The Myth of Normal

The empowering book exploring the link between trauma, illness, and modern life – and how to heal your health. From the acclaimed physician and bestselling author of When The Body Says No . THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD ‘Life-changing’ Mel Robbins, bestselling author of The Let Them Theory ‘Riveting and beautifully written’ Bessel van der Kolk, bestselling author of The Body Keeps Score ----- We tend to believe that normality equals health. But in today’s modern world, rising rates of anxiety, depression, addiction and chronic illness suggest otherwise. So, what is normal – and is it making us unwell? In this life-affirming book, Dr Gabor Maté connects the dots between trauma, mental health, and physical illness, showing how our health is shaped by the pressures and expectations of modern life. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, and real-life stories of people transforming their bodies and minds, Dr Gabor Maté offers a compassionate and hopeful path to healing, self-awareness and emotional wellbeing. In The Myth of Normal , you’ll discover: Why the illnesses of body and mind can natural responses to a toxic culture How stress and emotional suppression affect the body The science behind the mind-body connection in healing and wellbeing A hopeful path towards resilience, balance and authenticity Compassionate and urgent, this empowering bestseller shows how true health is possible when we are willing to embrace our authentic selves. Praise for The Myth of Normal and Dr Gabor Maté: ‘Genuinely changed my life’ Steven Bartlett, bestselling author of Diary of A CEO ‘Intellectual and compassionate… essential reading ’ Tara Westover, bestselling author of Educated ‘A wise, profound and healing work’ Johann Hari, bestselling author of Stolen Focus ‘ Brilliant, compelling and groundbreaking book’ Tara Brach, bestselling author of Radical Acceptance and Radical Compassion ‘An essential compass during disorienting times.’ Esther Perel, psychotherapist, bestselling author and host of Where Should We Begin

The empowering book exploring the link between trauma, illness, and modern life – and how to heal your health. From the acclaimed physician and bestselling author of When The Body Says No . THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD ‘Life-changing’ Mel Robbins, bestselling author of The Let Them Theory ‘Riveting and beautifully written’ Bessel van der Kolk, bestselling author of The Body Keeps Score ----- We tend to believe that normality equals health. But in today’s modern world, rising rates of anxiety, depression, addiction and chronic illness suggest otherwise. So, what is normal – and is it making us unwell? In this life-affirming book, Dr Gabor Maté connects the dots between trauma, mental health, and physical illness, showing how our health is shaped by the pressures and expectations of modern life. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, and real-life stories of people transforming their bodies and minds, Dr Gabor Maté offers a compassionate and hopeful path to healing, self-awareness and emotional wellbeing. In The Myth of Normal , you’ll discover: Why the illnesses of body and mind can natural responses to a toxic culture How stress and emotional suppression affect the body The science behind the mind-body connection in healing and wellbeing A hopeful path towards resilience, balance and authenticity Compassionate and urgent, this empowering bestseller shows how true health is possible when we are willing to embrace our authentic selves. Praise for The Myth of Normal and Dr Gabor Maté: ‘Genuinely changed my life’ Steven Bartlett, bestselling author of Diary of A CEO ‘Intellectual and compassionate… essential reading ’ Tara Westover, bestselling author of Educated ‘A wise, profound and healing work’ Johann Hari, bestselling author of Stolen Focus ‘ Brilliant, compelling and groundbreaking book’ Tara Brach, bestselling author of Radical Acceptance and Radical Compassion ‘An essential compass during disorienting times.’ Esther Perel, psychotherapist, bestselling author and host of Where Should We Begin

The empowering book exploring the link between trauma, illness, and modern life – and how to heal your health. From the acclaimed physician and bestselling author of When The Body Says No . THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD ‘Life-changing’ Mel Robbins, bestselling author of The Let Them Theory ‘Riveting and beautifully written’ Bessel van der Kolk, bestselling author of The Body Keeps Score ----- We tend to believe that normality equals health. But in today’s modern world, rising rates of anxiety, depression, addiction and chronic illness suggest otherwise. So, what is normal – and is it making us unwell? In this life-affirming book, Dr Gabor Maté connects the dots between trauma, mental health, and physical illness, showing how our health is shaped by the pressures and expectations of modern life. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, and real-life stories of people transforming their bodies and minds, Dr Gabor Maté offers a compassionate and hopeful path to healing, self-awareness and emotional wellbeing. In The Myth of Normal , you’ll discover: Why the illnesses of body and mind can natural responses to a toxic culture How stress and emotional suppression affect the body The science behind the mind-body connection in healing and wellbeing A hopeful path towards resilience, balance and authenticity Compassionate and urgent, this empowering bestseller shows how true health is possible when we are willing to embrace our authentic selves. Praise for The Myth of Normal and Dr Gabor Maté: ‘Genuinely changed my life’ Steven Bartlett, bestselling author of Diary of A CEO ‘Intellectual and compassionate… essential reading ’ Tara Westover, bestselling author of Educated ‘A wise, profound and healing work’ Johann Hari, bestselling author of Stolen Focus ‘ Brilliant, compelling and groundbreaking book’ Tara Brach, bestselling author of Radical Acceptance and Radical Compassion ‘An essential compass during disorienting times.’ Esther Perel, psychotherapist, bestselling author and host of Where Should We Begin

