

What Is Trauma? with Dr. Gabor Maté
May 29, 2025
Gabor Maté, a physician and author renowned for his work on trauma and addiction, dives deep into the multifaceted nature of trauma and its pervasive impacts on health. He challenges the myths surrounding trauma, revealing how societal norms stifle emotional expression. Maté emphasizes the connection between trauma and chronic illness, advocating for a compassionate healing journey. He also explores the dynamics of trauma in relation to aging and discusses the role of forgiveness in the healing process, making a compelling case for rediscovering personal agency.
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Society's 'Normal' is Abnormal
- What society calls "normal" like selfishness and emotional suppression is actually abnormal from an evolutionary perspective.
- Human beings evolved for cooperative and communal living, not for competition and isolation.
Trauma is the Wound Within
- Trauma is not the event but the internal psychic wound caused by it.
- Healing focuses on the wound that can be healed, not the irreversible traumatic events.
Trauma as Raw Wound and Scar
- Psychic trauma is like a raw physical wound: tender and reactive to touch.
- It causes rigid scar tissue which leads to emotional disconnection and inflexible behavior.