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Medical student here. We’ve had multiple lectures on trauma, adverse childhood events, and spiritual aspects of healthcare. Things are changing.
He’s so compassionate. If only everyone had this much empathy for their fellow man .
This is why LOVE is the most important commandment. We need love each other not judge each other. May God bless everyone who is struggling ♥️ and everyone who is unsympathetic.
“This is trench warfare” – “It is a response to human suffering” – “An attempt to escape suffering” “It is all about trauma” – This is deep. I agree completely. Thank you for sharing. 🙏🖤
Clean for 18 months…this hit me hard…for a moment I didn’t feel like an entirely hopeless human being
There’s no past trauma, its just a weird compulsion and or/ “Happiest days of our lives” – it kind of trumped a lot of what’s going on. With that being said, when i was moved to a place where my actions were considered addictive habits then that’s where alienation and true addiction set in. the hiding, the lying, the hating of the outside.
17 years in recovery. I’ve found that I’ve spent the entirety of my recovery unlearning everything I learned about myself as a child. I totally relate to your assessment of addiction.
I have struggled with addiction since 2007 and after listening to this man I truly consider him a genius and the way that he’s able to articulate WHAT addiction actually is and WHY it EXISTS in the first place is just mind-blowing. This truly is the best explanation of addiction I’ve ever heard.
So do i
A life with poetry…
Your name tells a whole story.
When I was in active addiction I went to jail for a short while, and the one common denominator was that we were all abuse survivors. We all had severe trauma. It’s really sad. I just celebrated 8 years clean. We can recover with support.
@TheMaharishi i learned from this comment as much as i learned from the video
We need more love and compassion in this world.
This is exactly what addiction was for me. I stopped drinking 12 years ago because I’m an alcoholic. However, I didn’t deal with my emotional trauma, until I met the right therapist, 2 years ago. He helped me to heal my soul and it was life-changing. 🙌 I love how normal it’s becoming to talk about mental health. I never understood why there’s such a stigma attached to seeing a therapist and wanting to better yourself.
We really need compassion for addictions now more than ever.
I have always said this. And I firmly believe it with my whole heart. People self medicate for a reason there is an underlying issue going on there is a root to the problem and it’s usually trauma. People don’t do addiction for fun they do it as an escape for an issue they don’t have a solution to where they don’t have the tools to find a solution to the problem. Gain new knowledge people. Gain the tools.
This is great.
I’ve been dealing with multiple addictions throughout all my life. My side project has been to fix my head. I don’t smoke anymore (started when I was 12), I don’t drink anymore (started when I was 14… 20 months sober), over came prescription pills after I was blown up and shot in Iraq, and not I’m working on the last one… the shadow.
Great perspective!
My brother is currently struggling with addiction. We went through some rough times as kids. He always protected me… And seeing him in that state today makes me really sad. He took the hit for me back then. That’s why I’m not leaving his side now, I will walk this road with him by giving him as much love and support as he needs.
Thats what my fiance said. I was kind of offended that he wanted me to watch. Bc addicts are not that uncommon. Why did I need to watch this for?
Him: bc he explains it in a way that no one else does. Me: _throwing my hands up like a drama queen_ so when I am nice, or in other words putting the “weight of the world”… on my shoulders, im still being unheard? Bc it seems like it. No cred.
Quit drinking almost 3 years now. Amazing journey and one where I got to discover and learn from wonderful people like Gabor Maté. Addicts have faced and lived through hell on earth. If you can come through addiction and out the other side, you take with you a set of amazing gifts to offer the world not unlike any other. Even the empathy alone you have for others is truly profound but it doesn’t stop there. I have the absolute utmost respect and love for both addicts and ex-addicts; the overlooked and forgotten. The true heroes of society.
@Claude LeBel Great share Claude
@KaniM This is where the internet comments section actually works! A great comment by TheMaharishi. They have hit the nail on the head. We are all addicted. This is something I learned coming through addiction myself and out the other side. As cheesy as this sounds, I have become addicted to actually living and loving my day, totally pure save a little vape machine I use and that will be removed this year.
Mark these words, life is not linear progression. No matter where you are and when you start you can have progress and is not linear. Again life is not linear
Clean for 4 days from opiates. Longest I’ve managed in 2 years of my habit. It made me forget all my trauma until it wasn’t enough. Really excited to feel genuine happiness in sobriety, I just hope it’s one day soon. I needed to hear this video today. ❤️
1:08 hit me hard. Addiction is a response of human suffering and that broke me. I am a recovering alcoholic and it is hard staying sober. I have dealt with so much in my life and alcohol was always there for me. Never judged me and never left me. That line will forever tug at my heart strings because I felt every word like a sharp knife. I have gotten better control of my drinking. I slip up from time to time and I am trying. I have been getting better and stronger. I have been staying sober for longer periods of time and I will someday get rid of this demon. If anyone is reading this, please keep fighting the good fight. Screw everyone for judging you, even for relapsing. I’ll be rooting for whoever is trying to get sober because I am in this fight as well and I will die trying to be sober.
