Emerging from the Shadows: Dave Karaliamis's Journey Through Addiction to Hope and Recovery

What has been the most significant challenge you've faced in your mental health journey, and how did you overcome it?

When the weight of the world feels unbearable, finding hope can seem impossible. Our guest, Dave Karaliamis, has navigated the depths of addiction and despair to share a story that is both harrowing and hopeful. This episode uncovers Dave's battle with mental health, his time in psychiatric hospitals, and the life-changing events that set him on the path to recovery.

Dave opens up about his experiences with depression and addiction, a near-fatal overdose, and waking up to a new reality. He reveals how the "three goal rule" helped him reclaim his life, one small victory at a time. His story highlights the courage it takes to seek help and the importance of a support system.

Join us for this heartening conversation that might change the way you view life's challenges and the resilience of the human spirit.


About Dave Karaliamis:

Dave Karaliamis, a 28-year-old Australian from Melbourne, whose early life was marked by struggles with school, direction, and undiagnosed depression. After attempts to join the military were thwarted by health issues, Dave turned to drugs like cocaine to cope, leading to years of addiction and despair.

At age 22, a suicide attempt brought Dave to a turning point. Supported by his brother Michael and guided by his mindset coach Anthony Hartcher, Dave embarked on a journey of recovery. Through kickboxing, writing, and family bonds, he found new purpose and has been sober for over 18 months.


How to Connect with Dave Karaliamis:

• Instagram: @davekara__
• Email: davekara1@hotmail.com

About me&my health up & Anthony Hartcher

me&my health up seeks to enhance and enlighten the well-being of others. Host Anthony Hartcher is the CEO of me&my wellness which provides holistic health solutions using food as medicine, combined with a holistic, balanced, lifestyle approach. Anthony holds three bachelor's degrees in Complementary Medicine; Nutrition and Dietetic Medicine; and Chemical Engineering.

Podcast Disclaimer
Any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice, and are provided for general information purposes only. All care is taken in the preparation of the information in this Podcast. [Connected Wellness Pty Ltd] operating under the brand of “me&my health up”..click here for more

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Chapters

• 0:07 Reckless driving incident with injury.
• 1:13 Mental health journey, including suicide attempt and addiction.
• 5:10 Struggles with mental health and job prospects.
• 12:14 Mental health struggles and hospitalisation.
• 14:42 Mental health, addiction, and personal struggles.
• 20:57 Addiction, depression, therapy, and recovery with a personal trainer and writing goals.
• 27:01 Overcoming struggles with mental health and addiction through self-reflection and goal-setting.
• 31:37 [Ad] Screen Deep
• 32:17 (Cont.) Overcoming struggles with mental health and addiction through self-reflection and goal-setting.
• 33:11 Setting realistic goals and overcoming addiction.
• 38:47 Prioritising self-improvement and authenticity.
• 44:54 Overcoming addiction and finding support through family and hobbies.
• 48:37 Overcoming addiction through support, self-reflection, and bravery.
• 52:57 Mental health struggles and recovery with personal insights.

Transcript

Dave Karaliamis: 0:06

Taking about 20 Valiums, you know, 20 Valiums, I sculled them with some vodka and I got into my mum's car. So I was driving, driving and I hit the pedal, right? I went down, I'm like, I'm gonna, I'm gonna do this. So I went, I was going about 100 kilometers an hour. And then at the last second, I just couldn't do it, right? I just couldn't do it. And I just broke, like last second breaks, still ended up hitting the tree, right? At about 60, 70 miles an hour. Luckily, I didn't really get any damage. Like my neck was pretty stuffed up for a couple of days, but the hardest part for me was waking up in the hospital, right? Because I was obviously unconscious for a bit. I woke up to both my parents standing there and my mum was crying. My dad was holding her in her arms. And she felt like he fell with me, right? My parents felt like they fell with me. And that's when I like woke up and I'm like, yeah, well, you know, what have I? What have I just done?

Anthony Hartcher: 1:02

That was Dave Karaliamis, and you've landed on the me&my health up podcast. I'm your host, Anthony Hartcher, a clinical nutritionist and lifestyle medicine specialist. The purpose of this podcast is to enhance and enlighten your wellbeing. And this episode is on a mental health story. Dave, Dave Karaliamis' mental health story. His journey from attempting suicide and being in a psychiatric hospital three times and his addiction to cocaine and how he's turned his life around. So it's a really inspirational mental health story, and Dave shares his top tips on how he's turned his life around. So tune in to this insightful episode with Dave Karaliamis and learn empowering tips on how you can improve your mental health story or journey by just doing the basics, the simple things. And for those that are concerned about their mental health, just to let you know, this is a discussion around suicide. So if you're concerned about your mental health, then please seek the lifeline resources that are included within the show notes please talk to someone please reach out and get help. But we are touching on the subject of suicide and talking about details around suicide and extreme mental health conditions. So just wanted to leave you with that disclaimer that this is a open discussion around suicide. And that the advice given within this episode, is is not is general in nature, and is not specific to your circumstances. So please seek an expert in this field, a specialist that can help you in your mental health journey. So thank you, and welcome into the episode with Dave, welcome on the me&my health up podcast. How are you, Dave?

Dave Karaliamis: 2:58

Hey, Anthony, how's it going? Thanks for having me.

Anthony Hartcher: 3:01

I'm fantastic. And so glad you could join me today and really enlightening the listeners on mental health. And just I think your turnaround story is just remarkable. And something that's really worthwhile sharing to as many people as possible. And that's why I'm very appreciative that you've come on to share today.

