Latest / Rooted & Real With Keenan / Mental Health, Faith, and Recovery: Danny Coleman Jr.’s Story of Hope
Transcript
- Keenan Crowley AI: Danny reminded us that healing is not pretending everything is fine. Healing starts when we stop hiding, stop bottling everything up, and finally tell the truth about where we are. You showed us that mental health struggles do not disqualify someone from purpose. In many ways, the pain you walked through became the very place God used to build compassion, ministry, and hope in you. And I love your fuel framework: faith, understanding, endurance, and love. That is such a practical reminder that we all need something deeper. Keenan: All right. Hey Danny, thank you for coming on. Today's guest is Danny Coleman. He's a certified peer specialist, a speaker, he's a preacher, and an author who speaks to resilience, recovery, and hope. He's the founder of Devastation to Appreciation and the creator of Fuel F-U-E-L framework. Danny, thank you so much for being here, man. I'm so excited to hear your story and what you have to offer. Okay, so this guy tried to kill you in the in the hospital. What was that like? Danny Coleman Jr: All right. That's right. It terrified me 'cause like I said, I was already dealing with fears and being in a new place, not knowing anybody, fear fearing the staff already, and then to have him try to kill me as well. I'm like, what kind of place am I in? When they shut the doors they locked, so you couldn't walk out on your own. had to be escorted out. Then I was already dealing with fear and I I look up and here comes a sheriff deputy walking in with a prisoner in chains. Keenan: Right. Keenan Crowley AI: To keep us going when life gets heavy. For anyone listening today, I want you to hear this clearly. Your setback does not have to be the end of your story. The fact that you are struggling does not mean you are weak. It means you are human. And asking for help is not a lack of faith. Sometimes it is one of the most faithful things you can do. Talk to someone. Be honest. Build community. Use the tools God has placed in front of you. That may include prayer, scripture, counseling, medication, support groups. Danny Coleman Jr: Ye yes, sir, it's an honor to be here. Keenan: Yeah, man. So like any good story, I would love to hear of how it all started for you. How did you know this what you were gonna do? ⁓ my goodness. ⁓ my goodness. Danny Coleman Jr: And takes the cuffs off of him and tells him, Go ahead. They will turn him over 'cause he had many other problems and he was from prison. I had a great childhood coming up. ⁓ the biggest problems I had in my childhood was being bullied at school because of my weight. I've always been battling ⁓ weight issues whole entire life. ⁓ coming through school I got bullied a lot, so I tried to keep it under control and tried to watch my weight the best I could. but other than that and ⁓ the weapons I when I acted up was about the only problems I had in my childhood. Keenan: Yeah. ⁓ my gosh. Danny Coleman Jr: So so once I got better, they transferred me to what they called a co ed department where there was men and women. And when I walked in the door, the staff member told me, Mr. Coleman, go check your room and see if you've got a pillow. So I said, yes, ma'am. So I went and looked at my room. Didn't have a pillow, so I come back and told him and there was a guy in there. I never will forget this. She told the guy, she said, Will you go find Mr. Coleman a pillow? He said, Yes, ma'am, I will. So he goes and grabs a pillow. Keenan Crowley AI: family, church, and people who can walk with you when you feel like you cannot walk by yourself. Danny's story reminds us that devastation can become appreciation. Pressure can become power. And pain can become purpose. Thank you for listening to Rooted and Real. If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who needs hope today. And remember, you're not alone, your story is not over. And there is still purpose Keenan: Okay. Yeah. Mm. Yes, I can. Sure, okay. So were you were you at like a public school or private school? What kind of school were you at? Okay, gotcha. Okay. Danny Coleman Jr: But I was. I was at a public school, yes sir. I went private K through fifth and then I went to public from sixth through twelve. He comes out with the pillow he says, Tonight when you go to bed and he sticks the pillow over his head and says, Scared again. Here I am thinking I'm gonna be tr attempted to kill it again. So the orderly said, What did I the orderly said, What did I tell you about scaring new people? He said, I'm sorry, boss, I was just playing. So he was getting to go home that day, so he was joking with everybody. Keenan Crowley AI: on the other side of what you have been through. This is Rooted and Real with Keenan. Keenan: Okay, gotcha. Okay. And then what was this bullying seems to come up a lot in these conversations. So tell me a little bit about that, if you don't mind. Danny Coleman Jr: Yes, sir. Keenan: ⁓ my gosh. ⁓ my goodness. Danny Coleman Jr: It was always about my weight. ⁓ I got called Fat Kid, I got called Coburg because I love to drink milk at lunch. So I drink about six or seven milks every day for lunch. And because of that there was a guy that would call me Coburg. He said, If I cut you, I bet you'd bleed milk. Keenan: Okay. Yeah. ⁓ my yeah. ⁓ Sure. Okay. Wow. That's like the timing of that joke and what happened to you, not good timing. Like that like that would be terrifying. my gosh. So I guess so when when did you eventually get out of the hospital? Like how d what was that like? Like being discharged and what you had to do? Okay. Yeah. ⁓ my g ⁓ my goodness. The kids are crazy. ⁓ my gosh. Okay. Danny Coleman Jr: That's right. Definitely not. So yes, sir. So I got picked on heavily in school. That's right. Keenan: Yeah. Okay. how did you cope it? How did you deal with it? Danny Coleman Jr: I was in there for about ten to fifteen days. The way I coped is I had a great grandmother that I stayed with most of my youth until she died when I was sixteen. ⁓ she died of cancer. And my whole childhood, when I'd come home from school every day on a bus, I'd get home and she'd have my favorite food waiting on me, grilled cheese and mashed potatoes and gravy. So I coped with food. That's what I always turned to. I turned to sweets and food. And then I got to go home and they told me when they released me from the hospital. They said, Whatever you do, don't let nobody change your medication because we don't want you to have come back. So I