As a teenager, Dr. Christian Cable experienced a full psychotic break. During a sleepover at a friend’s house, he woke during the night and was convinced he was a werewolf. He stripped down and wandered naked through the streets. After being picked up by a police officer, he was institutionalized for the first of five times over 2-year stretch of agony, hopelessness and despair.

Apart from an intense prayer session “in a moment of desperation,” he can’t pinpoint exactly what led to his full recovery. But today, he’s a leader in the field of oncology and hematology, and his experience led him to become a voice in the area of mental illness.

We spoke about the harrowing statistics on physician suicide, the need for greater compassion for people battling mental illness and people with special needs, and just for kicks we talked about trail running - although it wasn’t entirely off-topic.

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Our conversation with Christian was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

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Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

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If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at [email protected].

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