No one in the audience applauded when Gabor mentioned that power and success are addictions that cause harm in the world. Yet he is right.

‘The greatest gift parents can give their children, is their own happiness’ ❤️

My parent's response to me telling them I was sexually abused by a neighbor when I was 6 for three years was "You must have enjoyed it or you wouldn't have kept going around there". I was 18 when I told them and I went away and threw up. Their response was worse than the abuse.

Thank you for this video. My partner is in prison for being addicted to drugs. Our daughter hasn’t seen her father for 5 years now because he has been locked away. He had to steal food to survive from 5 years old onward, because his parents were drug dealers and addicted as well. Then he was bounced around in foster homes where he was severely abused. Then at the age of 18 his fiancé at the time was killed and he was severely injured in a tragic car accident. Nobody helped him through all those years, he found ways to survive and cope using drugs and then after all that they called him a criminal and put him in prison. Our lives have been stolen because we as a society have criminalized drug use instead of helping people with their pain. My daughter and I have had to scrape by without him for five years and we’ve been homeless twice. I had a nervous break down. It hurts so much I don’t know how to bear it. He’s still in prison and there’s nothing I can do.

People like these men are actual angels. Those who have made their way out of hell yet continue to go back for those who haven’t made it out yet. I am so thankful that these men have a platform. Thank you for your compassion, understanding and generosity. You’ve made me realize I’m not alone nor am I a bad person for the way I tried to kill my sadness. 🤍🤍 wishing you all infinite love and blessings

Mate is the real deal. Wish I had met him when I was on the streets. So lost. Now I found recovery.

"You cannot punish pain out of people." - Joe Polish, wow. mic drop.

22 years of opiate addiction and THIS is the first time i have been captivated by addiction specialists. I usually shy away from the dry tedious yawn inducing speeches. This makes sense. U have absolutely inspired me. Thanku thanku thanku.

it takes a lot of balls to open up like that in front of people thank you guys

I was sexually abused by a neighbor and suffer from attachment issues when I was very young. My Mom always said I was such a good baby, always sitting in my crib all day long and play with my cars, didn't fuss or make a noise. Now today, at 42 I suffer from years of alcohol and drug abuse, I seek escorts, ruined my marriage, a horrible role model for my three children. Thank you Dr. Mate for bringing my attachment issues to light, I finally feel like I can overcome my issues and hopefully, God willing, repair my marriage with time and be the Man my beautiful wife deserves.

A family member is a alcoholic after watching this video and reading Dr Mate s books I began to understand the pain of the addiction. When I changed my behaviour to one of compassion and understanding the family member began to take control of their drinking. It was magical to witness. Family dynamics improved all round especially for their children. Thank you so much again and God bless you all xx 😘 ❤ 💕

Your addiction was an attempt to solve a problem.... AMEN TO THAT 👌

How can we help this man be heard on a global level !? This breakthrough analogy is nothing less then the Whole Truth and what we need now more than Ever.

I use to shoot up in a bush or cemetary in the winter. I relate to this more than anything. I been sober for almost 2 years. Im trying to heal and this video has given me so direction on how to do that. I wanna read his book

I had a depressed & stressed mother due to my abusive father. Her suffering became my suffering as a young child. I had no one to talk about my pain & it was not able to discharge. It all makes sense now why i have ADD as well as a food/sugar addiction. Food was love that i wasn't receiving in my environment. It was an early adaptation to protect me from stress.I love Dr. Gabor. He is helping our world to understand that addiction, ADD, Anxiety comes from pain.

"You cannot punish the pain out of people"......... 🙏🙏🙏💯💯💯💯💯

I am a therapist and this lecture was more valuable than the trainings or classes I've attended. I also deal with it personally on many levels. Thank you so much this. Your words need to be heard by all. You are doing valuable work!

Lol Now I'm addicted to mate's lectures/talks...

Gabor makes everything seems so easy to understand. He got this special talent for detangling any complex issue.

I’m recovered 18 years now. Thank goodness for Dr Gabour 🇨🇦

I will never get tired of listening to Dr. Gabor Mate! Thank you. Love that he emphasize on treating the trauma instead of the behavior only.

I am one of three sister that was molested by father. Two sisters lived in fear , I on other hand did opposite (flight ) non of us turn to drugs . I lived my best life ,maybe driven by circumstances. God Bless you Dr Mate always interested in everything you have to say !

Wow!! Dr. Mate is ON POINT!!!! He talks about what it’s like to actually BE A HUMAN being!!!