The instant New York Times bestseller By the acclaimed author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts , a groundbreaking investigation into the causes of illness, a bracing critique of how our society breeds disease, and a pathway to health and healing. In this revolutionary book, renowned physician Gabor Mat? eloquently dissects how in Western countries that pride themselves on their healthcare systems, chronic illness and general ill health are on the rise. Nearly 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug; more than half take two. In Canada, every fifth person has high blood pressure. In Europe, hypertension is diagnosed in more than 30 percent of the population. And everywhere, adolescent mental illness is on the rise. So what is really "normal" when it comes to health? Over four decades of clinical experience, Mat? has come to recognize the prevailing understanding of "normal" as false, neglecting the roles that trauma and stress, and the pressures of modern-day living, exert on our bodies and our minds at the expense of good health. For all our expertise and technological sophistication, Western medicine often fails to treat the whole person, ignoring how today's culture stresses the body, burdens the immune system, and undermines emotional balance. Now Mat? brings his perspective to the great untangling of common myths about what makes us sick, connects the dots between the maladies of individuals and the declining soundness of society--and offers a compassionate guide for health and healing. Cowritten with his son Daniel, The Myth Of Normal is Mat?'s most ambitious and urgent book yet.

The instant New York Times bestseller By the acclaimed author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts , a groundbreaking investigation into the causes of illness, a bracing critique of how our society breeds disease, and a pathway to health and healing. In this revolutionary book, renowned physician Gabor Mat? eloquently dissects how in Western countries that pride themselves on their healthcare systems, chronic illness and general ill health are on the rise. Nearly 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug; more than half take two. In Canada, every fifth person has high blood pressure. In Europe, hypertension is diagnosed in more than 30 percent of the population. And everywhere, adolescent mental illness is on the rise. So what is really "normal" when it comes to health? Over four decades of clinical experience, Mat? has come to recognize the prevailing understanding of "normal" as false, neglecting the roles that trauma and stress, and the pressures of modern-day living, exert on our bodies and our minds at the expense of good health. For all our expertise and technological sophistication, Western medicine often fails to treat the whole person, ignoring how today's culture stresses the body, burdens the immune system, and undermines emotional balance. Now Mat? brings his perspective to the great untangling of common myths about what makes us sick, connects the dots between the maladies of individuals and the declining soundness of society--and offers a compassionate guide for health and healing. Cowritten with his son Daniel, The Myth Of Normal is Mat?'s most ambitious and urgent book yet.

In "The Myth of Normal" Dr. Gabor Mate investigates how traumas affects our bodies and minds and how we heal ourselves in a toxic culture. Almost 70% of all Americans are on prescription drugs. Something must be terrible wrong with our society. In "The Myth of Normal" the renowned physician and addiction expert Dr. Gabor Mate gives us a deep insight in how the system fails to treat the whole person and the traumas. He unfolds the connection between our emotional balance and physical heath and how the stressful pressure of the modern life harms our well-being and divides us from our true selves. With a deep compassion he also shows how to heal and feel whole again with a few simple steps. "The Myth of Normal" is co-written with Dr. Gabor Mate's son Daniel Maté.

In "The Myth of Normal" Dr. Gabor Mate investigates how traumas affects our bodies and minds and how we heal ourselves in a toxic culture. Almost 70% of all Americans are on prescription drugs. Something must be terrible wrong with our society. In "The Myth of Normal" the renowned physician and addiction expert Dr. Gabor Mate gives us a deep insight in how the system fails to treat the whole person and the traumas. He unfolds the connection between our emotional balance and physical heath and how the stressful pressure of the modern life harms our well-being and divides us from our true selves. With a deep compassion he also shows how to heal and feel whole again with a few simple steps. "The Myth of Normal" is co-written with Dr. Gabor Mate's son Daniel Maté.