[Script Info]
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[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:01.08,0:00:05.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What is Addiction?\NDr. Gabor Maté
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.86,0:00:11.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All the substances of abuse, whether they're opiates or cocaine or anything else, they're actually pain killers.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.66,0:00:15.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of them specifically are painkillers, but physical pain and emotional pain,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.53,0:00:18.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the suffering is experienced in the same part of the brain.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.82,0:00:24.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when people suffer emotional rejection, the same part of the brain will light up as if you stuck them with a knife.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.75,0:00:29.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Eckhart Tolle says very nicely that addictions begin with pain and end with pain.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.82,0:00:33.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that all the addiction are attempts are attempts to soothe the pain.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.11,0:00:39.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I work with addictions, the first question is always not why the addiction but why the pain.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.78,0:00:44.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what you find is emotional loss or a trauma.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.16,0:00:47.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the case of the severe addicts as in the downtown Eastside here,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.16,0:00:49.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there were every single one of them traumatized.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.89,0:00:54.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's no woman walking the streets here who have not been sexually abused, not even by accident.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.66,0:01:02.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But you know, whether it's a sex addiction or internet or a relationship or shopping or work addiction,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.72,0:01:06.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these are all attempts to get away from distress.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.17,0:01:12.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Keith Richards the Rolling Stones guitarist said that - who used to have a severe heroin habit as you know,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.83,0:01:20.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he said that: "All the contortions we go through (are) just not to be ourselves for a few hours."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.84,0:01:23.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why would somebody not want to be themselves?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.17,0:01:26.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because they're in too much distress, in too much pain.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.34,0:01:32.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I don't care what they tell you about genetics or choices or any of that nonsense, it's always about pain.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.81,0:01:37.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, it's got a wonderful line in it.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.31,0:01:43.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whatever you do, don't try and escape from your pain, but be with it.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.23,0:01:47.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because the attempt to escape from pain is what creates more pain,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.94,0:01:50.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's the reality of addiction.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.69,0:01:54.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the question is how can people be with their pain?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.48,0:02:00.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Only if they sense of compassion from somebody.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.36,0:02:06.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As another teacher says, only when compassion is present will people allow themselves to see the truth.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.86,0:02:12.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So addicted people need a compassionate present which will permit them to experience their pain
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.98,0:02:15.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without having to run away from it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.78,0:02:18.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And all the attempts to run away, it's like another teacher says,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.53,0:02:22.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the surest way to go to hell is to try to run away from hell.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.73,0:02:29.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you gotta be with that pain, you just have to be with it, but you have to have some support.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.11,0:02:40.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we live in a society that, one way or the other is always about instant relief, quick satisfaction, distraction.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.23,0:02:46.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In other words, we live in a culture that is based on, both economically and psychologically,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.78,0:02:52.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on not supporting people to be with themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.48,0:02:55.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's always the quick getaway.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.11,0:02:58.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's very difficult to deal with addictions in this society.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.29,0:03:03.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is a matter of, at some point finding a way of being with your pain
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.31,0:03:06.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that you can actually get to know what it's really all about.