Dave Karaliamis: 3:21

Well, look I can't, like, I can take some of the credit, but you know, I got in touch with you, as you know, probably what was that a year and a half ago, nearly two years now. And you did give me that push that I needed. So yeah, I'm here now you know partly because of myself, I've got to give some credit to you as well, you know, give you a gold star for that one. And um no I really, really appreciate everything you've done for me, and I'm happy, happy to be on here and you know, share my story. If it can help more people then you know, that's the goal here.

Anthony Hartcher: 3:50

Awesome, Dave. Yeah, so let's, let's start with your story. So really, I know you're a great storyteller, just given your background and your interest in uh well, everyone, you're well known for your storytelling and, and you do short, short movies and short plays and all those sorts of things. And so, really came for you to enlighten the listeners as to your background, your story and take them on a journey.

Dave Karaliamis: 4:16

Okay, I'll take them on the journey that I went on. So, yeah, in terms of the short films and stories and stuff like that. Yeah, I've been writing for a while ever since school, obviously no one knew about it. So that's all just coming out now. I'm comfortable to share with so we'll get to that part. In terms of my story of where I came from, like I grew up fantastic. Parents were lovely brother and sister, you know, couldn't ask for anything better. I Brother sometimes we fight but that's like, that's like all brothers, you know, I really respect him and look up to him in school, it roughly started um I started to get some some thoughts. I wasn't really a good kid in terms of at school like work-wise and stuff like that homework in class I was always disruptive, suspended, you know, detentions my mum's got a whole whole sheet I've ever seen. I'm sure, she would love to tell you about that one. But um, yeah, started from there, and I just didn't really have, like, I didn't know what I wanted to do at all besides the army, the army was a was a big one for me. It started because partly, I had nothing to do and I just thought of it as an escape. You know, school wasn't for me, and I wasn't really going anywhere else, or working, Safeway, I was working in a carwash, and then I ended up getting expelled in year 10, it was either that, or they held me back a year. And I already got held back in year 9. So I wasn't really, you know, a smart kid in terms of schooling and I didn't want to get held back again, you know, I was embarrassed. So I ended up going to work with my uncle, he gave me an apprenticeship in painting. And, you know, that was all right to begin with. And then it just kind of took a turn to headbutts between me and the boss, which wasn't my uncle, it was another boss higher up. And from there, it was basically just a warehouse job to warehouse job, man. And, you know, like, I couldn't really do that. So I tried to get in the army, I tried to join when I was 16 for the first time, but then I didn't really know what I was doing. It was more of an escape. So I went there and you know, you have to do English tests and Math tests, like all that stuff, and I got in there, and I just I was like, shit, oh, my god, is this focus wearing? I just, I wasn't prepared at all for any of it. So obviously failed that one. And I went again the next year and applied again, I thought I was a bit better, still wasn't, well I failed it again. And all through this process, I was getting a bit more, you know, I didn't realise it at the time because I was very, I didn't really speak to anyone about like mental health wise and stuff like that, like I didn't, I used to hold everything in. So I was getting more depressed by the days, but like, no one will know about it, I didn't even really know about it. Like, I was just getting more and more frustrated in myself. And working these dead-end jobs, you know, warehouse to warehouse to warehouse, just jobs that weren't for me, you know, other people might like that stuff, I just, you know, for me, it was just like looking into a mirror and just seeing nothing back. So I kept I kept working through the warehouse and I tried for the army again, this was the last time I tried. And I nearly got in, I was I was meant to leave to deploy into infantry and I told them I had asthma in my previous application. And this one I didn't and I'm like, maybe they won't, you know, they won't realise it and I can fresh start and they're very strict, as you know the army so I could do a lot of asthma tests and stuff like that. And I ended up failing one, they gave me an appeal, I failed again, they basically sent me a notice saying, look, you can't join because you'll be ask at least that and just all the appeal process just took too long. I could go to like DEP special treatment stuff like that was a lot of money just to appeal this one decision. And I ended up you know, calling it calling it quit and just working at a berry warehouse. But through that whole process, I was you know, dabbling in stuff. Cocaine was a big part of it. And that was that's started young as well, that's about 18 I reckon around there, you know, I was always dabbling around drugs, in terms of weed and, you know, all these party drugs, but the real addiction was coke. So around then it was more so just dabbling, right? It wasn't really getting into it, but I didn't know how it was affecting me. And because I was very, you know, I was a very angry kid, I had a lot of anger towards, you know, a lot of people mostly towards myself at the time and I couldn't just really, I could keep that in but I had to do something because I don't know I just felt like I was losing my mind. And for me, it was an escape, you know, I was doing the drugs and escape. And obviously, it's not, it's not the right option. It's definitely not the right option. So I just kept doing it. I kept doing it. And I ended up so this one, this one's a bit hard because my parents, they never knew about any of this, right? No one, no one knew. And my mum would be a bit suspicious here and there because there was times I would go in my room, right? Like a couple of years, I'd be in my room just coming home in my room coming out, like I wasn't going out. And little do they know, like, I was just, you know, I was high from after work and I just went straight in my room. I just didn't want to talk to anyone. And I just couldn't help the way I felt, right? I would write in my room like I would one thing, I thought I was wasting my life, which I definitely was 100% I was but I would always keep writing no matter how fried I was in the