Dr. Gabor Maté
@DrGaborMate
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A renowned speaker, and bestselling author, Dr. Gabor Maté is highly sought after for his expertise on addiction, stress and childhood development.
Vancouver, BC
Joined November 2009
“The abnormal has become the norm; the unnatural has become the inescapable.” - from The Myth of Normal. Have you read Gabor’s new book yet? What lessons did you take away from it? For more information on where to purchase, visit: #themythofnormal
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Trying to find some words when words fail. Thank you @aaronjmate @MaxBlumenthal @TheGrayzoneNews for inviting me on.
.@DrGaborMate on Gaza: "In a certain deep sense, I feel that it's the worst thing I've seen in my whole life."
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Join us on Saturday, March 4th for a virtual live conversation between Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex and Dr. Gabor Maté, renowned speaker and author of THE MYTH OF NORMAL: TRAUMA, ILLNESS, AND HEALING IN A TOXIC CULTURE.
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If we could begin to see much illness itself not as a cruel twist of fate or some nefarious mystery but rather an expected and therefore normal consequence of abnormal, unnatural circumstances it would have revolutionary implications for how we approach everything health-related.
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The Wisdom of Trauma will be rebroadcast at the end of this month, as will the "Talks On Trauma" series. Over 4 million people worldwide have watched this film so far, which speaks to the deep hunger for a trauma-informed revolution in our thinking.
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Great to speak with @jimmy_dore and @kurtmetzger on @JimmyDoreShow, of which I'm a long-time viewer owing in part to a certain recurring guest.
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Our culture wounds people by its very nature. It then elevates some of those wounded people to ranks where they can cause further harm to massive numbers of others, as the traumatized often do. A closed circuit of pain, of which Trump is merely the most recent/blatant exemplar.
A new book from Donald Trump's niece, Mary Trump, claims he suffered "child abuse" & "deprivations that would scar him for life." . Listen to @DrGaborMate on this, from May 2019:."Trump is a clearest example of a traumatized politician one could ever see."
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I'm gratified to announce that the documentary about my work, "The Wisdom of Trauma", which has already been viewed by over six million people, is now available online.
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Tomorrow (1/28) at 7pm ET / 4pm PT, I'll be joining my son, journalist @aaronjmate, on the Callin app for a live discussion and audience questions. An iPhone is required to join live but the broadcast will be available to all right after it ends. (link below in thread)
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Some reflections from me on psychotherapy, both the obstacles and the opportunities, based on my recent livestream conversation with Prince Harry.
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Here's the video of just my segment on Glenn's program last night:
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On his 90th, I salute one of the intellectual and ethical giants of our time, or any time, Noam Chomsky,.whose truth-seeking intelligence, calm, non-egoic rationality, and moral courage will long continue to lead and inspire those working for a sane, just and humane world.
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It was a pleasure to be the second Maté to get a chance to speak with @ggreenwald of whose work I'm a fan, on @SystemUpdate_ .
As mental health pathologies and antidepressant medications explode in growth in the US, we spoke with Dr. Gabor Maté about his newest book “The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture.” His view: the underlying causes are often ignored, and are rooted in
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From the dark days of the Vietnam War I was inspired by the courageous truth-telling of the legendary investigative journalist I.F. (Izzy) Stone. Today I am proud to be the father of @aaronjmate , co-recipient of the journalism award given in Stone’s memory.
A huge honor to be among winners of the annual Izzy Award for achievement in independent media, named after journalism legend I.F. Stone. I was cited for "meticulous reporting for @TheNation [that] consistently challenged the way the public was being informed about" Russiagate.
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I spoke with my son @aaronjmate (@PushbackShow @GrayzoneProject) about how legitimate fears of anti-Semitism have been confused/conflated with (equally legitimate) criticism of Israel & Zionism, and how young Jews are breaking free of these toxic, trauma-bound identifications.
Gabor Maté on the misuse of anti-Semitism and why fewer Jews identify with Israel via @PushbackShow.
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Pleased to speak once again with my friend @rustyrockets, this time on one of the most urgent political/moral issues of our time, Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people, which is driven (as so many things are) by unprocessed trauma in the background.
