Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life.

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.”

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

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.

Now that Reggie is feeling better, he’s chosen to help other people. And he’s showing people that even a successful person with a tough exterior can struggle to manage their mental health.

Just because you are successful in certain areas doesn’t mean you have things all figured out emotionally.

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.

Reggie recognized that asking for help was a sign of strength, not weakness. He talks about the basic skills he had to learn to improve his well-being.

Reggie Walker

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and it needs to be managed.

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

Editor’s Note: Please be mindful that this transcript does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors. Thank you. 

For media or public speaking inquiries, contact Amy here.

Download the Transcript

Links and Resources

  • Visit Reggie’s website: TheGameWithintheGame.com

  • Follow Reggie on Instagram: @RWalk56

  • Watch Reggie’s TEDx talk: A Reflection on Part of My Life

  • Healing Your Childhood Wounds With Actress Chrissy Metz

  • How to Heal From Trauma With Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Kati Morton

  • Unpacking Emotional Baggage With Hall of Fame Radio Host Charlamagne Tha God