06: OCD & Suicide Survivor to NHL and Mental Health Ambassador // The Story of Clint Malarchuk
Background:
Clint Malarchuk, who was born in Grand Prairie, Alberta, played junior hockey in the Western Hockey League. He went on to play professionally in the NHL for the Quebec Nordiques, the Washington Capitals, and the Buffalo Sabres, and in the IHL for the Las Vegas Thunder. When his throat was slashed during a collision in the crease, Malarchuk nearly died on the ice. Forever changed, he struggled deeply with depression and a dependence on alcohol, which nearly cost him his life and left a bullet in his head. Both Clint and his wife Joanie are on the Board of Visitors with Mclean University. They are part of the Outreach Ambassador Group IOCD.
Time-Stamped Show Notes:
- 1:34 Clint Malarchuk has a successful career as an NHL goaltender star but in 1989 he suffered a very gruesome injury that almost killed him.
- 3:44 Having an OCD partly helped Clint to get into the NHL. He became obsessed with going into the NHL and his OCD resulted in a more polished work ethic.
- 4:48 He lost a third of his blood during that horrific accident and he was somehow preparing for death.
- 7:04 The next season after the accident, Clint began suffering from panic attacks, nightmares, trauma, and sleep deprivation.
- 10:18 A doctor in California, who was an expert in OCD, gave him a medication that completely cured him of his OCD.
- 16:53 After years of using the medicine, his body became immune to it until it didn’t work anymore. He began spiraling downwards again until he couldn’t take it anymore and decided to shoot himself with a gun.
- 20:09 He remembered firing the gun under his chin and he was conscious the whole time.
- 23:14 Clint talks about writing his book. He didn’t hold back anything and shared everything in his book.
- 26:02 He admits that he still has a mental illness and there are some demons that kept coming back.
- 30:48 According to Clint, people with mental illness are not weak. He further explains mental illness and why people continue to hide it because of shame and stigma.
- 33:17 Clint believes that the topic of mental illness and mental health still has a long way to go before it becomes widely accepted by society.
- 39:28 If he was able to go back in time and talk to himself during his rock-bottom moment, he would say that he is sick and he is not weak.
- 42:00 Through his foundation, Clint can financially support the rehab and treatment of people struggling with addiction and mental illness.
This Episode Sponsored By:
- 15:02 Clint’s story is amazing and made available in full detail on Amazon. You can buy Clint’s book called The Crazy Game, How I Survived In the Crease and Beyond at Amazon.com or Amazon.ca.
- 38:35 At the age of 17, Eric thought he was going to jail for a long time but there were people who helped him get back up again. Please check out Eric’s book to find out more about his entire story. You can download a FREE Copy of the intro and prologue at EricGilbertWilliams.com/Book-By-Eric/.
Key Point from the Interview:
- “For me, the book was not therapeutic, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life but also the most gratifying thing I’ve done in my life.”
- “We’re all good people, but good people sometimes do bad things or make a mistake. It doesn’t make you a bad person, it makes you human and just move on. Do the next right thing.”