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My parents, Gabor and Rae, are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary today. I can personally vouch that they make a great pair -- especially on the dance floor. Happy 50th, mom and dad.
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On sale day! The Myth of Normal is officially available in the U.S., Canada, and the UK today. This is Gabor’s most urgent book yet. You can find where to purchase, here: #themythofnormal
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TODAY (7/31) and TOMORROW (8/31) only, the re-release of the documentary film about my perspective on trauma, and the work of others in the field, is available to watch online once again. By donation, no one turned away due to lack of funds. LINK:
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Gabor is awarded Order of Canada, in recognition of his work on addiction, trauma, the mind-body unity and the necessity of social change.
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THREAD: Today marks the release of a new documentary that I hope will find a wide audience. There is a growing awareness around the nature/prevalence of trauma that I'm proud to help encourage. The filmmakers have done a terrific job of distilling this.
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I spoke with @olivia_lang of @bbcideas about the roots of addiction. Whatever the substance or behaviour of choice, pain is always at the root, hence the compulsive flight from self via numbing out or getting high, in spite of negative consequences.
Why do some people become addicts and not others? . @DrGaborMate says addiction is a response to emotional pain
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Pleased to speak again with my friend @rustyrockets about #Coronavirus, how we respond to chaos, how trauma impacts our view of crisis, and much else. Full episode available tomorrow on the @hearluminary app.
A clip from the latest #UnderTheSkin podcast with @DrGaborMate. Out tomorrow Sat 21st March only on @hearluminary!.
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No one with awareness and a commitment to justice and equality can live these days without pain and sorrow or anger; nor can we, especially those of us who do not encounter police brutality or systemic injustice based on our skin colour, stay silent, resigned, or inactive. [1/4].
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The horrific abuse chronicled in this Times piece should shock both our conscience & intelligence: in what sort of world could there exist an "industry" that preys & capitalizes on "troubled teens"? Yet these barbarities reflect a more general misunderstanding in our culture. 1/6.
“Future generations will look back on many of the tactics used in the troubled teen industry in the same way we look back on forced lobotomies and ask: How did we allow these practices to pass off as mental health treatment for so long?”.
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It's hard not to have a happy birthday with such a riotously funny family. Thanks for all your well wishes.
Happy 77th birthday to @DrGaborMate. As a joke, he asked for an elaborate tribute video in his honor. So our extended family made him a mock one. Here he is enjoying it. 📷 @hannahrosita @DanielBMate
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I am a part of the community launching Drugs Over Dinner, a new initiative aimed to support and engage curious folks in having their own compassionate conversations about the healing potential of psychedelic medicine. More information: #drugsoverdinner
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As we come up on the second anniversary of the pandemic, the indispensability of human connection cannot be overlooked. Health impacts that result from a feeling of belonging are immeasurable and a clear indicator that health is not just a physical but a mental and social matter.
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UPDATE: Here's the link to watch the film and ALL live events, including the one happening right now
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In honor of the start of National Trauma Awareness Month and of Mental Health Awareness Month, we need to acknowledge the roles that trauma and stress exert on our bodies and minds if we have hope of untangling the myth of normal.
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Thrilled to announce that my next book (co-written with my son @DanielBMate) will be released this September in the US, UK, and Canada. "The Myth Of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture" is available for pre-order now:
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The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture has just been named one of @audible_com's top selling books of 2022. Thank you Audible!
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My co-writer @DanielBMate sporting an advance reading copy of The Myth Of Normal. It's wonderful to be at the stage where we can hold it in our hands, and we're less than six months away from when you can too.
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Pleased to sit down with Izzy Award-winning journalist (and my son) @aaronjmate to discuss the culture of collective shock, denial, delusion and wishful thinking that have fueled the hysteria over Russiagate.
Is there something we can learn about ourselves from Russiagate's all-consuming prevalence? @DrGaborMate joins me & @GrayzoneProject for a unique take on the psychological dynamics behind it: "America in Denial: Gabor Maté on the Psychology of Russiagate"
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Register by March 1 to submit a question, and you may see it answered live! Access is open to residents of most countries—visit for tickets. #PrinceHarryMemoir.
