Dr. Phil’s opens up about traumatic childhood and living homeless: “I’ve slept in a cardboard box”

One look at Dr. Phil’s life – his fame, his riches, his seemingly effortless journey to the heights of dazzling success – and it’s easy to forget that he was once a struggling young man just like any other.

Indeed, given what we know about Dr. Phil’s past, one could easily come to the conclusion that he had a tougher time of things than many others do.

Yet his resilience and determination is what define him, helping shape his character so that he was ready to stand up to the rigors of celebrity life.

While on The Coach Mike Podcast last year, hosted by celebrity life coach, Mike Bayer, Dr. Phil spoke candidly about the trauma of growing up in an abusive household.

As per Amomama, the television personality explained: “We moved around a lot.

“We moved every two or three years because my dad was an alcoholic.”

Dr. Phil would go on to state that he tried to avoid his father as much as possible during those years, due to the fact that his dad was prone to unpredictable mood swings and disturbing behavior as a result of his drinking.

“[I] came and went through the bedroom window so I didn’t have to go through the house. It was total chaos…Yelling, screaming violence, domestic violence,” Dr. Phil shared.

Yet things would get worse before they got better for the future television host. During his teenage years, Dr. Phil experienced a level of poverty only a few others can relate to.