe tools to adjust those states, including those for accessing sleep, managing stress and emotional swings. This episode is for those suffering from grief but also for everyone, given that we all experience grief at some point in our lives.

We recorded this episode before the recent mass shooting tragedies in the United States. While we hope the information in this episode will be of use to anyone suffering from grief of any kind and at any time, we are also careful to acknowledge that many people require additional support and resources. For that reason, we include mention of such resources and we generally hope people will access them if needed.

#HubermanLab #Grief

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Articles
Craving love? Enduring grief activates brain's reward center: https://bit.ly/3wSLIa1
Catecholamine predictors of complicated grief treatment outcomes: https://bit.ly/3wU1jHw
Emotional disclosure for whom? A study of vagal tone in bereavement: https://bit.ly/3aob9bL
Diurnal cortisol in Complicated and Non-Complicated Grief: slope differences across the day: https://bit.ly/3t2Jvra

Books
On Death and Dying: What the Dying have to Teach Doctors, Clergy and Their Own Families: https://amzn.to/3t4oYCK

Grief Resources
Dr. Frances O’Connor’s grief questionnaires: https://www.maryfrancesoconnor.com/ysl-scale
Complicated grief questionnaire: https://bit.ly/3LXYxFs

Participate in Dr. Frances O’Connor’s grief studies:
https://www.maryfrancesoconnor.com/research-participation

Timestamps
00:00:00 Grief & Bereavement
00:03:44 Eight Sleep, InsideTracker, ROKA
00:08:35 Grief vs. Depression, Complicated Grief
00:12:20 Stages of Grief, Individual Variation for Grieving
00:16:05 Grief: Lack & Motivation, Dopamine
00:23:15 Three Dimensions of Relationships
00:29:52 Tool: Remapping Relationships
00:37:15 Grief, Maintaining Emotional Closeness & Remapping
00:44:40 Memories of Loved Ones & Remapping Attachments
00:48:04 Yearning for Loved Ones: Memories vs. Reality, Episodic Memory
00:51:40 Tools: Adaptively Processing Grief, Counterfactual Thinking, Phantom Limbs
01:00:32 Tool: Remembering Emotional Connection & Processing Grief
01:04:03 Memories, Hippocampal Trace Cells & Feeling An Absence
01:10:14 Yearning & Oxytocin, Individualized Grief Cycles
01:18:24 Tool: Complicated Grief & Adrenaline (Epinephrine)
01:24:37 Sentimental Attachment to Objects
01:26:13 Why do Some People Grieve More Quickly? Individual Attachment Capacity
01:29:42 “Vagal Tone,” Heart Rate, Breathwork & Grief Recovery
01:42:32 Complicated Grief & Cortisol Patterns
01:48:50 Tool: Improving Sleep & Grieving
01:54:28 Tools: Grief Processing & Adaptive Recovery
02:03:36 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Instagram, Twitter, Neural Network Newsletter

The Huberman Lab Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com