head. I'd always keep writing or have like a little journal. And that kept me sane, basically, right? But I was getting more and more into the drugs and you know, the group of friends I was hanging around, some of them were good, most of them at the time I thought they were good. But as I realised when I got older, they weren't they just weren't good for me. And I had to I had to drop that. But the main the main thing started it was when I was driving one night and this is the thing I want to tell like your listeners about it's a touchy subject but about suicide, right? So we've had a lot of deaths in my family. By the time I was 22, I think we already had about four or five deaths, you know, I went from not wearing a suit to wearing one about three four times in a year. Like, it's hard because one of them was a suicide, right? And at the time, I didn't really understand. I'm like, okay, you know, it's kind of a selfish thing to do. It's bad. And that's what I always thought about it, you know, no matter how depressed I was, I would never do anything like that. And I was always very angry at people who did, right? Now I realise once you get to that point, you don't care at all, right? Like, you're selfish. You're selfish, and you know, you're selfish but you can't help what you're doing. I would drive around for about six months, looking for somewhere to crash the car, right? My, my motto was, I was going to get high and drive my car straight into a pole or a tree, no thought about it. And only the thought process behind it was okay, where's the perfect spot to do this? And I would drive around for nights for about six months, just crying to myself and looking at spots, directions, roads and perfect like the perfect road, the perfect I would even, like the kilometers wide, I'll search up kilometers, like, how how much kilometers does it take to hit a tree and you know, like, damage wise, and it was really bad like but at the time that that's what I was into, right? I was figuring out a way out. I'm like, if I hit a tree at 60 kilometers an hour, okay, that could put me in hospital, that could kill me, I was doing all these calculations in my head. And for me, it's like it was a hard thing to do. So, you know, there was one night where it was after a bender, I'm pretty sure it's probably after like a three-day party bender, I was just empty, there was nothing left, there was nothing left. And my parents didn't really know about any of this stuff. So this is how they actually found out, this night, I ended up taking about 20 Valiums, you know 20 Valiums, I sculled them with some vodka and I got into my mum's car. So I was driving, driving and I hit the pedal, right? I went down, I'm like, all right, I'm going to do this. So I went, I was going about 100 kilometers an hour. And then at the last second, I just couldn't do it, right? I just couldn't do it. And I just broke, like last second breaks, still ended up hitting the tree, right? At about 60, 70 miles an hour. Luckily, I didn't really get any damage. Like my neck was pretty stuffed up for a couple of days, but the hardest part for me was waking up in the hospital, right? Because I was obviously unconscious for a bit. I woke up to both my parents standing there, and then my mum was crying. My dad was holding her in her arms, she felt like she fell with me, right? My parents felt like they fell with me. And that's when I like woke up and I'm like, yeah, well, you know, what have I, what have I just done? Feel free to just button at any time if you've got any questions for me, because I feel like I'm just rambling here a bit. Yeah, I woke up in the hospital and my parents crying. And that's no, like, no one wants to wake up in that situation. You know, I love my parents, I've got a roof over my head. Catholic families have been nothing but good to me. My whole family is fantastic. So for me, it was just a betrayal on my part, right? I just felt like I betrayed them. I felt like I was selfish. And I just didn't care about anything, which was true. So I ended up going into a psychiatric clinic uh public, it was a public one. At first, I think Royal Melbourne and that wasn't a good place, the public clinics. Yeah, it wasn't a good experience. I was only in there for a couple of hours. I'm like, yeah, I gotta get out of here. And luckily, I had a fantastic doctor who somehow got me into a private clinic in where it'd be. And that was my first time in a clinic, I didn't know what to expect right in a psychiatric hospital. And it's pretty full-on it is pretty full-on in terms of, you know, there's a lot of like-minded people which can bring you down. But then again, it can actually help you because you talk about the same thing and you understand each other a lot. But for me, the day-to-day process was just waking up having cigarettes outside, gone to the same classes over and over again, it got very repetitive and you couldn't go anywhere because you're locked down like they'll take you out for yard time this that. And don't get me wrong, some of the doctors and nurses are fantastic but I had a psychiatrist there and she basically didn't even look at my files. Like she probably sees 20 30 40 kids a day, right? So I'm just another number. And she looked at me, she's like, look, she looked at my file. She's like, I think this is a drug-induced psychosis. I don't think you're really depressed. We're gonna give you two weeks in here, give you a bunch of medication and then, you know, get you out of here and I'm like oh okay, that's how this works. So that first visit, I don't, I didn't really think I'll learn anything. So by the time I visit like my um time in the clinic was up, I wasn't ready, like I wasn't ready to go outside. You get very comfortable in there, and especially if you're not ready. So when they wanted to discharge me, I was scared. I just didn't want to be out in the world. I wasn't ready. I knew I was going to stuff up again and I just needed help. I didn't know what I was doing and she refused to let me stay, so she kicked me out in that situation. And I basically just went back to working, you know, working every day, other than happy I was just going along with the situation I had, I was just working and working and working. And then on the weekends, I would slowly dabble back into it. And my parents were, you know, trying to keep on top of me, they obviously knew about it now, my brother as well, like, he's been fantastic. So once I got out, he actually gave me a job in his business. And I respect my brother a lot. Like I said, we have a lot of fights and stuff like that. But he helped me a lot. Without him, I wouldn't be where I am today. And