Dr. Anna Baranowsky
Dr. Anna Baranowsky
Addiction and the Journey to Enlightenment
Addiction and the Journey to Enlightenment
Addiction and the Journey to Enlightenment
Monday 22nd September 2025
Explore how addiction can lead to enlightenment with Dr. Anna Baranowsky and guests Cody Peterson & Dr. Anna Lemke in this transformative episode.
61 minutes
Inspiring
Informative
Transformative
Hopeful
Educational
About this podcast
Author:
Dr. Anna Baranowsky
Overview:
Categories:
Recovery from Trauma
Healing from Sexual Trauma
Healing Relationships
Sobriety Toolkit
Spiritual & Personal Growth Journeys
Links:
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Episodes:
85 (View all)
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Episode Overview
- Addiction can be a journey towards self-discovery and enlightenment.
- Dopamine plays a crucial role in our brain's pleasure-pain balance.
- Modern life’s abundance can lead to a chronic dopamine deficit state.
- Pro-social shame can transform personal struggles into social goods.
- Dopamine detox and controlled discomfort can help reset reward pathways.
"As we've created a world in which we're very good at insulating ourselves from pain, we've actually made ourselves more unhappy."
Curious about how addiction can be a journey to self-discovery? In this engaging episode of the Bear Psychology Podcast, Dr. Anna Baranowsky sits down with Cody Peterson, author of 'The Shadow of a Figure of Light: The Archetype of the Alcoholic and the Journey to Enlightenment.' Together, they explore the transformative potential of addiction as a path to wholeness.
Peterson shares his perspective on how addiction is not merely about pain but can be a call to something greater, leading to psycho-spiritual transformation. Adding depth to the conversation, Dr. Anna Lemke, a psychiatrist and author known for her work on dopamine's role in addiction, joins the discussion. She breaks down the science behind our brain's pleasure-pain balance and how modern life's abundance can lead us to a state of dopamine deficit, fueling addictive behaviors. Dr.
Lemke offers insights into managing this balance through strategies like dopamine detoxes and inviting controlled discomfort into our lives. Dr. Baranowsky and Dr. Lemke delve into the emotional aspects of addiction, discussing how shame and trauma can drive addictive behaviors. They explore the concept of pro-social shame, where sharing struggles in supportive environments like Alcoholics Anonymous can transform personal transgressions into social goods. This episode is both educational and inspiring, offering listeners a fresh perspective on addiction and recovery.
It challenges societal norms around pleasure and pain, encouraging a reflection on how we perceive happiness and discomfort in our daily lives. Are you ready to rethink your relationship with pleasure and pain?