Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Dr Gabor Maté on Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture #294

33 snips

Sep 13, 2022

Dr. Gabor Maté, a physician and expert on trauma and addiction, returns to share profound insights on how emotional pain ties into addiction. He discusses the impact of childhood trauma and the pressures of modern living, challenging conventional definitions of success and happiness. Gabor emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in healing and critiques traditional medical practices, advocating for a compassionate, holistic approach. Personal anecdotes illustrate his journey of healing, underscoring the connection between emotional well-being and physical health.

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INSIGHT

Addiction's Root

Addiction is a human attempt to relieve emotional pain, not a moral failing.
It's a quest for normal human needs like connection, control, and purpose.

ANECDOTE

Pornography and Isolation

Rangan Chatterjee discusses a patient ashamed of his pornography addiction.
The patient found healing through a boxing club's community, not individual therapy.

INSIGHT

Dopamine and Belonging

People seek dopamine spikes from pornography not for sex, but to feel alive.
True healing comes from meeting needs healthily, like joining a group.

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Today I’m excited to welcome Dr Gabor Maté back to the podcast for a third time. Gabor is a fellow physician, author, speaker and friend who brings warmth and wisdom to every conversation we have. He’s a renowned expert on addiction, trauma, stress and childhood development – and someone with a unique understanding of how our spiritual, emotional and physical lives are connected.

Gabor’s latest book The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture is quite simply a masterpiece, which has the potential to help people the world over. It connects two of the most important factors in modern health – individual trauma and the pressures of modern-day living.

During this conversation, we discuss the prevalence and nature of addiction. We ask what ‘normal’ means these days when it comes to health. And why it is that success rarely equates with contentment.

Gabor defines childhood trauma and we discuss how parents can be aware of what causes it – but, importantly, why they shouldn’t look back and feel shame or blame. He shares some very personal insights that demonstrate that he’s as human as the rest of us, and how he’s found peace today.

We talk about self-awareness as a key factor in being a good doctor; why ‘psychosomatic’ should be a diagnosis not a dismissal, and how stress burdens the body, undermines immunity and causes emotional distress. Gabor shares some fascinating new research on the different personality traits that link to chronic disease. And he gives his view on why 80% of all autoimmune disease is seen in women.

This was a very special conversation, one which I hope you will find comforting, motivating and full of hope.

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Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/294

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