I started working for his business and that was probably well I still work for now so it's the best job I've ever had, you know, not just because it's my brother's business, we work well together, I drive my own van, you know, I'm kind of my own boss, he just tells me what to do at the start of the day and I do it. So for me, the situation from work was changing, you know, it went from army, army, army to okay, I've got this, but I still wasn't really content at that time when I first got it, I just, I couldn't get past the past, right? The army and you know, I just couldn't get past any of that and I just I don't know why I was so depressed still. And I just look, my parents would tell me, my brother would tell me look you're passing the past, you know, you're a bright kid, you know, focus on this focus on that a lot of people tell me and I went to a lot of therapy and, you know, therapy is good for people. I'm not I'm not doubting that at all and I think it's a great thing. But for me just hearing the same thing over and over again. How are you feeling today? You know, why does this make me feel this way? It was just the same questions every week, I went to a lot of therapy, a lot of group classes and it made me more depressed. It actually made me more depressed going to therapy, I just wasn't changing anything. So I started getting really bad with with the with the cocaine again, there wasn't any more drugs than the cocaine. And that's because it makes you feel good at the time, right? So I was basically doing it every day I was working doing it, I was waking up and doing it after work, I was going to sleep on it. And I just wanted to feel good all the time. All the time I just wanted to feel good but little did I know once you get off it, you know, and I was basically always on it but there'll be little periods and when I wake up in the morning, I was just off my head and I just depressed crying on the way to work, just didn't want to be in this world anymore. And I have the best situation I've got my brothers given me a job. I've got a roof over my head loving family. And I just couldn't help the way it felt. And I was being so selfish again and I hated myself. I hated myself because there's people in worse situations and they deal with what they've got but me, this little spoiled kid who's got a job and he's got a roof over his head and this and that and he's just, you know, he's what he's doing. He just wants to leave this world for no reason, right? And I just couldn't help but feel that way. So again, I'll just I kept going with the coke and the coke, and I ended up back into clinic again. But this wasn't until about two, three years later. So I went for a long period just dabbling in drugs and being depressed every single day and I just had to, I had to live with that. And it was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do. And again, I'd still lie to my parents, right? My mum wanted me to be honest with that, but I'd still lie on my mum doing good, whatever but I wasn't, I wasn't at all. And I went back into clinic about three years later for yeah, obviously addiction and depression again. And this time was a bit better. I had a different psychiatrist, and he actually helped me a bit more. So I actually I've got an official diagnosis, right? BPD, which is borderline personality disorder. And a lot of mental health physicians, psychiatrists, they think this is one of the worst ones you can get, right? But I've never really been one for sympathy or telling people what I've got up until this point, like still my parents and my brother are the only ones you know, I've got a younger sister. She doesn't know any of this. So I don't really tell people about my problems, obviously. That's what led to this big blow-up. So when he diagnosed me with this, and he said, look, all your emotions, they're times, you know, a thousand, whatever. When you get angry, you get really angry. When you get really sad, you get really sad. That's what BPD is kind of. I'm just like, oh yeah, whatever. Okay, just give me medication and let's be on with it, and I didn't really do anything, any. I didn't really think about the BPD at the time, you know, I was just in the clinic and I'll just abuse Valium, to be honest. In the clinic, they'll give you Valium for, like calm you down, especially for people like myself who are used to the high. And this second time I was in there, I wasn't really, you know, I wasn't really in the right space again. So I would just abuse Valium. And I took it as, like, a holiday being in this clinic. It was it was a getaway for me. I just wanted to be out of the world because in the clinic that's all you know, like you're there you're supposed to be there. Like you have no obligation obligation, sorry, on the outside. So for me, it was like a holiday being in there. I wanted to be in the psychiatric hospital. I didn't want to be living in the real world. I hated the real world. I just, I hated it. I just didn't want to live there. Even though I have, you know, I've had a lot of issues with my friends and I'm part of the issue as well. I was always an angry kid, so I can't give them the blame. I've got a couple of good friends now, you know. Ones that have stuck by me, of course. I've known one since grade one. He's been there. My other mate, he's been there as well the whole time. So yeah, a couple of good friends but the circle grow thinner as you get older, and I started to realise, you know, I was influenced. And I was getting influenced by myself as well, you know, so I had to cut that out. But back back to the clinic, yeah, I just, I wanted to stay in there because, yeah, I just, I didn't like, I didn't like who I was becoming outside. And this time I did stay a bit longer. And I tried to do the group sessions and stuff like that, but I don't know, again, I wasn't really paying attention. And then I told my family on the phone. And about the second, third week in, I'm like, alright, you know, let's, let's buckle up. Like, I don't want to, I don't want to be here forever. And I know, I couldn't be in there forever. So I'm like, look, I've got to change. And then I found out when I was in there that one of my best friends, he passed away. A tragic accident at 25. And I had to leave the clinic early, so I wasn't ready to leave, and I had to leave to attend his funeral. And from there, I stayed out. And I tried to stay sober when I was out. Around his death, I wasn't really on anything. And I thought that was like a testament to him. Like, if I wouldn't be on anything now, it's like a, you know, okay, he's proud of me. So for about a month, I managed to stay sober. A month and a couple