Sunday Musings - July 23, 2023
Last Sunday I talked about addiction and the role of homeostasis in the pleasure-pain part of the brain. I recommended the reader listen to the podcast Hidden Brain and specifically the episode of July 10, 2023, featuring a discussion with the psychiatrist Dr. Annal Lambke. The episode of July 17 entitled “The Path to Enough” continues the discussion with Dr, Lambke. I again highly recommend it for a further understanding of addiction and how to approach a healing journey.
This week I want to discuss a close cousin of addiction - Shenpa. Some of the readers may be familiar with the concept because of my past writings and/or because of one’s familiarity with such teachers as the Buddhist nun, Pema Chodron. I am currently working on a longer essay on the subject of shenpa, but, this week, I want to focus on the relationship between shenpa and addiction.
Shenpa is a Tibetan word which is frequently translated as attached. Pema is not fond of that translation and suggested translations such as hooked or “that sticky feeling”. I think of shenpa as a belief that one needs a person, place, thing, position, or situation to be okay. Thus, one may get attached to or hooked by the opinion that one can only be okay if one’s parent affirms one’s worth. In this case if the parent is unable to offer unconditional love in way one can hear it one may get hooked to the belief that one is not enough. One gets also get attached to the belief one must attend an Ivy League university to have a successful career and life; that all cool/worthwhile people can safely drink alcohol or use marijuana.
If one is hooked by or attached to some idea, thing, place, person, or belief one cannot have a good or satisfying life unless X is true/available. If one becomes used to having access to that thing, idea, place, person, or belief one can become very anxious or even very depressed if it is not available. One may have now move from shenpa to addiction. Addiction as elucidated by Dr. Anna Lambke is the lack of homeostasis when following the withdrawal of the acute surge of dopamine one’s brain registers pain. it is only after a period of what Dr. Lambke calls fasting that one can begin to be at peace - one can again reach homeostasis - without that acute dose of dopamine. Fasting is that time for withdrawing from that thing, activity, substance which has been feeding one’s addiction. There may be some activities, substances, beliefs which one can again enjoy after a period of fasting without triggering the imbalance/the addiction. This is not the case for those whose addiction involves the use of alcohol or other addictive drugs.
Shenpa occurs for many in religious or political beliefs. Sometimes the two may overlap. Thus, one may get very depressed or anxious if anyone challenges the statements or opinions of the political figure or the news station to whose truth one is attached. One may get very attached to the religious doctrine or belief of a particular church or religion.
There may be those who have a personal preference for a vegetarian or even a vegan nutritional practice but who are not offended if others have a different belief or practice. They are not attached to the idea that their way is the way or the only way. A friend of mine is a long time vegetarian but in deference to the practices and preferences of her current partner has introduced chicken to the meals she prepares and serves,
I love books and other reading material as my primary source of information. Yet, I can also enjoy audio books, podcasts, and films as well as lecture/talks as a means of learning or accessing information. I do not have shenpa for books or other printed matter but it’s still a preference.
The line between attachments or shenpa and addiction is often very narrow. Shenpa may or may not precede addiction. If one, for example, is introduced to opioids following surgery one may get addicted. Prior to surgery, however, one may have had belief/an attachment that one could tolerate only so much discomfort. This belief may be an important factor in becoming addicted. (Each of us may experience discomfort differently.).
Shenpa can open the door to addiction. At the very least it may separate one from those whose opinion, belief, or behavior is different. That in turn can creates opposing tribes who cannot coexist peacefully together. Shenpa closes the door to further learning. If one is committed to a growing/learning one may want to gently and lovingly identify and allow for different beliefs, other ways of behavior, or healthier ways of finding pleasure than one experiences. Certainly, when shenpa leads to a dangerous addiction one wants to seek help in treating that addiction.
Written July 23, 2023
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
Last Sunday I talked about addiction and the role of homeostasis in the pleasure-pain part of the brain. I recommended the reader listen to the podcast Hidden Brain and specifically the episode of July 10, 2023, featuring a discussion with the psychiatrist Dr. Annal Lambke. The episode of July 17 entitled “The Path to Enough” continues the discussion with Dr, Lambke. I again highly recommend it for a further understanding of addiction and how to approach a healing journey.
This week I want to discuss a close cousin of addiction - Shenpa. Some of the readers may be familiar with the concept because of my past writings and/or because of one’s familiarity with such teachers as the Buddhist nun, Pema Chodron. I am currently working on a longer essay on the subject of shenpa, but, this week, I want to focus on the relationship between shenpa and addiction.
Shenpa is a Tibetan word which is frequently translated as attached. Pema is not fond of that translation and suggested translations such as hooked or “that sticky feeling”. I think of shenpa as a belief that one needs a person, place, thing, position, or situation to be okay. Thus, one may get attached to or hooked by the opinion that one can only be okay if one’s parent affirms one’s worth. In this case if the parent is unable to offer unconditional love in way one can hear it one may get hooked to the belief that one is not enough. One gets also get attached to the belief one must attend an Ivy League university to have a successful career and life; that all cool/worthwhile people can safely drink alcohol or use marijuana.
If one is hooked by or attached to some idea, thing, place, person, or belief one cannot have a good or satisfying life unless X is true/available. If one becomes used to having access to that thing, idea, place, person, or belief one can become very anxious or even very depressed if it is not available. One may have now move from shenpa to addiction. Addiction as elucidated by Dr. Anna Lambke is the lack of homeostasis when following the withdrawal of the acute surge of dopamine one’s brain registers pain. it is only after a period of what Dr. Lambke calls fasting that one can begin to be at peace - one can again reach homeostasis - without that acute dose of dopamine. Fasting is that time for withdrawing from that thing, activity, substance which has been feeding one’s addiction. There may be some activities, substances, beliefs which one can again enjoy after a period of fasting without triggering the imbalance/the addiction. This is not the case for those whose addiction involves the use of alcohol or other addictive drugs.
Shenpa occurs for many in religious or political beliefs. Sometimes the two may overlap. Thus, one may get very depressed or anxious if anyone challenges the statements or opinions of the political figure or the news station to whose truth one is attached. One may get very attached to the religious doctrine or belief of a particular church or religion.
There may be those who have a personal preference for a vegetarian or even a vegan nutritional practice but who are not offended if others have a different belief or practice. They are not attached to the idea that their way is the way or the only way. A friend of mine is a long time vegetarian but in deference to the practices and preferences of her current partner has introduced chicken to the meals she prepares and serves,
I love books and other reading material as my primary source of information. Yet, I can also enjoy audio books, podcasts, and films as well as lecture/talks as a means of learning or accessing information. I do not have shenpa for books or other printed matter but it’s still a preference.
The line between attachments or shenpa and addiction is often very narrow. Shenpa may or may not precede addiction. If one, for example, is introduced to opioids following surgery one may get addicted. Prior to surgery, however, one may have had belief/an attachment that one could tolerate only so much discomfort. This belief may be an important factor in becoming addicted. (Each of us may experience discomfort differently.).
Shenpa can open the door to addiction. At the very least it may separate one from those whose opinion, belief, or behavior is different. That in turn can creates opposing tribes who cannot coexist peacefully together. Shenpa closes the door to further learning. If one is committed to a growing/learning one may want to gently and lovingly identify and allow for different beliefs, other ways of behavior, or healthier ways of finding pleasure than one experiences. Certainly, when shenpa leads to a dangerous addiction one wants to seek help in treating that addiction.
Written July 23, 2023
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
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