Brillantly articulated. Thank you. I'm a mother of a recovering drug addict

All of my childhood friends are gone from overdoses and I’ve overdoses multiple times. I am so glad to see all the comments of people starting to truly understand this issue and not agreeing with the proven failure of the war on drugs criminalizing victims. That’s all it’s doing is making everything worse for the addict getting no help and when they hit the legal system it gets even worse. It’s time we look at the facts the war on drugs needs to end and decriminalize all drug use and possession charges and use all that money it’s going to save for real help and not throwing us into the prison system alongside rape and murderers. It will never work throwing people in jail.

This talk is pure gold. I really wish it had a different title so more people might be drawn to it. It’s speaks about so much more than addiction advice. It actually addresses most of the worlds issues and why we suffer

Love is what we need. Love. Children, adults. This is absolutely captivating. Im an opiate addict for 22 yrs. You have got my attention. Thanku. Love from New Zealand

I wish everyone in the world would watch this and actually understand the depth of this talk!

The whole of the west is suffering from anxiety and addiction we are so separated from the family unit and spirit

You just nailed the problem with society. It's not the drugs, but the reason why we use drugs. Thank You for taking the time to understand and solve this issue. I pray that your words find some important people and slowly change the world. 😇

I love Dr Mate and his philosophy, but it’s so much easier said than done. Have you ever tried to love an addict ? Protecting ourselves from hurt is a natural response to threatening circumstances.

Addiction gives people relief from pain, escape from pain, control over pain. Addiction is not the problem. The problem is pain. This is an environment that was created so we can practice overcoming pain. The pain here is the opposite of what there is in eternity/any of the alternate existances. This environment ALLOWS us to learn to deal/manage/live well inspite all of the pain. It is possible for every single one person to work against pain and become a benefactor in the world. The problem is that we have become so ADDICTED TO PAIN, that we need it to "feel" alive, because we are affraid of death/not exist. So we subconsciously as a society become experts at creating pain, so we can feel alive, we don't like pain but we have becomed a society who NEEDS pain. The real problem is pain and the solution is in our hands. War, hunger, poverty, racism, hate towards immigrants, rape, taking from one another, child abuse ect...we have become better than nature at creating pain. How do we overcome pain? By becoming more whom we really are (Spirit). The capacities is our individual Spirits are kindness, patience, charity, understanding, virtue, and all the things one would think are angelic or belong to another existance and we are affraid of becoming Spirit because that would make us "dead", but that unconciuos belief is not true. Becoming and figuring out how to be more whom we really are (Spirit) will make us more alive, eternally alive starting from here and now. IT IS TIME TO HEAL THE WHOLE FAMILY (WORLD FAMILY) SYSTEM.

Excellent discussion. Dr Mate is the most compassionate, humble, helpful person. Thank you for this and for uploading the video in full.

OMG. Life changing. God takes the junk of our lives and makes the beautiful art. Gabor, you are a Phoenix that has risen from the ashes.

I’m so thankful to find Dr Mate’s lectures here on you tube. It’s really helping me to process some issues I’ve been carrying around for a very long time. 🥋

Mate has a way of describing this issue with peace and awareness. He helps so many of us with his words, depth and energy.

this Gabor guy is good, isn't he like he's the real deal

I can’t even keep count of how many brilliant moments of enlightenment in one video.

Let's all heal together...

After one year of COVID, it’s hard to care about sobriety enough to seek it.

Joe what a great man sharing your experience so openly to help others

Jesus is the answer to all of the pain🙏🙏🙏🙏

THANK YOU, Joe. I'm an addict in recovery and for sure, the little yet instrumental steps thus far have been thanks to Dr. Maté. Anyone struggling with addiction: you are worth it and you can heal, at your own pace and time. Solidarity.

Dr Mate rocks...

I have so much compassion for my perpetrator. That makes me feel good that I've come that far.

I have addiction for comforting myself with food & overspending!! At least those 2 I'm admit & aware of. I think is my reaction to oppression, stress, rejection, sadness...

When whatever atrocity is not acknowledged by a loved one that’s worse than the atrocity you went through so healing doesn’t know where to begin unfortunately at least that the way I feel anyway 😔

Wow, some real genuine humans telling it like it is, with some real understanding!Now that's RARE as we have been barbaricly demonizing addicts for a long time and it's time that changed.Thank you both ...The world needs to be educated on all you have spoken of here.Very important discussion

Dr Gabor Matè is brilliant

I have so much respect for Dr. Gabor. He is really trying to help people without the grandiose and the need to exploit. He is sharing his wisdom to help damaged souls.