said, Okay. So I get home with my parents. I'm struggling. have an appointment coming up. But I run out of medication a day or two or three days before the appointment. So I called the doctor. I was like, I need a medication refill. They said, we can't give you one. I said, do what? They said we can't give you a refill without you coming in and see us. Keenan: Okay. Hm. Gotcha. She got a cancel. Okay. Right, for sure. Yeah. Okay. What? Yeah. Gotcha. Okay. So did you I guess like how did middle school, high school, how'd all that end? I mean, I know your grandmother died ⁓ was it still weight still an issue? Danny Coleman Jr: I said, well I'll come right now. They said we don't have an appointment available. So they changed me from a drug called Risperdal, which was for psych psychosis, and put me on something called Vistaril, which is the equivalent of Benadryl. Keenan: ⁓ my goodness. Yeah. ⁓ my goodness. Danny Coleman Jr: It was still an issue. In in high school I weighed probably I don't know exactly 'cause I didn't go see the doctor a lot and weigh. But I probably weighed four hundred pounds. So I got picked on a lot and ⁓ then when I got out of school I kinda really lost control of it because I didn't have nobody to pick at me. I always tell people, you know, kids will pick at you to your face, but adults talk behind your back. So I didn't have nobody to hold me accountable. Keenan: Okay. I see. Okay. Danny Coleman Jr: So I went through a whole gamut of new symptoms. I almost ended up in the hospital again. I got so paranoid that I went to bed that night and I taught I I prayed to God. I said, God, I said, I'm tired of fighting. I said, Just take me home. I won't ever ask to wake up again. And this was five years before I met my wife. So I said I tell you about I thank God for unanswered prayers because I would have never met my wife or had any kids had he answered that prayer. Keenan: Okay. Wow. Yeah. For sure. ⁓ my gosh. Yeah. Right. Right. Yeah. So I Danny Coleman Jr: So I really lost control of it and I went to the doctor one day for a checkup and she said, Mr. Coleman, do you know how much you weigh? And I said, No, ma'am, she said, You weigh five hundred and twenty seven pounds Keenan: Right. Yeah. Right. ⁓ my so how old were you when you prayed this? What was that? How old were you? ⁓ my goodness. Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: And I like to hit the floor. I liked to pass out 'cause I couldn't believe it. 'Cause I was still walking, still doing everyday activities. It it was difficult but I was able to do ⁓ How old was I when I prayed this? It would have been two thousand and four. So yes, sir, that's about twelve years ago. So and I'm forty six now, so so I was in my thirties, I believe. Keenan: Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So z would you say that's like the first time you figured your weight was a problem? Like that was the first time ⁓ shoot. Okay. Yes sir. That was the first time. Okay. Yeah. So Okay. Gotcha. Okay. So Okay. Wow. So you pray this prayer and then then what? I mean, you're kind of like Danny Coleman Jr: It is. Yes, sir, that was the first time. And she even went as far as to tell me, she said, Have you ever considered having weight loss surgery? And I said, I don't know anything about it. She said, Well, I want you to look into it. She said, Because I think you're a candidate. She said, It's not a quick fix, but if you'll do the work, it's well worth your time to do it. She said, 'Cause if you don't do it, you're gonna die prematurely. So I was in let's see, this was two thousand and eleven. So But then they finally got me into an appointment with the doctor, and the doctor told me, he said, I sense, Mr. Coleman, you're not being honest with me. And I said, Yes, sir, I'm terrified. I said, I'm scared you're gonna send me back to the state hospital and I don't want to go there again. He said, I'm not here to send you to the hospital, Mr. Coleman. He said, I'm here to help keep you out of the hospital, but you got to be honest with me. So I started opening up with him and I told him everything I was going through. And he got me on a drug called Abilify. And I've been on that since that date. Keenan: Okay. Mm. Sure, sure. ⁓ my goodness. How old were you when this happened? Danny Coleman Jr: Once that happened she told me she said, For you to get clearance for weight loss surgery, you gotta go see a heart doctor. So I said, Okay. So she sent me up with a heart doctor and he was a foreign doctor from Augusta that had came to our town to do heart patients once a month. And I never will forget when he walked in the room, it was like traumatic throwback to high school. Because when he walked in the room, the first thing out of his mouth was, My God, you're fat Keenan: Okay. Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: And I have fully recovered now. I don't have any symptoms related to my mental health challenges. I was told there was no such thing as recovery, but I've since made a full recovery. I got to see a whole different world that I had never seen before. My father used to tell people that he thought everybody that had mental health challenges was faking to get a check. Keenan: Okay. Yeah. ⁓ my goodness. Jeez. ⁓ my gosh. Danny, please. Danny Coleman Jr: So when he saw me go through this first hand, it changed his whole viewpoint. So created compassion in me for a whole group of people that I never understood. So that's what led me to become a certified peer specialist. I wanted to help people that dealt with mental health challenges because I had lived experience. So And I was like traumatized again, all over again like being picked on in school. And he said he said, if I don't approve you, you're gonna die. He said, so you're getting approval. So he gave me my approval I needed to get the surgery done, so I got clearance for surgery. They told me that the weight loss doctor told me he said, Just like your doctor told you, he said, This isn't a quick fix. He said, So if you want this surgery you gotta prove to us you're serious. He said, You gotta lose forty pounds within six months. Keenan: Okay. Right. Yeah, that's for sure. Okay. Okay. So what was that process like to be certified peer specialist? Like what was the through a two week training? Okay. For State of Georgia? Yep. Danny Coleman Jr: I had to go through a two week training for the state of Georgia where they trained me on how to help people with minute challenges using my own story. So I went through the two weeks of training and I went to Atlanta to Decatur and took a state test. It was an interview and a test. And then I became certified to work anywhere in the state of Georgia as a certified peer specialist. or we're not gonna do the surgery. I said, okay. I said, I've never been wanting to back down from a challenge. I said, so I I'll do it. I said, I'm serious, I want this done. So we started working with a weight loss. I started working with a weight loss doctor that was in his same clinic practice with him. in six months time I lost a hundred pounds. Keenan: Okay. Okay. Using own store. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Okay, very nice. So I guess like how does that translate over to you know your ministry as a preacher and a speaker? Like how do you bring that to the table? What's that look like? Danny Coleman Jr: So once they saw that they said I was their biggest loser in pre op that they've ever had. They said they knew I was serious and they was ready to do surgery. Keenan: Amazing. Wow. That's amazing. July third, ⁓ twenty twelve. Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: So July third of twenty twelve I had weight loss surgery. I had the gastric bypass done. And I told all my family and friends, I said, they could let me come home July fourth after I had the surgery. And I said, I'm declaring independence from this unhealthy lifestyle. I am changing today. I use that a lot in my in my preaching and teaching. I use my mental health challenges a lot because of the fact that I think so many people don't understand that area. And there's a whole group of people sitting out there in the congregation that won't say nothing because they're scared they're gonna be mistreated if they tell everybody what's going on. Because there's such a stigma with the mental health field. Keenan: For sure. Yeah. Right. Right. I I love that. Yeah. That's awesome. So you kinda had this like this like wake up call. Like you could have just been like, Well, I'm gonna die, like whatever, or you're like, I have to get my stuff together, like I'm not gonna live very long. Like you kinda had that choice coming. Okay. Yeah, there's a huge stigma with how people are perceived, even going to therapy. Like it's this huge deal. people perceive it as just something like that's something crazy people do, or that's something I don't need to do. And just have a hard time believing that you know, not that everyone does not everyone should go to therapy is where I stand at some point in their life, either just to talk to somebody or get a or dig into, you know, things that what's going on. Danny Coleman Jr: That's right. That's right. And and the thing is, like, this wasn't the only battle I had faced 'cause like I had the physical health problems but I also had mental health challenges as well that stemmed from the physical problems. Right. Right. Keenan: And so, you know, my question to you is, know, as you're, you know, you're preaching and mean, what are some things that you kind of talk about like from the pulpit or either online? What's that like? Okay. Yeah. Tell me about those. Danny Coleman Jr: Okay. Back in two thousand and three I was at my I was back around my heaviest. I mean I was over five hundred pounds and I was working in a tech support call center. And I tell everybody, I said it's very important what you put into your eyes and your ears because in the moment that you have a weakness and you can't control yourself, that's what's gonna come out. So coming up I was raised by my grandmother in church. whenever I had my breakdown on my job ⁓ Right. Keenan: Okay. Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: Right. The things I hit very heavy is the way people are perceived, especially by news media. When you see it in news, it's usually cause somebody shot up somewhere and they call claimed it's mental health challenges. So people scared of people with mental health challenges. They think they're dangerous. But if you look at statistics, percent of the time mental health challenge individuals are the victims, not the perpetrators. Keenan: ⁓ for sure. Yeah. Hm, yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: I got up and put my phone into break mode and went cubicle to cubicle asking each caller call tech person were they saved and on their way to heaven? Keenan: Right. Okay. So you were at a call center. Danny Coleman Jr: And if they said yes, I say, God I was at a call center, that's right. I was supposed to be taking tech support calls at this time and I put my phone in break and was going cubicle to cubicle. So each one that I asked, if they said yes they were on their way to heaven, I'd say, God bless you and I'd go to the next person. If they said no that they weren't, I said, You're going to hell and I'd go to the next person. Keenan: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: Because so many people take advantage of mental health challenge people. And I tell everybody when I'm in the pulpit, I say it's okay not to be okay. You should talk to somebody. I think our greatest purpose is often discovering our greatest pain. Keenan: Okay, gotcha. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Yes. Absolutely. Mm. Yeah. For sure. Right. Okay. Danny Coleman Jr: Because I learned that when you have a setback, it's not the end of the world. Your setback is a setup for a comeback. Keenan: Okay. So my manager didn't take him long, he realized that wasn't my normal self. Right. Okay. So he called me. Danny Coleman Jr: And so my manager it didn't take him long, he realized that wasn't my normal self. Keenan: Yes, so many people have things happen to them and they just think it's over. It's over. Life is over. I give up. Like and you had every opportunity to do that. ⁓ Danny Coleman Jr: That's right. So he called me off the floor and he called a couple of techs to come in and talk with me he said, I think you need to be evaluated at the hospital. So they sent me to my local hospital to the emergency room. And when I got there I met I met my first mental health clinician. And came in to evaluate me and it didn't take me long to figure out if I told ⁓ what they wanted to hear, they let me go home and I wouldn't have to go nowhere. So I told ⁓ I said, I just had a religious moment, I'm okay. ⁓ And I'll be honest with you, I'll tell you, like, to say that everything is perfect and okay, I'd be lying because I just recently went to a church and preached and called the church, told them I was available if they needed me to come preach again. And you know what they told me? They told