January 31,2013: Gunther Pohlmann Society Meeting

This week was a meeting of the Gunther Pohlmann Society. We have enough new members in the group, many who did not know our Dr. Gunther Pohlmann. Therefore, the first part of the meeting was spent discussing Gunther and his ways and why we devote the fifth Thursday in every month that it occurs to discussing something that either Gunther wrote himself, or something that we feel would have been in his discussions.

Today, his daughter, Heidi, brought a copy of his article Children of War published in Adolescent Psychiatry, Vol III, No. 4, pg 374.
This peer reviewed Journal, the voice of the Society of Adolescent Psychiatry, published a special group of articles, attempting to consider "How Can the Children of World War II German National Socialist Sympathizers and Jewish Survivors Talk to Each Other?" Introductory article Pp. 350-353. by David W. Cline.

Dr. Cline opened his Introduction with a quoted section from the poem, Ulysses, by Alfred Lord Tenneyson.

Come, my friends,
'Tis not too late to seek a newer world,
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
the sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulps will wash us down;
It may be that we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are--
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

Children and War: A Personal Perspective on Childhood in World War II and Post-war Germany Pp. 374-378.  Guenther P. Pohlmann

Abstract:  War is a major cause of traumatic stress for children and adolescents. German children who were born just before WWII experienced multiple stresses during and after the war. In addition to the losses and deprivations associated with the war, they had to face the shame of their country's defeat and responsibility for the war, and many lived with the knowledge of their families' complicity in the Nazi atrocities -- something that was largely unacknowledged and never discussed. While in some cases, war trauma results in an ever repeating cycle of violence; in others, the children who experience war are remarkably open to reconciliation and peace. While genocidal violence has recurred -- in Camboida, in Bosnia, in Rwanda, for example, there is hope that the children who live through these experiences can help to bring an end to these horrific events. The author offers his views on how the unique perspective of these children can inform us. He describes his experiences and his observations of his contemporaries and peers who were children in Germany during World War II, and adolescents in the post-war era. Some of these children have led the way in the ultimate acknowledgement of individual and collective responsibility and in taking steps to ensure that the horrors of the genocide would not be repeated.

If you would like to purchase copies of any of these articles in this special section of the Journal of Adolescent Psychiatry, go to this link.
http://www.benthamscience.com/contents-JCode-APS-Vol-00000002-Iss-00000004.htm

Dr. Gunther Pohlmann and Dr. David Kline had become friends when both were sent to Iraq in the first Gulf War. Gunther was involved in setting up a MASH type hospital during that war. Both doctors worked on dealing with psychiatric issues that later affect the young men who are in battle. They developed the use of meditation, mostly in the form of TM to help and other techniques during debriefing that helped prevent or as an initial treatment for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Many forms developed then are still used today in our wars.

Interestingly, currently TM has been used prior to sending men to war to try for primary prevention of PTSD and similar disabilities. As an aside, in a recent newspaper issue, there was also an article about using meditation to treat arthritis. Inflammatory markers have been measured in the blood of study subjects and they are significantly reduced, showing objectively that meditation helps not just reduce the pain of arthritis but actually reduces the inflammatory cause of arthritis.

Discussion at the end of this meeting reminded us of several sources that our group has particularly enjoyed during the past year and even before. They include:

Dr. Weil's article: Why We Are All Addicted?

Pema Chodran:  Shenpa. We have discussed this article before. There was some discussion of the definition of shenpa. Todd has kindly provided us with a copy of this article. Hit Read More down at the bottom to see this article again.

Recommendation for a new book by Jonathan Haidt, author of  The Happiness Hypothesis, in which the author examines ten "great ideas" dating from antiquity and their continued relevance to the happy life.
His new book is entitled: The Righteous Mind. This book is about the difference in thinking between conservatives and liberals.

On the light side, apparently a poll was taken asking whether people thought this country was currently divided. The results of the poll were 50% to 50%, Yes and No. The pundits are still arguing about that.

July 21, 2011: More about Shenpa by P. Norton.

     During this session of SpiritMindBodyGroup, an article by Pema Chodron entitled The Shenpa Syndrome was discussed.
     Here is a link under which you can find the whole article.
http://www.shambhala.org/teachers/pema/shenpa3a.php

     Short statements about Shenpa from the group's discussion:

     Shenpa is defined as attachment. But it's really a tightening sensation when something "hooks" you, whether a criticism, a mean word, a worry about losing something, a fear of failing, whatever it might be. The Shenpa is really about suddenness. It's also very common and it's OK that it occurs.
     The key to change is self-observation. We would benefit from identifying this sensation early. Then we can either decide to withdraw
 from the discomfort producing situation and try to bring the problem to the fore at a later time when we are more open to a solution. Many people are in continual Shenpa from all sides. You want to try to become open and practice Prajna -- loving kindness toward oneself in wisdom.
     Someone suggested the Chekhov novel The Cherry Orchard might show us how to recognize the tightness earlier.
     Some asked how Shenpa came about? What is the value of Shenpa? It is probably a survival mechanism. It is probably not our choice. We just get upset. But if we can learn to control it, it might help to keep our cortisol levels down -- less stress hormone levels. But in the area of survival, this mechanism is way over done, and our minds and bodies use it way too often. Cognitive therapy might help people get past Shenpa.
     People may feel shenpa in various ways and in various areas of the body. It might be a band around the head, a tingling in the legs, or a desire to move the body, or a gnawing sensation in the stomach.
    Shenpa can be adaptive or maladaptive. We probably need to learn to recognize the shenpa feelings and then befriend it. And don't make any decisions or hold serious discussions with friends if either or both are under the influence of shenpa. It may be better to walk way and undertake the interaction when neither are under the influence of this negative tightening.

The Shenpa Syndrome

On June 24, 2010 we met to discuss The Shenpa Syndrome. Paul led the discussion. We utilized a writing of Pema Chodran's from her website. The discussion was active as usual. All the attendees recognized the feeling of shenpa, the sticky, gut feeling when we are criticized, or otherwise affected in a negative way. We feel a closing, a defensive stance, and then this can deteriorate further to low self esteem, self denigration, and/or blame and anger at the other. We can also recognize shenpa in another during our interpersonal relationships. The trick is how to deal with shenpa in others and in ourselves and stop it before it cycles downward into a cacophony of negative feelings. The article offers some very practical ways to block this feeling, to avoid getting so hooked by these negative feelings, to keep ourselves open and compassionate and help others do the same. Click on "Read More" below to read the article.