The Myth of Normal: Illness, Health and Healing in a Toxic Culture – Gabor Maté
Written by Elisa Garbil – 24.10.2025
In The Myth of Normal, Gabor Maté presents a profound critique of contemporary society and the hidden risks embedded within our daily lives. At the heart of his argument is a radical reframing of illness and dysfunction where he asserts that
Chronic illness – mental or physical – is to large extent a function or feature of the way things are and not a glitch; a consequence of how we live, not a mysterious aberration.
Gabor Maté – The Myth of Normal
This insight immediately forces the reader to reconsider conventional notions of health and pathology. Rather than viewing chronic conditions as isolated incidents or personal failings, Maté positions them as the inevitable outcome of living within a culture, capitalism, that is misaligned with human needs. The risk, then, is systemic as by continuing to accept the current norms, we expose ourselves to a range of preventable harms.
The Danger of Skewed Normality
Maté identifies the distorted frameworks of normality as a core source of risk. He writes that
Our culture’s skewed idea of normality is the single biggest impediment to fostering a healthier world.
Gabor Maté – The Myth of Normal
This is a striking claim because it frames normality itself, the way we know it – not just disease, stress, or trauma – as a threat to well-being. In other words, the everyday patterns, expectations, and unexamined assumptions we take for granted are not neutral. They actively shape our health outcomes, social interactions, and capacity for meaningful life. Here, Maté’s mentions that the greatest danger may not lie in overt external threats, but in the silent, pervasive influence of cultural norms that distort our understanding of what it means to live well. The stakes of these norms extend into the very structure of our behaviour and cognition. Maté observes that
Whether we realise it or not, it is our roundedness, or how we cope with it, that dictates much of our behaviour, shapes our social habits and informs our ways of thinking about the world. It can even determine whether or not we are capable of rational thought at all matters of the greatest importance of our lives.
Gabor Maté – The Myth of Normal
In this sense, the risks are both subtle and profound. Our capacity to make rational decisions, to form healthy relationships, and to navigate life’s challenges is not solely a matter of intelligence or character. It is intimately tied to our psychological integration, emotional regulation, and the ways we have been shaped, or misshaped, by our environment. The implication is chilling as unexamined cultural norms can undermine the very foundation of rational decision-making on which individual and collective well-being depend.
Moreover, Maté expands on the ways our society encourages behaviours that are not just unhelpful but actively harmful. He notes that
We are caught up in pursuits of all kinds that draw us not because they are necessary or inspiring or uplifting, or because they enrich or add meaning to our lives, but simply because they obliterate the present.
Gabor Maté – The Myth of Normal
This observation resonates as a cautionary tale about distraction as risk. In a world that prioritises speed, productivity, and consumption over reflection, connection, and presence, our attention becomes a scarce and fragile resource. The constant pursuit of activities that obscure the present may provide temporary relief or stimulation, but it also leaves us vulnerable to chronic stress, dissatisfaction, and disconnection from ourselves. The danger is that in failing to live consciously, we unintentionally cultivate conditions that threaten our mental and physical health. In addition, he asserts that
It is sobering to realise that many of the personality traits we have come to believe are us, and perhaps even take pride in, actually bear the scars of where we lost connection to ourselves, way back then.
Gabor Maté – The Myth of Normal
This remark highlights the intergenerational and developmental dimensions of risk. Much of what we consider innate or self-determined may in fact be the residue of early disruptions in attachment, emotional neglect, or societal pressure. The consequences are long-lasting, influencing how we interact with others, pursue goals, and perceive ourselves. In this view, individual struggles such as anxiety, depression, compulsions, or even certain cognitive patterns, cannot be separated from the cultural and social contexts in which they arise. Living without awareness of these underlying influences is, in itself, a form of exposure to harm. Moreover, not acknowledging them ensures that we live in a society that is struggling as the people within it are struggling.
Systemic Risks: Capitalism and Inequality
Maté does not shy away from broader societal critique. He identifies capitalism as a system that
[capitalism] is failing what was promised, but it is delivering on what was not promised – inequality, pollution, unemployment, and most important of all, the deregulation of values to a point where everything is acceptable and no one is accountable.