me that they had some members that come to the deacon and told them they didn't want me to come back because my testimony was too heavy. Keenan: Hm, okay. Danny Coleman Jr: I just wanna go home and rest. So I was sent home that day. When I got home that night, it was like I thought I could read people's minds. So I would get up and do random stuff in our house and my mom and dad noticed that that wasn't my normal self either. So my dad said, What'd they say at the hospital? I said, Well they said I was fine, they sent me home. He said, We're gonna go back and double check. So he took me back to the hospital. And while we were going to the hospital he said I pinched my little brother. Keenan: Okay. I just want to go home to race. Yeah. ⁓ my goodness. Danny Coleman Jr: So I was rejected at coming back to that church because of my testimony. Keenan: Wow. Mm. Jeez. I mean, you know, I think we all just need to hear each other's stories and understand where, you know, our resilience comes from and how we recover from that. I'm curious, you know, in your story now, you know, where would you say the Lord plays a role in this? Danny Coleman Jr: That's right. That's right. And that I wasn't a violent person, so I never would hurt anybody. And he said he knew that wasn't me. So he told me, he said, put your arm back up here, he said, or I'm gonna get you now. He said, Don't make me stop this car. So we went on to the hospital. They got me to the hospital. And I've our hospital had a bad reputation at that time of not having the best doctors and staff. So I ran out into the hallway once they got me back to the room and I shouted at the top of my lungs that I didn't want to be at that hospital. tell you the the Lord plays a role in my life every single day that I wake up because I learned when I was going through my sickness to find verses that speak to what you're dealing with and claim those verses and and memorize them so that you can have them regardless where you're at. My two favorite verses that I consider my life verses is Romans 828 which stands which says all things work together for the good to those that love God and are called according to his purpose. Keenan: Right. Yeah. Yes. Danny Coleman Jr: 'Cause they had a bad reputation. Well they said, Mr. Coleman, come on back in, we're gonna get you some help. Well I knew then they were sending me off. So I went to say and I'm sorry, I was just playing. This hospital hospital don't have a bad reputation. Keenan: Yes. Danny Coleman Jr: And I know that to be true in my own life because everything that's happened in my life's not good. But it all works together for good and has helped make me the person that I am today so I can help others. I think about the verse in Corinthians where Paul said that we go through pain and turmoil so that we can help others go through pain and turmoil. Keenan: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Yes. Hundred percent. Danny Coleman Jr: But that didn't work either. They still sent me to a state hospital. Keenan: They they weren't buying it. They weren't buying it. They weren't buying it. Yes. Hundred percent. Danny Coleman Jr: They weren't buying it. So they weren't as receptive as the first clinician I'd met. And my other favorite verse is Philippians 413, which says, I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. Those two verses have carried me the whole way. Anytime I got to having irrational thoughts or troubled thoughts, I'd quote those verses in my head over and over and over till it left. Keenan: Right, for sure. Yeah. ⁓ okay so you go to the Danny Coleman Jr: So I got sent off that night by Sheriff Keenan: Yeah, for sure. Yeah. So if someone let's just say, you know, hypothetically, someone comes to you and they're going through a hard time and you just need they just need something. What's something you can give them? What's something you can say? to the state hospital and then what? Danny Coleman Jr: Yes, sir. I was transferred to the state hospital by Cher Vans. Keenan: Okay. Danny Coleman Jr: And I tell everybody, I said, It's amazing how God works things out when you're not able to work ⁓ out yourself. Right. Keenan: Right. That's for sure. Danny Coleman Jr: Because that night the sheriff deputy that transported me knew my father. Keenan: Somebody listening. Yes. Danny Coleman Jr: I came up with the fuel framework. I came up with the fuel framework not too long ago. And I'll kind of break that down and tell you what that's about. Because that's what helped me get through my trouble too. It deals with four components. The F stands for Faith. I tell everybody, I said if you're not running on the right fuel, you're gonna burn out directly. So fuel framework is what I call it. I call it fuel. And he knew I was having trouble hearing voices, so he turned the music way up in the sheriff van the whole way to Augusta as we were transporting me. Keenan: ⁓ time for the Nancy because that's a bad one. Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: So when I got there they had me sit in the lobby and they told me the doctor was gonna evaluate me. I said, Okay. So he brought they come out and they said, Mr. Coleman, you come on back, we're ready to evaluate you now. I said, I can't walk. I said, I have condition on my legs, I can't walk. I thought they let me go. Well that didn't work either. They didn't buy it either. So So they told me, they said, We can get a wheelchair. I said, That's all right, I'll walk. So I say fuel up so that you can turn your pressure into power. Keenan: Mm-hmm. Danny Coleman Jr: So the elf stands for faith and that's not just dealing with religion. That's believing something's gonna happen before you see it happening is what I say faith is. For me it is my faith in Jesus Christ, because that's what's carried me through everything. But for some people they don't have a faith in Jesus Christ. So I say faith is simply believing what you can't see yet. Keenan: Right. Well that didn't work either. They didn't buy it either. They didn't buy that. Danny Coleman Jr: I got up, I walked back to the doctor's office and he started doing evaluation. He got me everything done. He said you're gonna have to stay with us for a while till we figure out what's going on 'cause definitely something's going wrong. So they put me in a co men's ward where there was only men. It was probably twenty ⁓ And was like bedrooms all the way around the room and we had partners. Each room had two roommates in it. Keenan: Yes. Okay. Yeah. Yes. A hundred percent. Danny Coleman Jr: The