#620: Dr. Gabor Maté — The Myth of Normal, Metabolizing Anger, Processing Trauma, and Finding the Still Voice Within
The Tim Ferriss Show
Healing Through Tradition and Trauma
This chapter explores the blend of indigenous practices and Western psychology, particularly through the lens of personal medicinal experiences within First Nations ceremonies. The speaker shares transformative journeys involving indigenous healing methods, self-care practices, and the impact of confronting trauma from both personal and societal experiences. Highlighting the importance of nature, community, and creativity, the discussion reveals how traditional knowledge and modern understanding can foster healing and emotional growth.
Dr. Gabor Maté — The Myth of Normal, Metabolizing Anger, Processing Trauma, and Finding the Still Voice Within | Brought to you by Tommy John premium underwear, Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement, and ButcherBox premium meats delivered to your door.
Dr. Gabor Maté (@DrGaborMate) is a renowned speaker and bestselling author, highly sought after for his expertise on a range of topics that includes addiction, stress, and childhood development. Dr. Maté has written several bestselling books, including the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction, When the Body Says No: Understanding the Stress-Disease Connection, and Scattered: How Attention Deficit Disorder Originates and What You Can Do About It. He has also coauthored Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers. His works have been published internationally in nearly thirty languages.
His new book is The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture.
Please enjoy!
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[05:30] How COVID affected Gabor.
[06:33] Exploring plant medicine with Indigenous First Nations.
[13:29] How Gabor got fired from his own ayahuasca retreat.
[16:35] Can Indigenous medicine ever be understood through a Western lens?
[21:37] How does Gabor clear himself of the trauma he takes from others?
[22:48] Was writing The Myth of Normal more labor intensive than Gabor’s other works?
[25:40] A personal story about how past trauma can show up in everyday life.
[29:01] Coping with rage and anger.
[40:01] Attachment versus authenticity.
[45:12] Where does depression originate?
[48:23] Raising a child to learn self-regulation.
[52:24] What Gabor hopes The Myth of Normal readers don’t miss.
[57:20] Finding the right balance of self-care when caring for a family.
[1:01:18] The harm of focusing on correcting a child’s behavior rather than their underlying emotional dynamics.
[1:05:47] Rehabilitation versus punishment of incarcerated, traumatized adults.
[1:14:55] If he couldn’t write, what would be the focus of Gabor’s clinical practice?
[1:17:50] Finding and listening to one’s inner voice or calling.
[1:25:58] Are you bargaining with your authenticity?
[1:30:41] Parting thoughts.
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