Episode 4: April 23, 2019
Dr. Rachel Abrams: Understanding the Human Animal, Love, and Right Relationship
Dr. Rachel Abrams joins us to discuss the evolution of the human animal, the science of connectedness, our need for social ties, and right relationship.
Listen Now!
Episode 4: April 23, 2019
Dr. Rachel Abrams: Understanding the Human Animal, Love, and Right Relationship
Dr. Rachel Abrams joins us to discuss the evolution of the human animal, the science of connectedness, our need for social ties, and right relationship..
Listen Now!
Episode Overview
In today’s episode, Amy digs deep with Dr. Rachel Carlton Abrams, voted the “Best Doctor” in Santa Cruz County for 11 years running. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University, Rachel received her MD from UC San Francisco and a master’s degree in holistic health from UC Berkeley. Board certified in family medicine and integrative medicine, she refers to herself lovingly in this episode as an “integrative weirdo doctor.” At her award-winning integrative medicine clinic in Santa Cruz, Dr. Abrams treats many of the world’s most influential people. Rachel is happily married to her fellow author and husband, Doug Abrams, and the mother of three fabulous, young adults.
Listen on to find out how Rachel thinks we’re in a cultural crisis and why relationships and connection are the answer. You’ll also learn a bit of neuroscience that explains how all living beings are connected to each other and to nature. We’ll talk about her new books BodyWise and Eight Dates, with guides to essential conversations on topics like money, sex, family, and dreams, and finally, we’ll learn what in the world “naked Shabbat” is.
What we cover:
- The 5 fundamentals of wellness — including social relationships
- What it means to be in “right relationship” with self, with others, and with nature
- Honeyguide birds and their connection to humans
- The electromagnetic field of your heart
- Mother trees’ ability to protect their offspring in intact forests
- Dunbar’s number
- Why talking to your mother on the phone might cause abdominal pain
- How physical touch from humans or animals makes us feel safe
- What makes us pack animals and not lone leopards
- A passion for beach volleyball and all its hidden values
You’ll finish this episode feeling inspired to connect deeply with yourself, with others, and with the earth. As humans, social relationships are integral to our social health and holistic wellness, and we may just be in a cultural crisis. Let’s discuss how the human animal has evolved and how we can stay well in our modern tech-centric society.
Social Wellness Challenge
identify your people and communities!
This week’s social wellness challenge is two-fold. First, identify the three people that you would call in a time of need. Then, think of at least three social communities that you can identify with. These communities can include your family, work colleagues, a religious community, sports team, volunteer group, etc.
Now, find a way to connect with all three of your go-to people and each of those three communities this week. Send your sibling a grateful text, invite your volleyball teammate over for dinner, or you may just decide to join a new community!
Links
Dr. John and Dr. Julie Gottman
BodyWise: Discovering Your Body’s Intelligence for Lifelong Health and Healing — Rachel Carlton Abrams M.D.
“How trees talk to each other” — Suzanne Simard at TEDSummit
Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love — John Gottman Ph.D., Julie Schwartz Gottman Ph.D., Doug Abrams, Rachel Carlton Abrams M.D.
This Week’s Guest
Dr. Rachel Carlton Abrams
Rachel Carlton Abrams graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University, received her M.D. from UC San Francisco and a master’s degree in holistic health from UC Berkeley. She is board certified in family medicine and integrative medicine.
In 2008 she opened the award-winning Santa Cruz Integrative Medicine Clinic. Dr. Abrams treats many of the world’s most influential people, from CEOs to billionaire entrepreneurs to Nobel Peace laureates. She has been voted “Best Doctor” in Santa Cruz County every year, from 2009–2019.
Dr. Rachel has taught more than 50 classes & workshops and has been an expert consultant on holistic health for national magazines, radio & television for the last 20 years.
Rachel loves the ocean and the redwoods and is addicted to beach volleyball. She is happily married and the mother of three fabulous young adults, who live with her and her husband, Doug, in Santa Cruz, California.
I would say that everyone needs at least three people that if you went into the hospital you would tell or that if you were really sick you would tell or if you lost your job that you would tell. Three people that you’re in at least weekly contact with, that you have that level of closeness with.
Social wellness is also about human touch. Whether it’s a hug or a handshake or a slap on the back or a massage or actual romantic involvement, it doesn’t matter, but the human touch does matter and it’s good for the organism. And [it means] each of us should have at least five different social groups of people that we’re in contact with.“
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Fulfilling relationships are scientifically proven to keep you happy and healthy — boosting your immunity and longevity. When you prioritize the people that matter most, even when life gets full, you naturally show up better for them and yourself. We started Wellness 3.0 to bring awareness to this phenomenon and discover how we can improve social health and build better social habits, together.
