The storm is real. This ship has taken a beating. And, for the first time in my life, I'm truly holding fast and steering steadily onward.

Dave shares the heartbreaking story of a fellow treatment participant who lost her battle with mental illness, discusses his own decades-long struggle with suicidal thoughts, and challenges common misconceptions about suicide and mental health. He also opens up about recent hardships, including homelessness, financial struggles, losing his job, serious dental issues, and setbacks in school. Yet through it all, he explains how the tools he gained through treatment have allowed him to face adversity differently than ever before. This episode is ultimately a reminder that healing is possible, hope is real, and sometimes the bravest thing we can do is simply take the next right step forward.

Welcome aboard The Exiled Sojourner—a space where the hard stuff gets real, and the real stuff doesn't have to stay heavy.

In this first episode, I open the door to my story—living with ADHD, PTSD, and everything that comes with navigating mental health in a world that doesn't always get it. This isn't about having it all figured out. It's about the blood, the sweat, the tears, and the storms that shape us—and learning how to face them without losing ourselves.

We'll talk honestly about stigma, coping, identity, and what it means to keep going when things feel messy. But just as important, we'll find moments to laugh, because sometimes that's how we survive it.

If you've ever felt out of place, overwhelmed, or just tired of pretending you're okay—this is for you.

You're not alone on this journey, and you never have to be alone again.