of months after that second clinic visit. And obviously, it didn't last. Again, I ended up dabbling back in cocaine and drugs. And this time, I knew I wasn't going to take my own life. Because I told my mum after the first time, right, that she just had promised me you would never, like, if you get to that point, you'll tell me. And I promised her, I'm like, mum, I'll never do anything like that again, ever. I'd rather be in a clinic the rest of my life taking drugs than put you through that again. So I already knew suicide wasn't an option after the first time, that wasn't an option. But I still wasn't in the right frame of mind. And I was still depressed. So I knew I was doing drugs. And I was going back to my words to my mum. Because I told her I'd be honest about everything. And I just, I couldn't help it again. So I just kept doing drugs, doing drugs. And it got to the point where my brother found me in my room one morning. This was about six, seven months after my second psychiatric visit in the same year, he found me in my room one morning, and I wasn't going to work. And I was a bit off my head and I started crying. And you know, he knew something was up. And I told him this time, I'm like, Michael, I've got to, I've got to go back to the clinic. You know, I've got to, I've got to check myself in because I'm not, I'm not right. And this has got to be the last time. Like, I'm sick of this shit. I was crying because I was sick of what I become. And I was sick of doing the same thing over and over again. It's been like four or five years of just constant, constant, constant. And I told him, like, I can't go through this anymore. You know? It was just, I've been depressed since I was 16. I didn't even know it at the time, but it's just been building up. And now I'm, you know, I'm 26 and I've got, you know, I've got nothing going for me still. I still haven't worked on anything. I'm like, it's just too much now. I'm like, it's either now or never. So I checked myself in and this was the time that I actually started to focus. I checked myself in and it was, it's always been the same clinic. So I knew what I was going in for, but this time I was, I was focused on myself. I wasn't really focused on anyone else there or focused on myself, I talked to my psychiatrist who has been with me for a year now. And I'm like, look, I'm like, I've got to get going now. Otherwise, I'm going to be in here forever. And that's when I contacted you, obviously, like I, I rang you in the clinic. And the fantastic thing about you was straightaway, you told me like this isn't going to be an easy journey, right? Like, I'm gonna give you the tools, but you're gonna have to do the work. And that's not really what therapy tells you in terms of like, you know, you've got to do this hard work. Like it's, it's on you. It's not just how you feeling like you either do it, or you don't. So I contacted you. Um, I contacted a personal trainer and I've always loved fighting. I've always wanted to get into fighting. So as soon as I got out of the clinic, I had you as my life coach, and then I went straight into fighting. Straight into Muay Thai and straight away, it was a high for a high, you know, I'm kind of an adrenaline junkie. Like I always have been, I just, my heart gets pumping, you know, I love to be like that. So that's one thing about Coke that I really loved, obviously, and they made me feel good. And you know, I was always up, but, um, yeah, this was trading a high for a high. So when I got into fighting, that was you know, it was a different kind of high and I loved it. You know, I was taking out all my anger on the bag and, you know, the pad, and then I was working through with you. And as you know, like it took, it took a while for us to like work through what we, what we worked through. And you would constantly remind me, look, the journey, you know, the journey is never over, you know, you're always continuing. You're always continuing, but slowly, slowly you get there, right? So I ended up, my brother, he gifted me a ticket to Thailand. This was about six months after I got out of the clinic. I was constantly fighting. I was talking to you. I was getting better. And I felt the best I've ever felt, you know, I've been sober, I'm working and I'm actually like waking up and I'm happy because I've got a purpose now, right? Like you've giving me goals, fighting is giving me goals and, you know, I've got a purpose in life now. So my brother gifted me a ticket to Thailand and, you know, at the time I was very angry at him. Like, you get a free trip to Thailand, you should be over the moon, right? Like, holy shit, who gets a free trip to Thailand, right? I was pissed off. That was my first reaction. And he's like, why are you asking this? I'm like, cause I don't think I'm ready. Like, I want to go to Thailand on my time. Like, when I'm ready, I'll book it. And he's like, no, no, no. He's like, you need this. He's like, trust me, this is the push you need. And I refuse to believe it. I had a bit of a fight with him. Like, no, no, no, I'm like, you know, you're rushing me. And when the time came, right, I went and I was obviously very thankful. I went, and it was the best decision I've ever made. Right? So props to my brother again. I went to Thailand, and I ended up having my first fight in Thailand. I won. And right then and there, you know, I was in the best. Like, I couldn't have asked for a better headspace, right? I'm in Thailand. I've just had my first fight, you know, I'm doing well. I'm sober. And I'm like, well, things are actually starting, you know, things are actually starting to look up. So I came back and I continued to train. And this is when the writing came in, so as you know, I've always been into writing. I self-taught myself how to write movie scripts. I've always loved movies. I've always been into movies. And I've wrote about eight short films and three feature films. But no one's ever seen them. This is just me writing by myself. I'd write a lot of them in the clinic. A lot of them, obviously, as I was talking about before, when I'd come home and just continue writing. And this is when I started working on the writing side of things. And as you kept telling me, you know, you've got you've got a gift, keep writing. And now we're in the process. Right now, I'm in the process with someone of making my, my first actual film off a script of mine. And, you know, it's still very early, it's still very early, but we're talking about it, you know, we've got a few scripts here and there, and it could happen. So, you know, things, you know, they weren't that bad, after all. Sorry for just rambling and rambling on.

