Meet Terry Crews
Terry Crews is an NFL player turned actor and TV host. He has appeared on shows like “Everybody Hates Chris” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” He’s also hosted shows like “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” and “America’s Got Talent.” He’s the author of a new book called “Tough.” In it, he shares stories from his childhood, his experiences in the NFL, and how his idea of real toughness has evolved over the years.
Why Terry Is Mentally Strong
Terry had a rough childhood. He grew up witnessing domestic violence. He learned that being tough meant acting like he didn’t have feelings and showing that he was strong enough to beat people up. Being in the NFL reinforced some of these ideas. Over time, however, he recognized that it takes a lot more strength to talk about feelings than it does to hide them. And he became aware of how much shame he carried around due to his addiction to pornography. Terry created positive changes in his life. He sought treatment, began talking about his feelings, and worked on healing himself and his marriage. Now, he’s sharing his journey toward developing real mental strength.
What You’ll Hear on the Show
How Terry’s beliefs about toughness have changed over the years Why Terry relied on extrinsic rewards in the past and how he developed intrinsic motivation The event that made him decide to get help for himself How Terry developed an addiction to pornography and how he kept it hidden from most people What Terry has learned about shame and the antidote to shame Why he’s sharing his story with other people Why he came forward about being sexually assaulted The best piece of advice he ever received How Terry stopped being a people-pleaser What he learned about himself in therapy
What You’ll Learn About Mental Health and Mental Strength
When people experience shame, they often view their behavior as a moral weakness. Consequently, they treat themselves harshly and struggle to create positive change. Shame and addiction often go hand-in-hand. Fortunately, there are things you can do to break free from shame and improve your mental health.
Quotes From Terry
“This is the thing about being self-righteous–anyone can be self-righteous, which blew my mind. You could be Black and self-righteous. You can be gay and self-righteous. You could be poor, you could be rich. You could be any ethnicity, any place. You could be male or female. But that self-righteousness, it allows you to do the most heinous, evil things to other people because you feel correct.” “Anytime I hear the word ‘should,’ I know shame is involved.” “I had to tell exactly how bad it was for me so that you could see how far it was that I traveled. If the book started out good and ended up great, I don’t think it really would’ve helped anyone.”
More About the Podcast
The Verywell Mind Podcast is available across all streaming platforms. If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too. If You Liked This Episode, You Might Also Like These Episodes For media or public speaking inquiries, contact Amy here. Buy Terry’s Book: Tough: My Journey to True Power
Friday Fix: How to Reframe Your Shame How to Fight Depression With NFL Reporter Jay Glazer Friday Fix: How to See Vulnerability as a Strength, Not a Weakness