It’s hard to have compassion for a POS addict who robbed you, or hurt you, or is just a scumbag. Not saying all addicts are like this but the ones I have encountered don’t deserve compassion from me.
Reading “The Body Keeps the Score” gave me such a good understanding of just how pervasive trauma is in society and how poorly funded the treatment models are. Nonetheless it was a fascinating read and Gabor Maté touched on a lot of points raised in the book. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to understand more about trauma and how it manifests in later life. I hope more people will read on the subject and ultimately be more compassionate towards each other.
@Demon Princess That is their automatic response to get what they need to cope with their suffering.
I always knew or felt what it was, I was just never able to put it into words.
@BlueBird Sounds like an excuse, having an addiction doesn’t automatically turn you to thievery and violence. Those people still need help if they are even willing to take it, but doesn’t mean those actions can simply be excused.
Unfortunately society will never change addicted 40 years amputation of right leg 3 wee brothers 2 çousins umpteen pals ALL DEAD “WE SAW THE NEEDLE, WE SAW THE ĎÀMAGE DONE..
I hope you are in AA — it is not about fighting the good fight It is about finding the relief of surrender & the strength in numbers. Wishing you all the best for 2022 – you will put this all behind you and onward ho!
It isn’t compassion it’s honesty and knowledge. Some just don’t bother to lie because it harms others. Of course a person in pain can get relief from these drugs regardless of the pains source.
Step ONE, stop calling them addicts. It is rude and hateful. I know you said addictions, not addicts, but i’m making a point on the stigma issue there.
How to control a populous.
Keep them poor
Keep them ignorant because they focus on the wrong thing (stupid/smart)
Keep them away from happiness by just one step
Keep them envious over inequality
Keep them alive barely meeting any of their needs
Keep them burned out working like slaves
Keep them brainwashed and at each other throats over resources.
Keep them fat and unhealthy, and crazy addicts if they complain
keep them bored, kills creativity
Keep them following rules that are “protective” jail sentences, like school for 18+ years.
Keep them from trusting each other.
Keep them ashamed
Gabor has opened up my eyes to a whole new world. Before I had listened to his videos, my opinions on addiction were completely erroneous and backwards.
It just proves how wrong it is to judge someone, as we really have no clue what it’s like to walk in somebody else’s shoes.
☺ thats wonderful
This video is amazing. My dad is an addict and throughout my childhood I always thought that he CHOSE drugs over my siblings and I, I now realise it wasn’t that black and white, he self-soothed in hopes of healing his traumatic childhood and unfortunatley unded up with a severe drug addiction. This video has changed my whole perspective, I now understand my Dad and why he is the way he is and I have the upmost love and compassion towards him. Thank you!
I’m an addict…
Was clean 3 yrs
And now it came back..
And I don’t know what to do.
This I very true , I can’t handle my emotional response without the drug, I feel like
I’m gonna go crazy from hiding it all the time.
The mask I wear all day is getting very heavy, I don’t know how to solve this problem right now …
Unless I’m high.
Which is all day😔
Everything is possible!
this is amazing
@Bob Dillaber i would get suicidal when triggered, but nowadays im stronger
@rooster555555 Me exactly. I think we each have our specific emotional vulnerabilities. If whatever life experience puts us dangerously close to that vulnerability (being triggered), we panic, overwhelmed with the fear of experiencing intolerable pain. For me my greatest vulnerability was abandonment. I almost lost it twice when that happened to me. Maybe it’s different for you but maybe worth some time thinking about for you.
@rooster555555 I’m also interested in what led you to feeling stronger today than before.
That’s good to hear. I’ve had terrible treatment in hospital by psychiatrists who rolled their eyes and stifled laughs when I told them about my abduction and genital mutilation. They told me that I had made it this far so I must be fine and can make it that many more years. One said “The only thing I can give you is antidepressants, which won’t help everything you’re dealing with. It won’t be much help. That’s all we can help you with. We can give you a large bottle though and you can fill that right away. (insinuating I take them that night and come back in a body bag so they didn’t have to deal with me taking up their time) I was there trying to find help after having suicidal urges earlier that evening and feeling hopeless with my alcoholism and feeling triggered by other dangerous harassment at the time that the police also refused to help with.
