I hadn’t dealt with any of my pain and I just wanted to end my life!

Episode 21

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For a large part of his life Luke lived with pain and misery unable to have honest relationships with people close to him. For most of his time at school he was bullied because as he put it “I was unlikeable’’ resulting in him trying to take his life at 11 and a number of times subsequently. He was totally disconnected, isolated and lost in the world. So paralysed by fear he’s been unable to get out of bed. He constantly regulates his responses to other people which is exhausting and suffers from severe anxiety every day and visualises extreme events that won’t happen.

During his adult life he became an alcoholic and, in the end, couldn’t cope with it all and tried to kill himself. If it wasn’t for a freak event, then he wouldn’t be alive today but thankfully he is and thanks to the support of many people has been sober for 7 years. Luke has found himself finally and I believe he was and is a courageous human being, but he doesn’t see himself in that way which has ultimately led to people attacking him throughout his life. He never truly revealed himself to anyone until he met his current wife, because at Luke said “who would love me? Luke has needed other people to make him happy but now life is worth living because he wants to be the best version of Luke he can.

I truly hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

Hosted by
Dan Whiteman

I’m a 50-year-old man who’s seen a lot of life. I’m a son, brother, father, friend, pleaser/giver and genuinely nice guy. I’ve changed jobs many times in the search of finding meaning and living a fulfilled life. I’ve moved to a new country; I’ve been married and divorced and experienced trauma. I’m very open, honest and seek out deep and meaningful conversations but this wasn’t always the case. I’ve made mistakes and will continue to do so but that’s how I’ve learn't to evolve and grow.

I strive to push myself and be the best version of me. I have struggled with a lack of self-belief and confidence but I’m learning to deal with that. After 50 years I’ve learn't to love myself by observing how I am in the world, the way I think and react. This has profoundly changed my life. I’m grateful every day for what I have. My life is full of rich experiences and people that have helped guide and shape the person I’ve become. I’ve learn't to know who I am and know what I want.

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Episode 21