Two wonderful and compassionate men.

I had to pause just 1/3 of way. This is the clearest talk I have heard yet of Gabor. He is telling my story. No, I wasn't born in Budapest, the details are different. But as 3rd born girl (in 4 years, with 2 major moves) to parents who didn't want me. A redeeming asset I might could've had was to be a boy. Rejected. Neglected? Very. And left on my own to cope w/abusive bullying by 2 older sisters. I was on my own at 13, legally emancipated at 14. Cuz my bleeding ulcer needed medical care. Even w/35+ years of 12 step work & a couple good therapists, this past year-home alone & very isolated & quiet, I have re-experienced trauma of not being wanted. As an RN- I know that every deep wound must be debrided. It will heal. But all the gunk has to go, and must be kept clean. I am healing deeper. Thank you for this talk.🙏

YESTERDAYS PAIN! IS TODAYS LESSONS .TO DAYS LESSONS , ARE TOMORROWS BLESSING.

Thank you sir for all of your work. I cried after watching this, we carry so much of societies resentments on our shoulders it takes all that I have in order to not let that weight crush me.

This is great.thank you.ive been sober and therapy almost 38 years.badly very badly abused all forms from infancy.i am writing book of my life.i just found you and subscribed.

Joe, you were trafficked! What you described is child sex trafficking. I'm so sorry this happened to you! Thank you so much for sharing this. So encouraging. Talking honestly is inexplicably difficult.

The world's best addiction specialist. At a minimum amongst the best.

Dr. Maté is amazing. I love him so much for the work he is doing. I wish every doctor (and person) had his insights on human emotions, trauma, escaping from pain that causes addictions. The world needs a lot of healing - in the right way.

Being human is the hardest thing we'll ever do. It is time that we learn to accept this and support one another in a whole new humanity. I have worked in this depth psychology for my whole life. I am thrilled that Dr. Gabor and others, are at long last bringing these basic Truths to the forefront. Thank you so very much!

This is so true. Out of pain people search for a way to cope and this holds a light to the reason of addiction and why it is so prevalent in today’s society. As a struggling addict I know this pain and want to learn to cope differently and this truly helped me understand myself...

Amazing men sharing their souls understanding what addiction is ❤. Thank you for your truth and your wisdom 🙏 🙌 ✨.

Add to dictate= addiction : you add power to let it dictate you , this is the essence of addiction , it is YOU that gives it power . may love be our guide, love to all that is

I have very strong negative emotions towards my perpetrator, I don't want to see them, I don't want to hear them call my name. I pray for healing because I know this can not be good for me.

I have been depressed this week. This has helped me understand my pain.

Absolutely wonderful. I am so very grateful for this program and for both Dr. Gabor Mate and Joe Polish, their integrity and true substance which allows them to be true and "vulnerable", a word that has undertones of "weakness", but in this context it is one of the hallmarks of the greatest strength, such that many people never get to develop, at any age. Thank You so much.

Great talk! I'd like to add, though, that the huge increase in anxiety and other mental illness has to do with the way they are diagnosed. Behaviors that were considered normal in the past, such as a 9 year old not being able to sit still in class, are now called symptoms of mental disorders that have to be medicated. The medications then change these behaviors from temporary problems to lifelong chronic illnesses. So, more mentally ill people exist now (in the US, at least) because the criteria is looser and the treatment is harmful.

Right at the end he mentions. no-one held us. Who now is going to hold us if not God? This was an utterly brilliant topic and good participation from the honest people in the audience.

22.00, I now understand ADD and ADHD! Wow

I could listen to Dr.Mate forever..and will.

Such a wholehearted and open conversation...Just love to hear Dr.Mate...Wish there were more people like him around.Would love to.meet him.some day👍.Blessed are the people who get to hear him

Halfway through this and I love with this doctor I wish there were more like him 🙏💕🙏

Just love Gabor Mate. He’s a brilliant expert on so many problems.

This is a talk everyone should listen to. Thank you so much

I have been using food to tame my guilt for not being a conscious mother. Looking for something outside myself to feel good and feel as if I can control my circumstances of limited economic resources.....

27:34 thank you for this wonderful advice! I was irrational and delusional and only caused more pain to people I wanted to help. Non-judgement, compassion, acceptance of reality are very important 💖💖💖

Omg he sure is!! You feel like you could tell him anything without judgement and being stereotyped. Feeling the empathy and compassion he exudes is so sincere and undeniably healing in itself!!! I absolutely love this men and for all the work he does regarding addiction and the suffering of humanity!! ❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Dr Mate is true mentor. i love listening to his talks, makes me grow so much as person and understand myself. Thank you so much for this talk

Thanks to him I learned how to forgive and understand. I became human

This guy Joe polish is the strongest Man. He mastered his past and fears so good that he speaks about it so openly without any problem.

