This year, I plan to listen to 52 podcast episodes, read 12 books and maintain 1 blog. I plan to share all this amazing wisdom for our tender moments here. Enjoy!!
Episode #4: Dr. Gabor Mate On: Understanding your Trauma & How to Heal Emotional Wounds to Start Moving on From the Past Today.
Date: 10-24-2022
Occasionally, I like to revisit some of my all-time favorite podcast episodes. This episode is an amazing discussion between Jay Shetty and Dr. Gabor Mate on trauma and healing emotional wounds. Dr. Mate’s perspectives on trauma has influenced and guided my clinical practice in many ways. I love how he defines trauma in this episode, which is also captured in a quote from him:
“Trauma is not what happens to you, it’s what happens inside you as a result of what happened to you. Trauma is that scarring that makes you less flexible, more rigid, less feeling and more defended.” ~ Gabor Mate
For me, Dr. Mate brings hope with what he shares:
“If trauma is the wound that was sustained, it can be healed at any time.”
In my clinical practice, I have the honor of being invited on a person’s healing journey to tend to these internal wounds. Often, along this path, there is a heavy burden of shame the person is carrying too. They tend to view themselves as weak, flawed or broken. For me, one of the most beautiful gifts Dr. Mate has offered the field of trauma and addiction is a deeper understanding of the essence of trauma and what it means to heal. For me, an important first step on the path to healing is releasing the heavy burden of shame and connecting with curiosity, compassion and understanding.
I encourage you to listen to this conversation. I believe it will deepen your understanding of trauma, and how to heal those internal wounds. I think it will also create space for deeper reflection around areas of belonging, how we identify ourselves and the importance of acknowledging our suffering. It may help you open the doors to understanding and compassion as well.
If you enjoy this conversation, you may want to check out other resources from Dr. Mate. He is featured in the documentary, The Wisdom of Trauma. On this site, under the Resource section, you will find additional information on Dr. Mate’s work.