When the Body Says No

The Cost of Hidden Stress

By: Gabor Maté MD

Narrated by: Daniel Maté

Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

National Best Seller

In this accessible and groundbreaking book - filled with the moving stories of real people medical doctor and best-selling author Gabor Maté shows that emotion and psychological stress play a powerful role in the onset of chronic illness, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, multiple sclerosis and many others, even Alzheimer's disease.

When the Body Says No is an impressive contribution to research on the physiological connection between life's stresses and emotions and the body systems governing nerves, immune apparatus, and hormones. With great compassion and erudition, Gabor Maté demystifies medical science and, as he did in Scattered Minds, invites us all to be our own health advocates.

©2021 Gabor Maté (P)2021 Vintage Canada

Critic reviews

“His medical background and lucid writing style make complex biological processes accessible to non-scientific readers.” (The Gazette, Montreal)

“Maté carefully explains the biological mechanisms that are activated when stress and trauma exert a powerful influence on the body, and he backs up his claims with compelling evidence from the field.... Both the lay and specialist reader will be grateful for the final chapter, 'The Seven A’s of Healing', in which Maté presents an open formula for healing and the prevention of illness resulting from hidden stress.” (Quill & Quire)

“[An] enthralling exploration of the relationship between stress and disease.... Maté probes deeply into the life histories and psyches of [his] many patients.... What emerges is nothing short of a revelation.... When the Body Says No has the power to change medical thinking.” (The Edmonton Journal)

Excellent information, tedious narration.

This book is full of insightful stories and excellent food for thought. I will be purchasing the hard copy.

Narration was tedious. The reader spoke in a stilted manner, with great care to pronounce words exactly right and slightly odd cadence. It was read “too carefully” and didn’t flow naturally. I’d have to really want to head the content of a book read by this person to sit though it again… hence the hard copy in the future. I’d rather read than have to re-listen.

One of the best books I’ve ever read & listened to.

Of course, I have a bias, but I was looking for a mind-body book that connects attachment and early development to physical concerns. And I found it! It is very well written, and full of an interesting and compelling balance between science and anecdotes. John Sarno’s work is very good too, but perhaps a little technical for many people. The ACES study is interesting and useful, but I found myself wanting to hear more about what underlies the connection between trauma and a high ACES score. This book gives a greater understanding of more precisely how attachment ruptures and emotional, interpersonal and psychological development affect one’s immunity and susceptibility to dis-ease. I would love to see an update to this book, or a part 2, going into more detail with more recent neurobiological research linking physiological processes of stress and repressed emotions to the autonomic nervous system. Also, I’d love to see an expanded last chapter regarding the As of healing. Again, this is such a great book and truly, like Peter Levine said in his review, could save lives. If only we, personally or culturally, are willing to consider a paradigm shift. I’ve recommended it to many people already and will likely do so for years to come.

Recommend for everyone!

Great book. Very eye opening, I recommend every one who experiences daily stress to read it

Very Thought-Provoking Read for Care Providers

Largest drawback is that Mate's case for disease personalities - that there are specific psychological profiles linked to specific diseases seems like a very dated and dangerous concept. I personally feel that, considering it's (a.) danger (b.) deviation from mainstream conception of disease, it requires _even_ more justification than what I felt was an appeal to authority and claimed experience. Empirical evidence showing that stress, maladaptive coping, and low mood undermines health is not enough to justify the concept of disease personalities (e.g. a "cancer personality").

Aside from that, the philosophy of emotion in this book is excellent, and Mate makes a persuasive model for how healthy and unhealthy self-conceptualisation presents and develops. I'm going to remember his exploration of anger and adaptive vs maladaptive expression of anger for a lifetime. The characterisation of healthy anger as a stilling, feeling, and focusing force, where unhealthy anger is underlined by suppression and anxiety is excellent.

Because of Mate, I now have a lot more respect for "new age" medicine now, and will probably approach it more strategically. The idea of aura as a metaphor accessible to the layperson for self-identity extending beyond the skin is on point, and fits what I've seen in person as well. Despite my grievances, strongly recommend reading Mate (critically!).

Resonates so much for me!

If you have any chronic illnesses or diseases, this is a must read! Now the hard work begins!

Fantastic

It's a great book, well written and well read. New look into some illness.....

Bravely Challenges Medical beliefs

A most enjoyable listen and very informative with much fact based research, also enjoyed the final chapter 19 and the 7 A's .
Saved the best for last .
thank you !

Excelente libro

Me encantó. Aprendizajes que harán una diferencia en tu vida. Ojalá lo hubiera leído antes.

LOVED this book!

Absolutely loved this book and fully believe that our stressors in life do cause disease and illness. I couldn’t recommend it more.

Must read

Great resource to help yourself or loved ones dealing with the cost of hidden stress.