Author and trauma expert Dr. Gabor Maté discusses how past trauma can lead to illness. He shares steps for healing and living happier lives. Topics include childhood trauma, impact on emotions, self-compassion, and healing from trauma.
Early trauma can impact adult behavior, triggering emotional responses.
Acknowledging and processing emotional trauma is crucial for overall well-being and physical health.
Deep dives
The Impact of Early Trauma on Adult Behavior
Gabor Mate, a renowned author and physician, shares his personal experience of being handed to a stranger in Budapest during the Holocaust, highlighting how early trauma can influence adult behavior. Mate explains how implicit memories of trauma can resurface unexpectedly in seemingly trivial moments, affecting relationships and triggering emotional responses.
The Misunderstanding of Trauma
Mate challenges the conventional understanding of trauma, distinguishing between Big T trauma (such as surviving the Holocaust) and Little T trauma, which includes everyday stressors like parental stress. He emphasizes the importance of self-compassion in addressing trauma, while also acknowledging personal responsibility in healing from past wounds.
The Link Between Trauma and Physical Health
Mate delves into the connection between unresolved trauma and physical health, citing examples of chronic pain linked to emotional suppression from childhood trauma. He explains how suppressed anger can manifest as physical ailments, underscoring the significance of acknowledging and processing emotional trauma for overall well-being.
The Need for Emotional Healing and Connection
Mate emphasizes the essential role of emotional healing and self-exploration in addressing trauma, advocating for a deeper understanding of the mind-body connection. He highlights the prevalence of loneliness and stress in modern society, positing that healing and connection are vital for individual and societal well-being.
Have you ever wondered if stress and trauma from your past could be making you sick? Author and trauma expert Dr. Gabor Maté, says our past experiences may literally be the root cause of “trauma related illness,” something he writes about in his most recent book, “The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture.” Drawing on his experience as both a Holocaust survivor, and a physician, Mate sits down with Dr. Sanjay Gupta for an intimate and wide-ranging conversation to share his steps for healing and living happier lives.