On this exciting and informative episode of Living Beyond 120, Dr. Gladden and Dr. Mark Young welcome guest David Ruben MD, Ph.D. to the show. Dr. Ruben is a board-certified psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and inventor who specializes in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, Anxiety, and Substance Use Disorders.

The show begins with a discussion on self-optimization and the things that prevent people from being the best they can be, such as addiction and depression. They also delve into what is referred to as Illness Identity, which is when people identify with suffering from an illness and it becomes a part of who they are.

Next, they talk about how chronic stress triggers the sympathetic "fight-or-flight" branch of our nervous system and also impairs our ability to recover from ailments, which affects our sleep recovery, energy conservation, creativity and more.

They conclude with a discussion about Dr. Ruben's breakthrough device – the Apollo. The Apollo is a wearable wellness device that uses gentle vibrations to help your body recover from stress. Apollo's scientifically-proven technology improves heart rate variability (HRV), a key biometric of stress, so you can feel more calm, balanced, and perform at your best.