What happens when the person who’s supposed to be saving lives is quietly fighting to save his own?
This week, we’re revisiting one of our most powerful conversations with Dr. Jason Giles, whose story takes us behind the white coat and into the realities of addiction, burnout, recovery, and redemption.
While training in anesthesiology, Jason found himself caught in a devastating fentanyl addiction. From the outside, he was a successful physician-in-training. Behind the scenes, he was struggling to survive.
Then came a moment that changed everything.
In this deeply personal conversation, Jason shares the events that led to his addiction, the pager message that helped save his life, and the long road toward rebuilding his health, identity, relationships, and medical career.
We also dig into a side of addiction that often gets overlooked: it isn’t always simply about chasing a substance. Sometimes it’s about escaping pressure, pain, exhaustion, or a life that has become impossible to sustain.
In This Episode:
- How the pressures of medical training contributed to Jason’s downward spiral
- His experience with fentanyl addiction while in anesthesiology residency
- The moment that became a turning point in his life
- Why high achievement can hide serious dysfunction
- The connection between physician burnout, identity, and addiction
- Why addiction is more complicated than physical dependence
- What recovery taught Jason about surrender and asking for help
- Rebuilding a career and life after addiction
- Why saying “yes” can completely change the trajectory of your life
- Hope, redemption, and the possibility of creating something meaningful after your darkest chapter
Jason’s story is raw, uncomfortable, hopeful, and a reminder that even the people who appear to have everything together may be fighting battles no one else can see.
If you missed this conversation the first time around—or need to hear it again—this one is worth revisiting.
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Stay connected with Drs. May and Tim Hindmarsh for more raw, real, and BS-free conversations about medicine, healthcare, and life.
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DISCLAIMER
Everything discussed on this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. No physician-patient relationship is formed through this podcast. The opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers or affiliated organizations.
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