Mate explains addiction as a sliding scale. He worked with those whose lives were in complete toil. But he also worked on his own addictions which made his life

Mate explains addiction as a sliding scale. He worked with those whose lives were in complete toil. But he also worked on his own addictions which made his life worse but are not comparable in terms of severity of consequence. Similarly trauma is also on a sliding scale. Agreed that low-level addiction, even in cases that it may similarly be a form of escapism, is not necessarily caused by trauma. But I think that's actually why addicts are stigmatized. I just need a little more willpower today- a good night's sleep and some exercise is often enough- to avoid addictive behaviors. But for those suffering from severe addiction it's not helpful to think with that mindset. Understanding the root cause has opened me up to truly empathizing to those with addiction- something often lacking in our society.