Anthony Hartcher: 27:01

No, not at all. Not at all Dave. It's, you know, it's a story that's very encapsulates, I guess, life in essence. Like, so what I really take from your story is that in the early days, like high school, that you felt like a failure, there was that sense that, like, I'm not passing grades, I am not good at this, you know, I can't do it, I have to repeat a year, now they're wanting to kick me out, and they're not wanting me, I'm not wanted here. And you feel that that self-worth. You're thinking, well, you know, most people are getting through school and, you know, they, you know, they're making some progress. And you had that sense back then that, you know, there was very little progress you felt, you know, in comparison to some of your mates that may have been a bit better at school or, or had something else other than school that they were really focused on. And I think that sort of getting those knocks, just constant knocks, little knocks, little knocks, little knocks. They just accumulated on you like to a point that you really started to second guess yourself, you know, what's the point? You know, I'm not adding any value here. And then, like the army was something that you really aspired for. And then they just kept knocking you back, like just saying, no, you're not getting through. You can't pass these tests. And then eventually pass the test, but then that was the asthma. It was like thinking, well, what can I do about my asthma? It is what it is, right? And so then that really was a big, you know, whack in the face to say, well, you know, that's really what you wanted, you thought that was, you know, if I can't do school, not enjoying this warehouse work and, you know, don't like it. But, you know, I really want to get into the army. It's something that I know. And I think I can see why you are attracted to the army is that adrenaline, right? It's that constant, you know. Yeah. You're an action man. You're like, you know. You know me too well. Yeah. Your, your psyche is fantastic for it, you know, like, you have no fear. Like, you'll you'll go in the ring. You don't fear who you're coming up against. I know a number of stories you've told me where many people have challenged you in the streets and you don't back down. Like everyone knows, you know, here we go. He goes Dave. He's gonna get into a, you know, fist to cuff. A couple, yeah.

Dave Karaliamis: 29:19

Yeah. Yes. I never want to be in a street fight, but for some reason, they always find me. And look, if I get bashed, I get bashed. But I've never back down from the fight in my life. That's nothing to brag about. It's just, yeah, as you said, my psyche is just a bit, you know, well, it's my personality.

Anthony Hartcher: 29:33

But it's who you are, Dave. And I think part of your recovery, and I really want you to share this, but for me, it's obviously realising that you you have value to add. But it was recognising it in and identifying it within yourself. And I think what, you know, one of the ones you've obviously touched on here is is that you don't back down. You know what I mean? Like, there's when you're, you know, you're unstoppable. Like, whether you put, you know, like, when you spoke about the suicide, no one's going to stop you, you know, no one and you stop yourself. And, you know, we don't need to go into any more about that. But I think this is what you're now taking to the world is that I can achieve anything that I really put my mind to, I step in a ring, oh, you know, when a fight, I've, I've got this writing talent, I'm going to get some get it out there and start to get feedback and, and really start to showcase my talent to the world and, and you're starting to have these now little wins. Like, you know, the first one was obviously staying off the drugs and doing things that really took your mind and to something that you enjoy doing opposed to just focus on the grind. And you know that that's what kept putting you back into psychiatric ward. It was that, well, I don't like the grind. You know, it's not, don't feel any sort of value or anything. It's just very repetitive, yeah. From what I'm hearing is that there's you know, knock back, knock back, knock back, big whack in the face, you know, really starting to doubt things, spiraled down very quickly, because that's your psyche, right? It's, it's, I'm either gonna make it or I'm not, right? Now, the psyche has just gone full-on in terms of I'm gonna make something of my life, you know, like, and you're on a mission. There's no stopping date now. So yeah, looking back, like reflecting back on these last 18 months. There's a lot, right? So, you know, you mentioned your brother, you mentioned kickboxing, and Muay Thai. You've obviously brought me up, but, and your mum, obviously, there's your mum. There's your friends, as well.

Dave Karaliamis: 32:07

I should say my dad, as well. My dad's like, very, he's very stoic, but is the best supporter. He's always been there. And he's a very tough guy. So that's where I get my toughness from. Yeah.

Anthony Hartcher: 32:17

Yeah. So like, maybe just talk us through now about the turnaround and what you think reflecting back? What do you think it was? Like? Really? Sort of? Yeah, yeah. Okay.

Dave Karaliamis: 32:28

So for me, um, a big one was goals, right? I've never been a goal type of person in terms of setting goals, right? People would always tell me, you know, set these goals and they go, and I never wanted to, because every goal I'd set in the past, failed. So I'm like, you know, what, I'm not setting any more goals, I'm just going to improvise. Right? But then I started to realise, I'm like, okay, if I'm setting goals, I have something to work on. I know, it's very cliche, because a lot of people do say set your goals. But coming from me, right, I was in, I was beyond breaking point, like, I already broke. I was beyond rock bottom, I was beyond rock bottom, sorry, that's what I meant. I was just in the puddle. And the one thing I had done at the start was, it was like a three, three-goal, right? During each day of each week, I'll have to do one of the three things I wanted to, which was either workout, walk or write. If I didn't do one of them each day, I would, you know, I would go back to the start. And I would count the days of how much I was doing this. And for me, that kind of kept me in check, right? Because each day, I had a goal to do something and slowly, slowly, I would get to all three in one day. But that's, that's just for little things in terms of the mind. Like, you know, everyone's different, my situation is different. Anyone else's, a lot of people have it worse and it might not work. But the work working out in the gym is a big one. I know a lot of people say it. But again, like coming from me, it is a very big one in terms of getting your mind, right. And you just, you've got to distract yourself, right? Because if you're sitting in your room, and you're depressed, and you're not doing anything, and watching movies, and playing video games, that's just going to cause more depression, you've got to do something that's going to distract you, right, that's gonna actually give you ambition. You gotta motivate yourself. And motivation comes and goes, right? But it's about discipline. For me, discipline was a big thing. And I would get really down on myself if some of the goals I was setting would never happen, would never come to fruition. So I made sure that every day I've done one of those three things, and then I gradually increased my goals to doing more stuff. And it's scary because not like not a lot of people want to admit they need help, right, including me, that was me for a long time until it all blew up, unfortunately, in an unfortunate circumstance, right? I could have just told my parents and instead, you know, the other thing happened. And for me, like, for anyone listening, getting help, and admitting you need help, right? Bravest thing anyone can do. And it's hard. For me, it's probably the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. Right? You know, I've been through a lot, but the hardest thing was admitting that I had a problem and I needed help. And once I admitted that it was like a breath of fresh air. It was the thought, it was the thought of something. You know, it did take me a while but it was the start of my journey. And because I had people that knew, you know, I was in this situation. It did make it a lot easier. Like my mum, my dad and my brother it made it easier that they knew about it because even though for half the time, yes, I was lying and I still getting my bearing. They were still there on top of me. And I think you shouldn't be, no one should be alone in this situation. Unfortunately, some people some people are and you know it's a sad thing when you are all alone. But there's a lot of people out there that can help you, right, you know, the lifelines and stuff like that I was never into really any of that. But I did call them and people on there actually, you know, a lot of them are really good people and they do listen, you know. So for me, the goal is, is a big one. I think that's a real big one in terms of having goals and disciplining yourself.

Anthony Hartcher: 35:49

I think setting realistic goals from what I gather, like, because what you're setting initially was the things that you could actually achieve, right? Yeah,

Dave Karaliamis: 35:58

I mean, my goals in school will be different to the ones I'm setting now. And that's why I was getting angry. I was getting frustrated and depressed. And I'll keep thinking about the past. There might be something that happened, this stuff didn't happen. But it wasn't realistic. A lot of it wasn't realistic. And yeah, you hit the nail on the head. You have to set, set realistic goals, and they can be the smallest goals. You know, like I said, one of mine was just going for a walk every day it could be a 10, 15-minute walk. But it was still important for me that I achieved one of those goals because it made me feel good. And it made me feel like my discipline was getting up there, right? So yeah, realistic goals. Exactly.

Anthony Hartcher: 36:33

Yeah. And it has that, I mean, not to the degree cocaine does, but it, Yeah. Achieving little goals gives you a dopamine boost, right? So it's picking that dopamine up naturally by just and you set the three goals. And, you know, you're getting to a point where you're see achieving all three goals. And as you said, that felt great. And you know, like it was a big, natural high, essentially, you're getting. Yeah, exactly.

Dave Karaliamis: 36:58

Because on you know, on cocaine, you're, you know, you're high all the time. And it's a very false sense of reality. And I always went through life, like, thinking, not always so from what my period has happened, I went through life thinking, I don't want to be sober, like sober is boring. Sober is boring. And I hated the thought of being sober in this world. And a lot of mine isn't obviously from the depression, right? I just wanted to be on drugs because I didn't want to be depressed. And then it started going into just not being sober because doing drugs was fun and it's to mix. And it wasn't obviously healthy at all. And a lot of people still think like that, like a lot of addicts I spoke in the facility, they use all gonna go out of the facility and just relapse again. So they, like, I'm trying to say in here as long as I can just to detox and then go back and do the same thing. I'm like, okay, but it's not really helping yourself, right? Because they can't think of just being sober in the normal world. And I'm not gonna lie, that was one of the hardest things I had to do was getting past the fact that I have to be sober, right? I can't rely on anything besides my natural dopamine. And being sober is the best thing that has happened to me in my life. You know, I'll wake up and I'm happy, I still have my issues. We all have issues, we'll work through it. And I'm still working through a lot of my stuff, you know, but in terms of what I am, like, then to what I am now, it's completely different. It's uh, it's turned over. And you know, I've got to thank, I've got to thank you for that as well again. You know, gonna give you props but um, yeah, it was it was hard. I had to do it for myself. But thinking of the family was a big one. I had to do it for my family. I couldn't let them down. You know what I mean? Cause the last time I did something for myself, I ended up you know, waking up in the hospital. So I had to, you know, they had to be my first focus. Yeah.

Anthony Hartcher: 38:38

Yeah, I think prioritisation was a big thing for your journey, too. Was really focusing on what was important to you as opposed to things that other people consider important, but not really important to you, but you really just honed in on those things that was truly important to you, such as your family, your health inside the health was that, you know, physically fit and being able to fight. You love fighting and, and then that creative writing side of things was really, you know, I guess some cornerstones for you that really set you some foundations that you work from, that, then you're building from, like you're initially very focused on, you know, I guess connecting more with family and, you know, relating because that was really important in the early days. And then also in I guess, at the same time in parallel was your fighting, that was going really strong. And they they're still very two strong pillars and but you've put a lot of work into them so that they're really flourishing you know, like your family relationships. I mean, obviously, as you said, there's ups and downs with all family relationships, but overall, you know, they're really good, you know, you've invested a lot of time there. And then you're fighting, yeah, yeah, your health is, you know, flourishing, it's just, you know, because you've put a lot of time there as well. And now you're putting more energy into the writing side of things and really boosting that pillar so really that. Yeah,

Dave Karaliamis: 40:00

it's coming along. Yeah, yeah.