I try to manage my addictions and live a full life, and try to achieve post traumatic growth so that I can make a difference for others and so I can dance on the graves of the people who have abused me who were in helping professions: police, judicial staff, and doctors. It’s the way the system is set up that allows for so much inconsistency and so many cracks so that most people fall through. There are so many people who are not fit to treat or help others because of their own burnout and on the job trauma, which is extremely real. In some cases they’re trained specifically not to react in a trauma informed way. Especially in cases with indigenous peoples or people of African heritage. Anyone from a visible minority.
Not treating, and instead criminalizing and jailing people with addictions benefits the business of privatized jails who fund government initiatives, conveniently incarcerates the easiest to apprehend and the largest population. These people are easy to catch, easy to break their spirits, easy to re-arrest when they inevitably get caught for the same things when they get out. They don’t take many resources and they won’t have any power to come after any staff of the judicial system. It benefits health care to have those who are struggling pass away without coming in or accessing treatment. It saves money that way.
I feel that some doctors are taught about trauma, but not all doctors choose to follow any kind of trauma informed training, or they can’t for their whole career. Especially towards women, especially BIPOC women, or 2SLGTQIA+ people, or women with disabilities. I hope no one goes through what I went through. And that wasn’t the only incident, but I can’t list them all.
I have had great medical care from some doctors, paramedics, and nurses. I have also seen paramedics yell transphobic statements in my friend’s face who has physical disabilities and uses a wheelchair, who was not entirely conscious. They were yelling hate speech at him because they felt that would get him to stand up out of his chair, they explained when I intervened. I registered a complaint along with the security guard who also witnessed it, but I have a feeling the complaints department is internal and just tears up the complaints or doesn’t reflect them accurately when being presented to any board.
I think it becomes a big problem when people with unresolved trauma are in first responder roles where people depend on them to help, and they are not able to do so because they’re also hurting terribly. The system should be set up to address that and care for its staff.
@Claire Strickland I’m still clean:)
@Danielle Faichney
I’m glad. I wanted to tell you that you might be waiting quite awhile before you feel genuine joy after giving up an opiate addiction.
Took me almost a year.
Good news. What have you learned and how is it implemented practically?
Good for YOU! Especially if you did it on yer own. You are my hero! I have been where you are…… more than twice. Getting off opiates is arguably the most challenging yet rewarding feats I have ever accomplished. It’s impossible to overstate how much you have to look forward to…. stay strong/stay the course. Please. Your future self will thank you. Congratulations!
I am so glad to hear that things are changing!
Keep it up, you can do it!
We need a society that supports peoples basic needs, that’s the “cure”
Absolutely!! Yes Claus!
Hope your still clean. Im kicking right now. How did you do it
@Abe Kelly it really doesn’t.
That’s extremely important for you to be there for him. Learn about addiction. God bless you both.
@JB 2000 benzo withdrawal is the worst. I went through it so many times. You can’t sleep because your mind won’t shut off until you are able to take another benzo.
I’m sure he appreciates you not giving up on him, even if he hasn’t expressed it verbally. I teared up when I read your comment, my brother hasn’t given up on me through my addiction and that means more than the world to me. I wish the best for you and your brother, thank you.
i might know why. I similarly choose drugs over my dog sometimes (my dog is my only reason to live), the more i love my dog, the more it makes me realize that i was never loved. its a paradox loop. if your dad is like me, his love for you might be the reason he chose drugs. the more he loved you, the more trauma he got from realizing he was never loved. if he is like me, he is honest, merciful, and not strict. he makes you feel good and gives advice instead of punishment. he easily changes his mind based on your opinions. i hope im right.
Love you for this 💪🏿
Congratulations. I send you lots of love 💕
@Insure Unsure I’d say it’s head to head with methadone. Methadone is like a 100x worse then heroin. Literally makes heroin feel like a small cold. Benzo is like tied for that but methadone last longer like month of sweats and withdrawals and the worst symptoms are day 2.5-12 which is no sleep and puking but Benzos are deadlier. I been through all them but if you want to make a grown man cry and cry back to the clinic like a little B then completely taper him off 100+mg of methadone. It’s hell and I almost killed myself off it with taking some heroin.
@Marci Singh I celebrated 9 years clean April 17th and I’m very excited for next year to make ten years clean
Well done I’m lucky if i can make a week lately 😞 after getting out of prison after 13 years I just feel nothing
I’m doing my 2nd session in therapy..I’m learning to become more emotional intelligent..it’s a cost In south africa 🇿🇦 conserdering that we are one of the most unequal country in the world ..I will push and persevere..I got this 👍
God bless you and your brother. I hope you both find peace and happiness
@Andrew Williams I pray you find peace and happiness in your life and get sober some day. From one addict to another, god bless you brother
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