In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, my guest is Dr. Elissa Epel, PhD, a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). We discuss how acute and chronic stress affect the body and brain, including their links to cellular aging and mitochondrial health. We also explain tools to reduce rumination, reframe stress as a challenge and build resilience, as well as how radical acceptance and a sense of purpose can help us navigate stressors we cannot change. Show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/fqVKGyP Huberman Lab Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Threads: https://www.threads.net/@hubermanlab X: https://x.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Dr. Elissa Epel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elissa-epel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elissa.epel X: https://x.com/Dr_Epel Timestamps 00:00:00 Elissa Epel 00:00:22 Good & Bad Stress, Stress Responses 00:01:55 Rumination, Body Awareness 00:03:23 Tools: Mindset, Body & Environment 00:04:51 Acute & Chronic Stress, Energy & Recovery 00:07:44 Sponsor: Eight Sleep 00:09:27 Healthy Aging, Purpose & Brain Health 00:10:54 Stress Resilience, Threat vs. Challenge 00:14:40 Tool: Reframe Stress, “Stress Shields” 00:16:54 Sponsor: AG1 00:18:30 Mitochondrial Health, Caregiving & Daily Mood 00:21:24 Chronic Stress, Tool: Radical Acceptance 00:25:19 Tool: “Drop the Rope”, Uncontrollable Stressors 00:26:48 Uncertainty, Tool: Posture & Slow Breathing 00:29:10 Sponsor: ROKA 00:30:34 Taking Action vs. Letting Go 00:32:55 Journaling, Narrative & Purpose 00:34:15 Acknowledgements Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer