Definitely Not Therapy
You don't need to be a CEO or a celebrity to have an interesting story, or to have struggled to get to where you are. Definitely Not Therapy is hosted by Legendary Social Media Sensation (his own words) Dan Lawrence who is known for his pranks, inappropriate chat up lines and life hacks on social media. Dan wears his heart on his sleeve and is passionate about spreading awareness for Men's Mental Health. Each week, Dan will be speaking to someone new. Real People with Real Stories.
Definitely Not Therapy
🎧 Episode 11: From Military Man with suicidal thoughts to Helping Hero - This is Adi's story 💖
Trigger warning: This episode contains open discussions around suicidal thoughts, alcoholism, divorce, and mental health struggles.
Episode Summary
In this deeply raw and honest conversation, Adi shares the battle that nearly ended his life — and the hope that saved it.
After 12 years in the military, Adi found himself trapped in a cycle of deployment after deployment, using the next mission as an escape from the pain he couldn’t face at home. But no matter how far he ran, the weight of his mental health struggles always caught up.
The constant pressure, trauma, and bottle in his hand became his only coping mechanisms. Eventually, it all came crashing down — his marriage ended, and Adi found himself alone in his bedroom, a noose in front of him, ready to end his life.
But fate had other plans. His ex-wife and children returned home unexpectedly, and the overwhelming shame forced him to make a choice: end it all, or fight. Adi chose to fight — not just for himself, but for his family.
That decision changed everything.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
🪖 Life in the military — the hidden emotional toll of constant deployments and never slowing down.
🥃 Numbing the pain — how alcohol became a dangerous crutch.
💔 Losing everything — the divorce that forced Adi to finally confront his demons.
🧠 The breaking point — the night he nearly ended his life.
🌅 The turning point — the unexpected moment that gave him hope.
🧘♂️ Healing and rebuilding — therapy, self-work, and learning new techniques like hypnosis.
💬 Becoming the helper — how Adi turned his pain into purpose, now working as a therapist helping other veterans adjust to civilian life.
👨👩👧 Rebuilding family — how hope and healing helped him rebuild the most important relationships in his life.
Key Message
Adi is one of the lucky ones. Many men don’t make it to this part of the story. But he’s living proof that hope is enough to start again.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to hang on to that tiny bit of belief that things can change.
If you’re struggling, if you’re tired, if you’re ready to give up — don’t.
Talk. Reach out. Speak. There is always another way.
Dan’s Message
“This podcast is about real people and real stories. If you’ve got a story like Adi’s — something raw, something real — and you want to share it to help others, please reach out. I’d love to talk to you.”
📩 Email / DM: OnlyDanLawrence@gmail.com or search Dan Lawrence on Facebook, @DanLawrenceComedy or @DefinitelyNotTherapyPod on Instagram.
Support & Resources
If you’ve been affected by anything in this episode, please know you’re not alone. There’s help available:
- 🇬🇧 Andy’s Man Club – Free talking groups for men every Monday across the UK: https://andysmanclub.co.uk
- ☎️ Samaritans (UK) – Free, 24/7 support line: 116 123 | https://www.samaritans.org
- 🧠 Mind – Mental health support and resources: https://www.mind.org.uk
- 🎖️ Combat Stress – Mental health support for veterans: https://combatstress.org.uk
- 🧍♂️ CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – For men in crisis: https://www.thecalmzone.net
