Hello and welcome back. Thanks for joining me as I read and discuss Gabor Mate’s insightful and inspirational book, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts.”
Last time we talked about what Mate calls the “process” of addiction, which I likened to a network function, or “system dynamic.” Where pre-programed actions (process) affect present moment processes, parts, and patterns. In addictions, the whole system therefore gets caught up in self-reinforcing feedback loop from which it is very difficult to break free. Earlier, we discussed the lack of evidence for a person’s genes as being the primary cause of addiction.
Today, we’ll discuss how early childhood experiences plays a much larger role in predisposing a person to addictive behaviors later in life. Before we do, it’s important to understand why experience plays a larger role in developing humans than it does in all other animals.
A human child at the end of its gestation possess a relatively large head compared to the limited pelvic size of its mother. Given that biological fact, the human brain completes the predominance of its development outside the womb. Where a new born colt can run within minutes, a human baby takes months just to roll over and the better part of a year to take its first tentative steps. Such extreme helplessness leaves human children extraordinarily dependent on a safe environment, and on competent, caring and connected adults. Proper brain development depends on it.
Abuse and neglect leave brain systems responsible for attachment, emotional self-regulation and maturity woefully underdeveloped. Children grow into adults. Adults who suffered childhood traumas or neglect are the ones who develop a harsh inner critic, lack self-compassion, can’t focus, make and keep long-term goals or plans, have trouble in relationships, and are predisposed to medicating away the hurt with externals substance or behaviors.
And yet, despite the fact that these dysfunctions were born out of neglect and abuse, large parts of our current treatment system seeks to punish the addict for their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Such a stance is both strategically and morally wrong. Understanding, as Mate argues, the larger context from which addiction springs allows one to use both evidence and compassion in devising a more heart-centered approach to treatment.
Thanks again for joining me. In the next few posts I’ll delve more deeply into the evidence for blending mindfulness with compassion-centered approaches to addiction treatment.
If you find these posts helpful, please share them with your social networks. To learn more about me and my work, please visit my website: www.skillfullyaware.com. If you’d like me to speak to a group or organization in your city, email: lynda@skillfullyaware.com.
Be well,
Mark