next the next letter is the U and that stands for understanding. If you're not understanding of your situation, you cannot go through something. And if you're not understanding of those around you, you can't help others go through anything. So it all starts once you've got faith, you have to have understanding. Keenan: Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: So they took me in, they stripped me of every belonging I had. They took my shoelaces, they said that was a threat to me, I could commit suicide, so they took my shoelaces. They handed me a cup of shu soap and shampoo and they said go take a shower. You need to get a shower before you get checked in. So I go to the shower and I'm sitting here, not in my right mind, and I'm thinking they're trying to poison me. So I start drinking the shampoo gonna finish it off quick. The E is for endurance. So many times I can't tell you how many times I felt like giving up and quitting. But you have to have endurance and push through the painful times to get to the good times. I told you earlier, if it wouldn't have been for God, I wouldn't be here because I prayed to die. I had two I had a person try to kill me, like I said. Keenan: Hm, yes. I start drinking the shampoo gonna finish it off quick. Okay. Wow. Mm-hmm. Hold up so. Danny Coleman Jr: Well the orderly comes running in and he takes a cup from it. He said, Mr. Coleman, Mr Coleman, that's shampoo, that's not drink. So he snatches it from me. Well, I went ahead and finished my shower, got ready and everything, and the whole time my father was a very disciplinarian figure when I was coming up. I tell everybody I got three weapons in my life, but I remember all three of ⁓ and what they were with. So I kept hearing his voice. Every time I would get agitated and angry, I'd hear his voice in my head. Keenan: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: But I thank God that all that was filled because now I've got a wonderful wife and two amazing kids that I would have never had otherwise. And then the A sorry, the L stands for love. If you don't have love, it's all for naught. Because I think about 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, the Bible. It says the greatest of all these is love. Keenan: Yeah. Absolutely. Yes. Right. Absolutely. Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: Like he was there. So I'd calm back down. If you've got love, you can conquer a many things through love. And I think that's something that our world and our society in general has lost a lot of. We've got so much hatred and so much division in our world that love has been replaced with hatred. And the Bible's clear, if you don't have forgiveness in your heart, he's not gonna forgive us. So I'm grateful that I do have a forgiving heart. Keenan: Okay. Danny Coleman Jr: So the second day I was there that's right. Sir. Keenan: No, say your father so your father's voice helped you calm down. Mm-hmm, for sure. Danny Coleman Jr: Yes, sir, it did. Keenan: what I'm gathering. Okay. Okay. Gotcha. Yes, sir. Yeah. Okay. Danny Coleman Jr: Yes, sir. So the second day I was there there was a there was another client in the room that went into the room, the laundry room, gonna take some money out of people's pockets. And I witnessed first hand to orderly throw him out of the room over the couch. Keenan: Mm. Right. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Danny Coleman Jr: I don't hold grudges because I've learned holding a grudge is like drinking poison expecting it to kill your enemy. And that terrified me 'cause I'm like, if they treat us like that, I don't wanna be here. Keenan: Right. percent. Hundred percent. Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: So I was I was scared. But I always say I thank God how he orders things because he put a guy there that was in there because he had a drug overdose. So so when something happens to me I let it roll, I pray it and give it to God and I turn over to him. Keenan: Yeah, for sure. Yeah. Sure. So I'm cu Danny Coleman Jr: And I and I still struggle with fears. Like I have a fear of weather that was put into me from childhood because my grandma used to be terrified of weather. So when we have severe weather outbreaks I get terrified. Keenan: Mm. Danny Coleman Jr: And that person was like calm, cool, collective and he talked to me all the time I was in there. So I would talk with him when I was in the room and then when visitation would come my parents would come see me. Keenan: Yeah. For sure. Yeah. Well I'm I'm curious, Danny. Yeah, I'm curious, Danny, where does like like your community come into play, like your wife, your family, how do they support you through all of this? Danny Coleman Jr: So I'm still dealing with things. So when they came to saw me the first time, my mom and dad, they were all upset because they didn't know what was gonna happen with me. Mama didn't know if I was ever coming home again. So they come to visit me and they start to leave and I made a run for the door. I was leaving with them. Keenan: Didn't what was gonna happen with me. Sure. Mama didn't know if I was ever coming home again. Sure. So they come to visit. Danny Coleman Jr: Right. My wife has been very supportive, even to the fact that here a couple of years ago I had a doctor give me a drug that I wasn't supposed to take with mental health medication. it it threw me a loop. I got so paranoid that I was scared I would hurt my wife and kids inadvertently. So I called my dad and I said, Can I come stay with y'all till I get myself regrouped? And he said, Come on, 'cause I knew they had seen me go through the worst before. Well three orderlies come right, I was trying to go. So three orderlies come at me and I throw ⁓ like trash bags. I just toss ⁓ Keenan: You were trying to go. Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: So then the fourth orderly had a shot needle. Keenan: Okay. Danny Coleman Jr: And he drugged me and when he did I went out and I woke up on a cot in the main room where all the guys were when I came back too. Keenan: Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: And if I was getting dangerous, they could get me help quick. So my wife was so supportive that she allowed me to go stay over there for a month and a half. Keenan: Hm. See, yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: So that was the first time my parents had come to visit me and that tore mama up because she was like she didn't ever think I'd be right again. Keenan: Wow. Danny Coleman Jr: And she would come by and see me and call me every day and check on me. I made a recovery from that, was able to come back home, and everything is great now, as far as my wife and kids go. And we have a great relationship. I mean, I am very blessed with supportive people. I've got a supportive church that backs me. My pastor called me the other day and told me that he just wanna tell me that he loved me, that if I need anything from him, let him know. Keenan: Mm. Yeah. Hm, yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: So they went they went over next door and they had a McDonald's that was right across the road from the hospital. And mama was crying, she was in tears, and she told my dad, She said, I'm I'm gonna pray. She said, That's the only thing that's gonna help this matter. So she broke down praying to God and she told God, She said, God, if you'll bring my son home out of the hospital, I'll take care of him the rest of his life if I have to. And I tell everybody, I'm thankful for that prayer because that's a sacrificial prayer. She didn't know how I was gonna be when I come home. Keenan: Mm. Wow. ⁓ Danny Coleman Jr: And when I get a church that calls me to preach, he's willing to ordain me. Just let him know. Keenan: Yeah. Okay. Awesome. So I'm curious w how important is community when in your life, in your journey? Like it's hard to do life alone. Like, how would you say how important is it that people around you? Yeah. Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: But she was willing to put everything aside to take care of me if she had to for the rest of my life. Keenan: Right. Wow. Danny Coleman Jr: So I tell everybody I do do I do believe that I'm here because of my mom's prayer and God's blessing. That I've made a full recovery. I've since that day married my wife that I'm finna celebrate our eighth year anniversary on Monday, may twenty fifth. I've got two wonderful kids. I've got a daughter that's sixteen years old when I'm seventeen years old, and I've got a son that we adopted that's six years old. That's right. Keenan: Yeah. For sure. Danny Coleman Jr: It's very important. I tell everybody, I said, you can't live in isolation and we weren't designed to be. God designed us for community. And if you don't have a community, then go out and make your community. Because you don't you're gonna desperately need them one day. Keenan: Right. A hundred percent. Yeah. For sure. Wow. Yeah. Yes. Wow, that's awesome. ⁓ Mm-hmm. For sure. Absolutely. I'm curious to you know, a lot of, you know, Christians, other people. this like stigma of like anti medication, like we shouldn't take medication. ⁓ We can't can heal ourselves. Yeah. What's what ⁓ how what do you feel about that? this guy that you met in the hospital that you feel like the Lord put you there, like what were those conversations with him like? Danny Coleman Jr: That's right. I'm glad you mentioned that. Like he t he asked me, he said what kind of thing he said he said what kind of things do you like to do? I said, Well I love sports. I said I collect memorabilia and he'd talk to me about that all day. He'd be like, Who's your favorite team? Who's your favorite player? and kept my mind occupied and awful what was I was going through. Keenan: What did he do for you? Danny Coleman Jr: I think my belief is that God works through many various tools. And medication is a tool that God uses. I think about Luke from the Bible, he was a physician. I don't know any physician that don't use medication. Keenan: Okay. Who's your favorite team? Who's your favorite player? Yeah. Absolutely. Danny Coleman Jr: So for the first two or three days they gave me no medication. They was just observing me to see what was going on. And that drove me crazy by itself because they come bring a card of medicine and call everybody up and I'd go up and ask them what they got for me and they like, We don't have nothing for you, Mr. Coleman. Keenan: Right. Right. Hundred percent. Wow. Okay. Danny Coleman Jr: So I and and just kinda let you know, I did have that happen in my life as well. When I first come home from the hospital, I was watching a T V evangelist and he was preaching like you wouldn't believe. And all of a sudden he stopped and looked at the camera. He said, If you got faith in God, you don't need medication. You just need to pray harder. So I quit taking my meds and I almost ended up in the hospital again. Keenan: Mm-hmm. Mm. Danny Coleman Jr: So it was four or five days before I got any medication put in me. Keenan: ⁓ my gosh. Wow. Danny Coleman Jr: But once they got me on the medication I started coming around and then they moved me to what they called well b let me back up for a second. While I was in that ward with all the men, I had a guy try to kill me. Keenan: Mm. ⁓ ⁓ my god. ⁓ my goodness. Danny Coleman Jr: He literally come up behind my back and put his hands around my throat and the orderly said he's trying to hurt him and they grabbed the guy and got him off of me. Keenan: ⁓ yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: And I love writing poetry. I tell I tell my pastor all the time and he's been very supportive of my poetry writing. ⁓ a lot of time we have homecoming or we have a special service at church, he'll have me come up and read a poem that I write. Keenan: Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: And I would find out later because his dad would come visit him every day when my parents come visit me. So my dad asked his dad, you know, what's he in here for? And at first he wouldn't tell my parents what it was, but then later he told ⁓ he said he went to a party one night. He said and he set his drink down, went to the bathroom and somebody put drugs in his drink and he'll never come home. Keenan: Okay. That's awesome. Danny Coleman Jr: And a lot of times on Wednesday night Bible study, when he's doing the Bible study, I'll take notes and turn it into a poem while he's preaching. And at the end of service he asks for takeaways and I'll read the poem out loud to the church. And he's told me before, he said that's a gift from God, 'cause I could never do that. Keenan: But we'll get that. Right. So my dad asked his dad, you know, what's the end Okay. Okay. Mm. He said and he set his drink down. That's absolutely how important is that to lean into our gifts the Lord has given us? How important is that to you? How important should we should be how important should we take that? ⁓ good. Danny Coleman Jr: So then I felt so sorry and heartbroken for that individual. I'd forgot all about him trying to kill me. I just felt bad about Keenan: Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: I think that's very important because I believe every person walking this earth has gifts. And it's important that we find out what our gifts are and lean into them because we can help others through our gifts. I even had a lady tell me just recently when I went to my bank, she asked me, she said 'cause I told her I wrote some books. I wrote three books now. And she told me she said, Have you ever considered writing a devotional book with your poems? Keenan: Yes. Mm. For sure. Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: And I said, I hadn't really thought about that. She said, You ought to do that. She said that would help a lot of people and I believe it would be great. So I've started working on a fourth book now about poetry. And the name of my book is gonna be called Praises from the Pen. Keenan: Yeah, for sure. Okay. Raises from the pin. Gotcha. So you you mentioned you wrote a couple of books. Tell me tell us about those. Where can we find them? What's the general idea with them? Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: That's right. Okay. The first book I ever wrote, I didn't actually write it. I used a ghostwriter. I go into details here, but it was a hassle getting it published because of the ghostwriter. But I was able to get it published and it was like seventy five or eighty pages. So it's really short and condensed. So after I a bunch of poetry, somebody said, Why don't you write your own story? And the first book was titled Half the Man I Used to Be with Twice the Heart. Because I've always been told I have a big heart. And I think that's a lot contributed to because of what I've been through and the compassion I have for others. So when I thought about the second book, I said, I know I c I came from a place of devastation. I felt like my world was ended. And now today I can honestly tell you I'm appreciative and in a place of appreciation. Keenan: Yeah. Mm. Yeah, for sure. Mm-hmm. Danny Coleman Jr: So my second book that I wrote was two hundred and fifty pages, I think it was, or just or just shy of two hundred pages maybe. But it's called From Devastation to Appreciation How to Turn Tragedy into Triumph. Keenan: Okay. Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: And both of those books are available on Amazon. Keenan: Okay, awesome. Yeah, I will I'll try I'll put them in the description of of our of this podcast so people can find them. ⁓ so I'm so I would be wondering if someone's listening to this, about therapy, medication, they're on the fence about it. Like what would you say to that person who's in that position listening to this right now? Danny Coleman Jr: Okay, great. Tell the person that's in that position to please go get help. Until you admit that you have a problem and that you need help, it's not gonna get better. We can pray, we can talk to people. Some people don't have nobody to talk to. That's like when I was coming up and when I had my mental breakdown, part of what led to my mental break was that I didn't talk to anybody. I bottled it up inside. Keenan: Yes. Okay. Right. Danny Coleman Jr: I'd go to work every day, work eight hours, drive home, cry all the way home because I wasn't happy the life I was living. I'd get home, I'd wipe the tears away, and I'd go inside, and mom and dad asked, How are you doing? I'd say, ⁓ I'm great. I was terrified and crumbling on the inside. I knew how to dress up the outside and make it look well, but I was struggling on the inside. Keenan: Mm-hmm. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I'm and you know, so many men, especially men nowadays, that's like what we're trained to do is just bottle it up, keep it inside, don't tell anybody, put on a good face, know, just truck through the day and just spend this time in isolation, keeping stuff like that to ourselves. And I think it's really important what you said there about you were by yourself, keeping it to yourself. Would you say like you bottling it up like that, that's kind of like it exploded. Danny Coleman Jr: That's right. Keenan: And that's what led to the breakdown and you going to the hospital. Would you do we is that true? Untrue? Okay. Danny Coleman Jr: Definitely. I definitely say that's what it was yes, sir. I would because I come up with a father that was never told he loved his dad loved him. So I'd never seen my father cry till his mama died. Keenan: For sure. For sure. Mm. Danny Coleman Jr: And I was always taught that, you know, crying was a form of weakness. Men don't cry. So I bottled everything up and just kept it inside. I didn't talk to nobody. And I always tell everybody, if you bottle up something and it gets shook enough, it's gonna explode directly. Keenan: Yes. I that's so true. It's so true. I mean, you know, we say that I mean, I say that all the time. And it's so true that if we keep stuff inside, it'll explode. And it could explode and hurt somebody or somebody we love. ⁓ I'm curious, you know, what's it like being a father with all this with your history and your story? Like how do you be a father through all of this? And especially in this day and age and Danny Coleman Jr: Yes, sir. That's right. Keenan: with teenagers and social media. How do you how do you do that? Danny Coleman Jr: Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I ain't gonna lie, it's definitely a struggle and it's challenging. Because little boy, we think, may have some touch of autism. Because he's the sweetest kid you'll meet. He has a heart of gold. But when he gets angry, he gets angry, angry quick. Keenan: For sure. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: And like he'll go zero to a hundred in two seconds. But then he'll turn around after it's over and say, I'm sorry, I love you, and want to hug. So he he ain't got control of his emotions yet. like I said, he's only six years old. And that's been difficult for me because I was raised very disciplined ⁓ ⁓ not an advocate Keenan: ⁓ my goodness. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. Danny Coleman Jr: a lot for spanking because I use other means because I'm so terrified that I'm gonna hurt my little boy like I was hurt coming up sometime. So it controls how I parent as a father myself. Keenan: Right, yeah. Yeah. Right. Yeah. ⁓ yeah. And even with spanking, sometimes it's not even about learning the lesson. They're just trying to figure out how to get out of avoid being spanked. So it's more like they sneak around. In my opinion. ⁓ so ⁓ yeah. ⁓ Danny Coleman Jr: That's right. That's right. And that and I will share one more thing with you that I just thought about because talking about sneaking around is what made me think of it. When I was living at home with my parents, every night when my dad would go to bed, he would tell me he knew I had weight problems and he knew I had food addiction problems. So he would tell me whatever you do don't come back in here and get no food. So one night he went to bed and it like two AM in the morning. I'd been playing on the computer in my room. So I got up Keenan: Yeah. Danny Coleman Jr: Crept out of my room, snuck through the kitchen, went to the pantry room, left all the light turned out so I wouldn't get caught. Opened the pantry door, got an ice cream sandwich out of the freezer, closed the door, eased back around the corner and tore out a head of my room so I didn't get caught, and I hit a carpet cleaner with my leg. It gashed my leg into a V shaped wide open scar on my leg. It required it required an ER trip. Keenan: ⁓ my gosh. ⁓ my gosh. Danny Coleman Jr: And forty eight stitches to fix it. Keenan: Holy crap. Danny Coleman Jr: I said it fixed everything but my ego 'cause I was ashamed and humiliated. Keenan: Right. Yeah. ⁓ my gosh. Yeah. I mean, especially like Danny Coleman Jr: But that's just proof what addiction I do to a person. Keenan: Yes, that's that's that's that's where we're going. It's like especially you trying to manage like your eating and your addiction is like sometimes it's just you know, we get moving too fast and that's and we accidents happen, you know. so a few questions I like to ask near the end. Danny Coleman Jr: Yes, sir. That's right. Okay, and then I got one more thing I want to share with you before we close out about something I'm doing ministry-wise for mental health now. Okay. what I've started doing when I back when COVID hit, I was working for a mental health agency. And I got laid off. And I had lost 300 pounds. Well, I gained a hundred pounds back because I went to depression. I felt like I couldn't help people if I didn't have a job. I couldn't take care of my family. I couldn't help individuals dealing with mental health challenges. So my wife Keenan: Please do. Please do. Please do. Yeah. Yeah, we need a free. Danny Coleman Jr: Again, she was my support. She told me, she said, you don't have to have a job to help people. She said, You've got a ministry opportunity here that you can help people through the church. So that's what I did. I found I sought out curriculum to do a support group for mental health individuals. And I started a group called Living Grace. And it's a 16 week program where Keenan: Mm. Yeah. Okay. Living grace. Danny Coleman Jr: We cover different topics and we just have round table discussion about mental health challenges. And every week is a standalone topic, so you don't have to be there for all sixteen weeks. You can come as you want. And I started that under a ministry that I started called Hope Ministries. And what that stands for is helping others personally experience peace. Because I think that's what we all ultimately want anyway is peace. Keenan: Right. Absolutely. A hundred percent. Yeah. Okay. Well, thank you so much for sharing that. I'm sure that'll be super valuable for people listening to be able to look that stuff up. so one big question I always I like to ask like if you are like king of the world and you gather everybody together and they have to listen to Danny Coleman, you know, give a one minute speech, this is your one chance to be heard by everybody in the world. What would you say? Danny Coleman Jr: Yes, sir. I would say just like automobiles, we all have to have a source for our energy. Automobiles run off of fuel. So you're gonna hear me reiterate again, we run off of fuel as well. If we don't have fuel, we're gonna be sitting beside the road sooner or later. Keenan: Yes. Danny Coleman Jr: And I shared earlier, fuel is faith, understanding, endurance and love. Those four areas, if you can get a grasp of those four areas and implement ⁓ like the Bible tells us we should, it will help us through a many of problems. Keenan: Mm. Mm. For sure. Awesome. Danny Coleman Jr: And that would be my advice and what I would tell everybody if I had an opportunity to speak to everyone. Keenan: Okay. Awesome. So, you know, ⁓ d are there any like just for other resources, like are there any books you recommend or other podcasts or things you've heard that people can look up and can help them with with what they're looking for? Danny Coleman Jr: Yes, sir. The the curriculum I'm using for my support group is put out by a group called Grace Alliance. The workbooks are free. They're digital workbooks you can download free from their website. It's called Mental Health Grace Alliance. Keenan: Okay. Okay. Danny Coleman Jr: And they've got workbooks for all different areas. They got one called Living Grace, which is for individuals living with mental health challenges. They got one called Family Grace for family members of people with mental health challenges. They got one called Thrive, which is the second part of Living Grace. It goes more in detail of all the topics. And then they got one called I think it's it's it's a form of Living Grace, but it's not the same name. I can't remember the name of it right now. But it's for youth because we're starting to see more and more youth have problems as well. Keenan: Right. For sure. Absolutely. Okay. any podcasts you recommend? Danny Coleman Jr: ⁓ some of the best podcasts that I've benefited from is more preaching podcasts, but they also cover mental health in the podcast as well. And one of those is Lake Point Church. I love to listen to Lake Point Church. That's Josh Howerton, for anybody that don't know that who that is, but ⁓ he's got a lot of stuff on YouTube. He preaches every Sunday at Lake Point Church and every Monday he releases a podcast that goes more in detail of what he couldn't cover in his Sunday sermon. Keenan: Any? Okay. Okay. Late point. Okay. Very cool. Okay. Well, Danny Danny Coleman Jr: So that's a great resource. ⁓ another great resource is Harris Creek Baptist Church. That's another good one. That's helped me out greatly. Keenan: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Okay. Gotcha. That's helped me out right now. Okay. Okay. Well, cool, man. Danny, thank you so much for being here and sharing your story and helping us, know, how do we, you know, build resilience, ⁓ and hope. So thank you so much, man. I really appreciate you being here and sharing that with us.