230 - Healing From Childhood Abuse with Former NFL Player 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 decided to get help to heal from the trauma he endured by talking to a therapist. But weekly therapy wasn’t enough, so he checked himself into a 30-day inpatient treatment program.

He’s since pursued a degree in counseling so he can help other people 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.

Some of the things Reggie talks about are how he found the courage to get help, how he recognized that therapy wasn't going to be helpful enough, and the steps he is now taking to manage his mental health.