--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All we know about the advances in…" description: "\"“All we know about the advances in addiction treatment arises out of our understanding of trauma. People often think that trauma is the bad things that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c4/gabor-mat-1410_addiction_all-we-know-about-the-advances-in-addict_1459155.png" --- # All we know about the advances in addiction treatment… ![“All we know about the advances in addiction treatment arises out of our understanding of trauma. People often think that trauma is the bad things that happen to someone: trauma is that you were sexually abused, or that you were beaten, or your parents abandoned you, or died, or something like…” quote by Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c4/gabor-mat-1410_addiction_all-we-know-about-the-advances-in-addict_1459155.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c4/gabor-mat-1410_addiction_all-we-know-about-the-advances-in-addict_1459155.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c4/gabor-mat-1410_addiction_all-we-know-about-the-advances-in-addict_1459155.png) > ““All we know about the advances in addiction treatment arises out of our understanding of trauma. People often think that trauma is the bad things that happen to someone: trauma is that you were sexually abused, or that you were beaten, or your parents abandoned you, or died, or something like that. But trauma is the internal impact, which is fundamentally a disconnection from the self and from our bodies and our gut feelings. And the trauma is the discomfort, the inability to be in the present moment because the present moment is too painful. If, as I argue, addiction is rooted in trauma, then the treatment of addiction has to aim beyond just stopping the behavior. That’s where the addiction treatment falls down so miserably. Too often it’s all aimed at behavioral regulation or behavior reform, with the thought that if people stop the behavior, then they’re going to be okay. No, they’re not—and they won’t be fully okay until they deal with the fundamental issues. So the treatment has to aim at nothing less than the restoration of the individual to themselves and to their capacity to be with the present moment, whether the present moment is pleasant or not. That’s what’s too often missing from addiction treatment.”” [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Addiction stems from unresolved trauma; treatment must heal the self, not just stop behavior. **In simple terms:** Trauma causes addiction; healing needs deeper work. Key Takeaway Address trauma to overcome addiction. Themes addiction trauma healing psychology Mood somber hopeful Type therapeutic insightful When to use this quote - therapy - rehab programs - support groups Key Concepts self‑integration mind‑body connection present‑moment awareness Questions to Reflect On - What internal wounds drive addictive habits? - How can present‑moment practice aid recovery? A Different Perspective Trauma focus can be overwhelming for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Addiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction/) [Bad things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-things/) [Gut feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gut-feelings/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Present moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-moment/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [“Understanding that trauma is personal is crucial. It's not the size of the incident that determines its effect on you. 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Like being able to run for this or run for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-gallego/i-had-an-addiction-to-artificial-points-of-success-like-being-able-to/) [Ruben Gallego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-gallego/) > [“Addictions are just symptoms of underlying issues, and in my view Nikki self-medicated the emotional pain of his childhood, and being away from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/addictions-are-just-symptoms-of-underlying-issues-and-in-my-view/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [“Oil. 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People often think that trauma is the bad things that happen to someone: trauma is that you were sexually abused, or that you were beaten, or your parents abandoned you, or died, or something like that. But trauma is the internal impact, which is fundamentally a disconnection from the self and from our bodies and our gut feelings. And the trauma is the discomfort, the inability to be in the present moment because the present moment is too painful. If, as I argue, addiction is rooted in trauma, then the treatment of addiction has to aim beyond just stopping the behavior. That’s where the addiction treatment falls down so miserably. Too often it’s all aimed at behavioral regulation or behavior reform, with the thought that if people stop the behavior, then they’re going to be okay. No, they’re not—and they won’t be fully okay until they deal with the fundamental issues. 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