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I wrote in the @TorontoStar about what this particular Canada Day demands from us in light of recent "discoveries"— quote marks bc Indigenous people have known of these atrocities for decades. If the rest of us don't, that's our denial on display.
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A tremendous pleasure and honour to speak with @marwilliamson on #TheMWPodcast. Of many interviews, this was a highlight for me.
"This society is built on filling people's emptiness from the outside, which can never be done. " Trauma expert @DrGaborMate helps us make sense of addiction and disconnection on this week's #TheMWPodcast.Listen: Watch:
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We also touched on my own history as a child survivor of anti-Semitic genocide and as a former Zionist youth leader, and how repeated rude awakenings have taught me to embrace (or at least not to fear) disillusionment.
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Full #UnderTheSkin podcast ep is now available on iTunes (link below), Spotify ( or at @rustyrockets’ site (.
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An interview from my recent London trip. “When you treat children well, they’re going to be OK and if you don’t treat them well, they’re not going to be OK. The fact that this message is even necessary is a sign of the times.”.
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Not sure I ever expected to be quoted re: a Metallica song, but @DanielBMate is quite right in observing that addiction is neither a brain disease nor a "bad choice" but an attempt by traumatized people "to fall in love with life again." @LyricsToGoShow .
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This by @caitoz is a tremendously incisive thread that points to the theme of my forthcoming book, THE MYTH OF NORMAL (9/13/22). One doesn't need conspiracy theories to see how, right out in the open, illusions are perpetuated that are ruinous to our well-being in every respect.
Most propaganda goes not toward convincing us to accept new agendas of the powerful, but toward keeping us entranced in the status quo dream world. Toward normalizing status quo systems and training us to shape ourselves to fit into them like little cogs in a well-oiled machine.
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An excerpt from my recent keynote address at the Psychotherapy Networking Conference in DC, on how healing is a subversive act in our society.
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Available for the first time on YouTube, my conversation with @rustyrockets about addiction, wounded leaders.and much more.
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A poignant, brave, must-hear podcast by @tferriss on his ongoing healing path from the impacts of early childhood sexual abuse.
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Very pleased to be featured in @Journeys_Movie , a fascinating, beautifully rendered film about psychedelics and consciousness, to be released September 19th.
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Understanding the biopsychosocial connection is an essential step we need to take towards healing from the myth of normal. Readers will learn more about that in Gabor's next book The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture being released on September 13, 2022
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My son @AaronJMate in conversation with a woman of bravery, commitment, and principle. @MedeaBenjamin is a true hero, unafraid to confront unscrupulous power— or rather, afraid, and still willing. That’s courage.
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Another insightful gem from @SarahKSilverman. (I would add “mommy issues” to the mix.) My next book, The Myth Of Normal, will include a section on how we tend to elevate deeply wounded people to positions of power and leadership.
The world is currently suffering from leaders who live unexamined lives. Democracy is paying the price for their daddy issues.
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Here is a free special talk I gave last year on human nature, development, trauma, and society. Connection is especially important in these trying times.
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New piece in the @guardian about Gordon Neufeld's and my book "Hold On To Your Kids", recently released in the UK by @EburyPublishing . A parent's primary attention is best devoted to the quality of the relationship, not managing behaviour.
'If you focus on control, you have lost the battle': how to win back your kids
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To understand addiction, one must understand pain. Gabor Maté breaks down the root cause of all addiction and the. http://t.co/gTSO6VLuLR.
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I’m not only a doctor and author, I’m also an art lover. Lucky me, I’m married to my favorite living artist, whose beautiful new website is now live.
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I'm happy to celebrate Father’s Day through music and word with my lyricist son and co-author, @DanielBMate on his show @LyricsToGoShow . Here's part 1 of our conversation.
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The Wisdom Of Trauma, the documentary film about a new understanding of trauma, its impacts, and why it's so widespread in our time, is being rebroadcast this week, along with special interviews with @jeweljk @jamieleecurtis @marwilliamson @AshleyJudd .
