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Living in a toxic culture, characterized by increasing rates of mental illness, childhood suicide, and social dysfunction, leads to individual struggles with mental and physical well-being. Dr. Gabor Mate explains that toxic culture manifests in societal issues like rising addiction rates and autoimmune illnesses. He challenges the traditional medical approach, emphasizing the interconnected nature of physical, emotional, and social health.
Gabor Mate discusses the significance of relationships in shaping human physiology, highlighting the concept of interpersonal biology. Drawing from neurobiology and traditional medicinal practices, he explores how our relationships influence our physical health from conception through life. By emphasizing the interconnectedness of emotional and physical well-being, Mate underscores the role of relationships in modulating human physiology.
Mate redefines addiction as a coping response stemming from trauma, rather than a genetic or choice-based disease. He explains addiction as a temporary relief-seeking behavior that leads to negative consequences, emphasizing the influence of individual and societal traumas. Mate's holistic approach links addiction to unaddressed emotional pain and underscores the importance of understanding addiction as a response to underlying trauma for effective intervention.
Gabor Mate delves into the core roots of pain and addiction, highlighting that addiction is a coping response to relieve short-term pain with long-term consequences. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying pain that drives addictive behaviors and reframes addiction not as a moral failing but as a consequence of a damaged society. Gabor suggests asking 'why the pain?' instead of 'why the addiction?' to address the root causes of addictive behaviors.
Gabor Mate discusses the healing journey through authenticity, agency, anger, and acceptance. By embracing authenticity, individuals can find their inner voice and true selves. Agency allows individuals to take responsibility for their existence and impact their present moment. Reconnecting with healthy forms of anger and practicing acceptance are vital steps towards reclaiming wholeness and reshaping how past traumas have changed individuals.
Renowned physician Dr. Gabor Maté joins Rick and Forrest to explore the many problems for our bodies and minds that arise out of our modern culture, and what we can do to meet our needs, heal ourselves, and become more whole. They discuss our increasing separation from one another, issues with aspects of the medical model, the true nature of addiction, the developmental needs of children, the myth of “normal,” and recovering from traumatic experiences.
About Our Guest: Dr. Gabor Maté is one of the world’s leading experts on trauma, addiction, and childhood development. His work has had an enormous impact on how we understand the interactions between our internal world and the world around us, and he is the bestselling author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, Scattered Minds, and his newest book The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture.
Watch the Episode: Prefer watching video? You can watch this episode on YouTube.
Key Topics:
0:00: Introduction
1:55: What Gabor means by a toxic culture
4:25: Interpersonal biology - our physiology is modulated by our relationships
7:10: What components are needed for a healthy culture?
11:55: Examples of toxic culture’s impact on people’s behavior
15:20: Addiction
21:00: How and when to distinguish degrees of trauma
27:05: Where and when to express healthy anger
33:10: How turning against the self manifests as illness
36:45: What supports people in returning to their authentic nature?
40:00: Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and creating a sacred context
41:45: Grief, integration, and letting go
44:55: Gabor’s relationship with his children
48:25: Five kinds of compassion, disillusionment, and truth
51:20: Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?
53:25: Recap
New Online Course From Dr. Rick: Learn the tools you need to build strong, healthy, fulfilling relationships of all kinds in Rick's new Strong Heart Relationship Series. The program begins on February 18th, and all the teaching is recorded so you can watch on your own schedule. Visit RickHanson.net/strongheart to learn more and get 20% with coupon code BeingWell20.
Sponsors:
Join over a million people using BetterHelp, the world’s largest online counseling platform. Visit betterhelp.com/beingwell for 10% off your first month!
Want to sleep better? Try the Calm app! Visit calm.com/beingwell for 40% off a premium subscription.
Connect with the show:
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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