Wow, Thank you I am the Mother of a Recovering Addict ....hit the nail on the head on so many levels... Finally someone said it...I hope to start working in the Recovery field to change the face of the recovering person to help to change the dynamic of the rehabs...Thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️🙏

This absolutely blew my mind!!!!

Brilliant conversation which illuminates and dispels myths about addictions! Important insights about TRAUMA, loss, and lack of attachment in childhood. Must watch through til the end!!

Thank you so much for this interview.. very much appreciated!

The part about family coming together to Say thank you for being the sensitive one and let’s come together and end the addiction by creating a space and common communication of love and support to end the cycle. This is something I can take home to my family that has suffered. Thank you for this talk a seed has landed 🙏❤️

2 rational approach to deal with an addicted loved ones. 1. I love you but I can't be with you. 2. I love you and I'm going to stay with you and support your rehabilitation. Irrational and wrong approach is to try to change the addict by coercion, threats or manipulation. Molester was also a victim when they were younger and thats why they should be shown some compassion and understanding. But it's ok to have a justifiable anger for the molester.

Wow!! This is mind blowing. Thank u. The world needs to hear this.. 😊🙏THANK U

This one of the most profound interviews I’ve listened to on you tube. Thank you both for your ability to share with clarity and intention, the knowledge gained through the integration of your experiences and pursuits. ❤️🙏🏼

Bad time to cut the guy off when he was opening up about being molested as a kid, however I love listening to Gabor (I spent over 27 years addicted to Subutex/ methadone and never been able to handle the weeks of pain from quitting these "cures"). I have brain injuries from overdosing and struggle with attention/ memory loss. First saw Gabor on Zeitgeist Addendum and in my opinion he's the most informed, no bullshit speaker I've heard speak on the topic. Very cool guy.

✨Empathetic Compassion✨ Is the continuity of the human race's successful healing & existence on Earth!

Dr. Mate is simply brilliant.

While I respect his compassion and work, I also think it's too easy to jump to the conclusion that addicts aren't to blame for any part of their addiction and jail and the legal system's involvement is a ridiculous concept. I agree the laws in almost all countries aren't appropriate for the aim of reducing addiction, but that shouldn't be equated with addicts not needing consequences. As an addict myself it does me no good simply to believe that my addiction wasn't my fault, it's more complicated than that because once I knew I had a problem I was responsible for deciding whether or not it's something I wanted to change. Recovery doesn't work if an addict doesn't want to recover. Some people throw away all savings and get worn down by sending loved ones to rehab after rehab without determining if it's something they want or are even close to considering. If I hadn't had consequences it may have been too late for me (i.e. overdose, dying while DWI, etc.) to even consider whether or not I was an addict and alcoholic because I may have died before I got a result other than what I intended from getting high or drunk. It also took additional consequences once I believed I was an addict to consider whether or not I was truly powerless over my addictions. I'm referring to powerlessness in terms of still believing that it's as simple as just stopping when I want it enough. I know for myself, and many addicts I've talked to, we'll keep using even after we know what we are and no longer wanted to be that thing unless something changes. Addicts do, however, have the power to say I need help and then start to seek that help from others until they are strong enough to utilize coping strategies (whether those strategies include a program, social activities, or individual coping skills) one day at a time, consecutively, without giving in to the addiction. Some people can decide to seek recovery when the consequences are more simple, like losing friends or making a fool of themselves. For some people, unfortunately, it takes an arrest to accept they aren't the one controlling the substance and that it's the substance in control. Sadly, many die before they make a choice to change or realize what's happening to them.

Thank you Joe for putting all this on and for putting yourself out here

Joe - incredibly wonderful, helpful and life changing. TY for finding, introducing, & hosting this insightful human and for asking him all the right questions on behalf of your audience

This conversation is needed so much for the world 🌎. Recovery is a beautiful 💙🖤🤍 thing😌.

This made me have more compassion on myself. Ty

Incredibly helpful insights and information, thank you from the bottom of my addicted self for sharing!

THANK YOU, DR. MATE. Thank you soooo much.

Found Aaron Mate on the Jimmy Dore show, now follow him on The Grayzone. Dr Gabor is wonderful 2, yx u for everything

This is such a needed voice. There’s been too much shame behind these issues.

Thank you Dr. Maté.