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Another thing Western medicine never taught me: what a lug-hole is.
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"Suppression of innate knowledge is one of medicine's unfortunate tendencies.”--from The Myth of Normal.Gabor’s new book goes on sale worldwide next week. You can still pre-order your copy so it arrives at your door (or on your e-reader/audiobook player) on September 13.
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I spoke with @LondonRealTV about self-compassion during self-isolation and keeping sane during times of intense global and personal stress.
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An ironic joke, but also funny because true. Personality traits that “help” us and even win us praise early on can become stressful internal traps later in life, noxious to physical/mental health— but only to the extent that we don’t question them, assuming they *are* us.
anyone who was a “pleasure to have in class” has an anxiety disorder now.
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Going live at the top of the hour with @danielbmate to discuss the complicated relationship between parents and adult children, the topic of our next book.
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Case in point. Even extraordinary achievers like @serenawilliams—sometimes especially them—find saying no to others' (and their own) expectations to be the toughest challenge of all. Making matters worse, our toxic culture normalizes and praises this self-suppression.
Learning to master saying "no" is something we all must practice. But it can be tricky for us people pleasers out there when the guilt over disappointing or being rejected by others kicks in. Listen to this conversation i had with @drgabormate. 👉
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A free online event on addiction and trauma, based on the must-see @netflix film @CrackedUpMovie , about the life of comedian and @nbcsnl alum @DarrellCHammond . The documentary is mesmerizing, brave, powerful and will be an impetus towards transformation for many.
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Fresh from an inspiring Toronto workshop last weekend, @DanielBMate and I will lead the 4th annual Vancouver #HelloAgain for parents and adult children Nov 22-24. Last year's sold out; early reg. is encouraged. Info at link along with a brand new video.
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6/ More and more we see suppressed rage erupting in ways that cause grave damage. Social discourse is getting dangerously rancorous. It is all the more important that we bring insight and compassion—the sources of authentic responsibility—to our understandings of self and others.
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“The nature of our nature is to not be particularly constrained by our nature" -Dr. Robert Sapolsky, Ph.D.
Humans are not inherently fucked up, we're just traumatized and manipulated by an abusive system into doing fucked up things. Very few of the ugly behaviors we see in people would exist if we had conscious and compassionate systems in place for organizing ourselves in this world.
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Trying something new tomorrow, answering questions from readers live. Feel free to submit your own— better there than here if you want them to be seen by my producer/daughter @hannahrosita who knows about these things, unlike me. NB: my handle on Instagram is [at] gabormatemd.
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I also spoke with @ronadougallnews of @ScotlandTonight about the lifelong effects of childhood trauma and how we can mitigate them.
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A comprehensive discussion about many of the themes in #TheMythOfNormal with @danbharris on his @10percent podcast.
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Heading back to the UK in June, including this event on Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) in Glasgow.
We r delighted 2 announce "ACEs to Assets: Fostering Resilience in a Stressed Culture” with @DrGaborMate & @lokiscottishrap on 11th June '19 @GCHalls this 1 day event comes frm t vision of @Prev_Justice & @mcguigan_kim in collaboration with #ACEAwareNation
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Maybe not ALL the answers, but it was a pleasure to explore some of them with you, @LewisHowes.
How do we break free of our generational traumas and not let it pass down to our children? @DrGaborMate has all of the answers. Head to episode 1319 on The School of Greatness for more.
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I spoke with @kthalps of @KatieHalperShow about my journey from a child of genocide and teenaged Zionist to a critic of Israel's destructive policies towards Palestinians. There's both video and audio, and bonus material for subscribers. All links below.
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I urge all reading this, especially those in positions of relative societal privilege, to do what you can—in memory and honor of George Floyd and in the name of a just future for all. Thank you. [4/4].
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We can't heal our toxic culture without acknowledging that trauma's toxic effects are not distributed equally. Some populations are dealing with legacies whose health impacts are unfathomable and impossible to overstate.
