Meet Reggie Walker
Reggie Walker spent seven years in the NFL playing for the Cardinals, the Chargers, and the Broncos before deciding to walk away from the game. Reggie was sexually, emotionally, and physically abused during childhood—something he tried to hide for much of his life. And for a while, football became a socially appropriate way for him to mask his anger because he could be aggressive on the field. . He’s since pursued a counseling degree to help others heal from their pain. He started a program for athletes to help them manage their mental health, and he wrote a book called “The Game Within the Game.”
Why Reggie Walker Is Mentally Strong
Reggie sought help for his struggles. And when therapy wasn’t enough, he found the courage to go to a residential treatment program. He acknowledges that it was difficult for him to do so and he even asked a friend who had been there to help him work up the courage to go.
What You’ll Hear on the Show
Why Reggie thought getting into the NFL would finally make him happy What he learned about money, fame, and past trauma Why Reggie started therapy How he recognized that therapy wasn’t going to be enough How he found the courage to go to a residential treatment facility Why he went back to the residential center for 30 more days The skills Reggie learned to manage his mental health How sharing his story helped him heal his emotional wounds The things he does every day to stay mentally healthy now
What You’ll Learn About Mental Health and Mental Strength
You might look like you’re doing well on the outside, even when you’re fighting a secret internal battle like Reggie was.
Quotes From Reggie
“It was beyond scary because you knew that there was something underneath it all that you had been avoiding like the plague for your whole life.““I’m trying to be like me, and I’m always me all the time. And I wouldn’t have [gotten] to that process if I didn’t do the treatment center stays for sure.““I would say my biggest accomplishment is probably just being there for my kids because there was such a period of time [when] I couldn’t be there for anybody. I couldn’t even be there for myself.”
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
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