Gabor Maté – The Myth of Normal
This insight is essential in a risk-based reading of the book because it situates individual well-being within systemic pressures. The hazards are structural: economic inequality, environmental degradation, and a culture of unaccountable behaviour create conditions under which individuals are more likely to suffer from stress, illness, and disconnection. Personal risk cannot be fully understood in isolation from societal risk – the two are inextricably linked. In our pursuit of material wealth and status, Maté warns, carries predictable personal costs. He observes that
The more people value materialistic aspirations and goals, the lower their happiness and life satisfaction and the fewer pleasant emotions they experience day to day.
Gabor Maté – The Myth of Normal
Basically, the more we buy into external markers of success, the more we erode our internal well-being.
Simply put, the more meaningful you find your life, the better your measures of mental and physical health are likely to be.
Gabor Maté – The Myth of Normal
Meaning emerges as both a protective factor and a metric of resilience. Those who cultivate purpose, engagement, and connection are less vulnerable to the chronic illnesses and psychological stresses that Maté links to cultural dysfunction.
Technology and Continuous Stress
Finally, Maté also identifies the modern information environment as a source of risk, particularly the ways technology amplifies stress. He writes:
Our phones have become handheld stress machines buzzing urgently with updates, from the banal to the grave, about matters of conflicts and uncertainty – matters largely out of our control. Social media feeds’ feed is all we can eat, and more still. It never stops.
Gabor Maté – The Myth of Normal
This observation underscores the pervasiveness of environmental stressors that were largely absent in previous generations. Unlike earlier periods, in which stressors were often episodic or localised, modern digital life bombards us with a constant stream of demands, anxieties, and comparisons. The risk is cumulative one, where over time, the unrelenting influx of information can undermine attention, sleep, emotional regulation, and ultimately physical health. As a solution, Maté emphasises the importance of self-observation with compassion, noting that
When we observe ourselves with compassionate curiosity instead of judgement, perhaps we can also learn to drop our prejudgements – also known as prejudices – against others.
Gabor Maté – The Myth of Normal
Here, the personal and social well-being are linked. By cultivating awareness and kindness toward ourselves, we simultaneously reduce the risks posed by internalised stress, self-criticism, and reactive behaviours toward others. The cumulative effect of these insights is a portrait of a world in which risks are systemic, pervasive, and often invisible. Illness, distraction, dissatisfaction, and social dysfunction are not merely individual challenges but predictable outcomes of cultural and structural conditions. Maté’s work challenges readers to recognise these risks not as anomalies, but as predictable consequences of living in a society that normalises stress, materialism, disconnection, and inequity. By framing health and dysfunction in this way, he provides a map for understanding the interplay between individual behavior and systemic forces, emphasising that mitigating risk requires both personal reflection and collective change.
Importantly, Maté does not reduce his analysis to despair or cynicism. By identifying the cultural and systemic sources of risk, he implicitly points to the areas in which intervention is possible. Understanding that the more meaningful you find your life, the better your measures of mental and physical health are likely to be, directs attention to strategies that can reduce risk, enhance well-being, and foster resilience. Observing ourselves and others with compassionate curiosity provides a practical, everyday tool for navigating the complex hazards of life.
Awareness as Protection
In conclusion, The Myth of Normal is a deeply compelling and sobering exploration of the risks inherent in contemporary society. Maté challenges the reader to reconsider the nature of illness, the influence of cultural norms, and the systemic pressures that shape individual and collective well-being. By highlighting the risks embedded in distraction, materialism, social inequity, and technological overload, he provides a framework for understanding why chronic illness and dissatisfaction are so prevalent. Simultaneously, he offers pathways for mitigating these risks through meaning, compassion, and self-awareness. For anyone concerned with health, whether it is mental, physical, or social, Maté’s work is an indispensable guide to recognising danger where it often goes unnoticed, and to cultivating practices that enhance resilience, connection, and the capacity to thrive in a world that too often mistakes dysfunction for normality. In addition, he is one of my favourite speakers and authors, so I definitely recommend reading this book!
