Quote by Gabor Maté: “The greatest damage done by neglect is the absence of authentic connection.”

This thought reveals that being ignored or lacking genuine relationships profoundly hurts us by depriving us of real emotional bonds. It suggests that our deepest need is often for true connection, which neglect severely undermines.

The late 2000s saw a growing public awareness of addiction as a complex issue, moving beyond moral failing to include psychological and developmental factors. Scientific research increasingly highlighted the role of early childhood experiences and attachment in adult health.

Hungarian-Canadian physician and author whose work on addiction, trauma, and the mind-body connection has reshaped mainstream understanding of mental health. His books include In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts and The Myth of Normal.