In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts

Maté is at home working on a book when he receives a call about Mr. Grant, whose name is Gary. Gary has an ulcer on his big toe and the infection is serious, turning to gangrene. He tells Gary that if he doesn’t report for treatment the next day, he will have him involuntarily committed as mentally unfit.

Maté visits a record store, Sikora’s. He describes himself as a compulsive classical music shopper. His obsessive buying concerns Rae, his wife. Sometimes he lies to her about his spending habits, and wonders if he wants her to catch him. His secretive buying sprees lead to periods of shame and self-loathing. He often contrasts his obsessiveness with the addictions of his patients.

His buying has been a lifelong habit. He describes spending $8,000 in one week. Passions can become addictions, and the central question he asks himself and his patients is always, “Who’s in charge, the individual or the behavior?” (115). Maté often feels as if he is impersonating himself. The more obsessed he becomes, the more irritated he is with his teenage daughter, and the more ill-equipped he feels that he is to deal with her reasonable needs.