Chris Powell: Reality TV Star, Fitness Guru, Person With Mental Illness

Chris Powell is probably best known as the host of the ABC
reality show Extreme Weight Loss, which ran for five seasons. On
that show, Chris used his experience as a fitness trainer and all
around motivational human to help people who wanted to lose 200
pounds or more. And Chris doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to
experience mental illness. He comes across as very energetic,
very positive, and someone not at all hounded by personal demons.
But that’s the thing about disorders like anxiety and depression
and substance use, anyone can get them and anyone can get
damaged. In this interview, Chris talks about his childhood
experiences with debilitating anxiety, his time spent as a flight
instructor who was desperately afraid to fly airplanes, and his
time addicted to painkillers. He also details the effect his
divorce had on his mental health.


But Chris is healthy now and has some very practical advice based
on how he’s been getting healthier.


Listen to the I Needed That Podcast with Chris Powell &
Mathew Blades wherever fine pods are cast. Learn more about Chris
at his website, www.ChrisPowell.com/About.


Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly
members of Maximum Fun.


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Help is available right away.


The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255,
1-800-273-TALK


Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.


International suicide hotline numbers available
here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines


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issues. https://johnmoe.substack.com/


John’s acclaimed memoir, The Hilarious World of Depression, is
now available in
paperback. https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250209566/thehilariousworldofdepression


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