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As my friend @AshleyJudd’s history exemplifies, abused people are often too isolated to speak up, or discredited when they do. The courts and political system maintain the dismissal and denial, thus deepening the trauma.
#WhyIDidntReport. The first time it happened, I was 7. I told the first adults I came upon. They said “Oh, he’s a nice old man, that’s not what he meant.” So when I was raped at 15, I only told my diary. When an adult read it, she accused me of having sex with an adult man.
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Dr. Maté recently sat down with @tferriss where they discussed new paradigms, ayahuasca and redefining addiction. Listen here:
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There is a crucial difference between cure and healing. Gabor explores both in his next book, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture being released on September 13, 2022 and available for pre-order now: #themythofnormal
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In which I speak with the charming, passionate, dizzyingly well-versed @Alanis about addiction, trauma, the plights and gifts of highly sensitive individuals, and—believe it or not—even cop to a little bit of decades-old Alanis envy on my own part.
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Thank you again to @rustyrockets for having me be a part of this special event.
'The stigma of mental illness vanishes when we realize we are all in the same boat. It cannot be otherwise: there is only one boat'. #WorldMentalHealthDay @DrGaborMate #OneVoice
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Gabor joined the Expanded Podcast (@tobemagnetic) to discuss trauma, authenticity, and healing. To listen to the full episode, visit:
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Thank you @kourtneykardash for helping to get this book into the awareness of more parents doing their best in these trying times.
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You think you know your grown sons’ music tastes, until you watch one interview the other on YouTube. Learned much I didn’t know I didn’t know re: Marvin Gaye, not to mention the rapper Ice-T. Great convo btwn @aaronjmate & @DanielBMate on @LyricsToGoShow
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1/ @jordanbpeterson here unwittingly reveals the tragic flaw in his gospel of stoic self-reliance:
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This article in @globeandmail considers the role of trauma in shaping our political leaders
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Thank you for this, @MaxBlumenthal, and for all the illusion-shattering journalistic work you do.
Fantastic discussion on the shattering of illusions & psychological release so many Jews experience as they emerge from the mental captivity of Zionism. Gabor: "Don't be afraid to be disillusioned. It's better than being illusioned. And don't be afraid to be disidentified.".
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Pleased to share my recommendation of this new book by my friend and colleague, and a leading stress researcher, Dr. Elisa Epel.
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If we look within deeply, honestly, and without succumbing to defensive avoidance, most men—myself for sure—will find lurking in ourselves anti-female anger & an urge to control women. It's part of the culture we've absorbed; it isn't always personal. But the reflection must be.
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Excellent piece by @JoannaMoorhead in today's @guardian on my work. Topics covered include the nature of addiction, the power of self-awareness, and the welcome quavering of the "infamous British stiff upper lip".
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A nice surprise to have one of my talks sampled at the end of this powerful song, "Healing", by UK rapper @realverbt .
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A very rare opportunity this June to work with me and a friend/teacher I hold in high esteem, at one of Peru's most respected healing centres. See program description for details on who can apply.
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Beautifully said, and all too true. The "inhospitable soil" metaphor goes to the heart of the book I'm now writing (with @DanielBMate). The Myth of Normal: Illness and Health in an Insane Culture will be published in 2022 by @penguinrandom @KnopfCA @PenguinUKBooks.
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Gabor Maté explains the link between illness and our emotional life. http://t.co/rFJd14PtQs.
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Heartbreaking final words from a martyr to an insane culture. Please add your voice.
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Please read and share this by my son @DanielBMate. What happened to him is awful, but it's even worse for 1000s trying to get to the US from countries the US has helped destabilize. We are so glad to have Daniel home, while aware that, as he says, horrors continue for so many.
Hi. This thread is about an ordeal I just in the Mexican immigration system. It's about my experience but it's more about what's going on for the 100s of men from Haiti, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Colombia, and elsewhere still locked up there. [1/21].
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New article about the health costs of emotional suppression in @PsychToday . Thanks @cheek_joanna.
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This from my newfound podcast buddy @rustyrockets will be one I’ll be watching with interest—I expect it.to be a source of illumination and belly laughs.
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