Anthony Hartcher: 40:03

And like just but you then realising that that's, that's you and the more you just focus in the areas that are important to you, is that's what you feel good about because that's where you excel like you're very social, you you love connecting family, you love hanging out with family, you love fighting, you love being with your mates, you love working out and and then the writing is all you, like, it's it's just being you.

Dave Karaliamis: 40:29

Yeah. And you're right about being yourself. Because obviously, I mean, you have talked about this, but a lot of the time, I wasn't myself. Like, I just, I was a complete different person, right? And now that I've gotten to the point where I am, I don't have to hide like a lot of my relationships I've let go of, um, I had to move on for me to get better, right? And you've got, you've got to do that as you get older, you realise who's good for you, what's best for you. And that's a big part of it as well, the people you surround yourself with, right? But in terms of having a fake profile, having a real profile, it's a real thing. A lot of people go through life, and they're just not who they say they are, you know, you're just trying to put on a face during the day, and then you get home, and you take that face off. But for me, I can finally, you know, let loose, I can finally be free, and be myself. And it took me a long time, obviously, you know, from 16 to now I'm 28, you know, we're still working on stuff. But there's no time limit, right? On how there's just no time limit. I met people that are 60 years old, inside the clinics, and inside, you know, facilities, other facilities I went to. I met people that were 60, that were 70, that were still in there working on themselves. And it was crazy to see, like, I met a lot of old people, and like a lot of younger ones than me. So like, the age just doesn't matter. You can always work on yourself, right? It's like it's never too late. And you might think it's too late because I did, but it's not, it's not at all, you just have to find that that one thing you can focus on first, and then slowly build up from it, because everyone into something right? Like it's not, you're not gonna have a person who's just into nothing just stares at a blank wall, just find that little thing that you can, you know, you can get yourself into and work from there, I think that's the best way to do it. The best way to go from, you know.

Anthony Hartcher: 42:06

The thought, like just that comparison, like and you know, like not putting on the mask and like, because before you're you're essentially trying to be someone else that you're not. And you're unhappy being trying to be someone that you're not. And when you ripped off those masks, and finally just connected with who you were, you felt really comfortable in that and then realise that if, if people don't accept me for who I am, they're not, not a true friend, you know, that that's a way in which you have set up, I guess, boundaries around protecting your authenticity as to who you are by just connecting and constantly doing what you love. And if people don't connect with that, then then they're not accepting you for who you are. And yeah, so they're not a real friend, in essence.

Dave Karaliamis: 42:52

Exactly right. Like, you shouldn't have to be no, sorry, you have to be yourself, you know, you shouldn't have to be someone fake around other people, right? It's just an unfortunate a lot of the world works our way a lot of people will think that way. Because I was like that most of my life, you know. A lot of my friends I was real with, but I kind of wasn't being myself, I'd always try put on his happy face. And yeah, let's do this. Let's do that. But inside I was just begging for help. I just didn't know what at the time. And only a couple of my friends know now, like, my good, my two close ones know about my situation. And there'll be respectful, they'll ask and, you know, it's good. It's good. It's really good to have that support around you. So if you feel like you can't talk to your family because for me, it's easy to talk to someone else. Right? It was like for me, it's easier to talk to you than it is to my actual mum or dad because you know, it's just that connection. It's a weird, it's a weird sense of relationship, right? When you admit something to your mum, that's very, very personal, she acts a certain way, it's different to me telling you, you know what I mean? So it's easy. That's why people go to therapy, right? A lot of people don't talk to their families, they go talk to a therapist, and it's easy to get stuff off your chest. But once you get past that point, right, and you can actually share with the people who are around you. And it is much easier, much easier. Like, I tell my mum, if I'm ever feeling bad, or in a in a shit mood, I will tell her. I'm like, look, mum, I'm just not in a good mood. I'm tired. And I've never done that before. And for me, mum respects and now she's like she worries a bit, like, she was thinking sometimes I'm moody. And of course, I'll put her and dad through a fair bit. But my dad, will constantly remind you that lead you just, you know, you're working, you're tired and just call it and I call my mum. I'm like, mum, I'll look into her in face, I'm like, mum, I'm good. I'm just tired. I've just got a headache. And it is just that reassurance and I feel like if people can give their friends or their family that reassurance, it does help a lot. It does help a lot to talk to the people around you really does, you know.

Anthony Hartcher: 44:45

As you said, there's a there's stages at which you go through. Initially, you had too much guilt and shame to really open up to your parents and, you know, feeling that you let them down and you failed them or, you know, and that was that was that's a much more difficult conversation as opposed to having a conversation with me, where you're just letting me know what's going on and, you know, what do we do about it and how can I get out of this situation. So whereas your mum is sort of not just opening up and sort of thinking, uh, I really, this is hurting me too much to tell her, you know?

Dave Karaliamis: 45:20

Exactly right. Yeah, they're worried too much, right? You know? With you, there's no worry in your voice from the get-go. Right away when I, when I called you, it was just like, alright, here's what we're gonna do. My mum would have, you know, but yeah, that's, that's our parents, I've got parents that love me and I love them. And I couldn't ask for anything better. Yeah, it's the little things.

Anthony Hartcher: 45:40

It's been a huge part of your recovery is, you know, it gives you a strong why as to why you're doing things, which, you know, as I said, it's one of the cornerstones of your recovery. Really, it's that family and that connection, wanting to, you know, and also doing it for yourself, like, as much as you say, you're doing a lot for them, you know, you're very focused on improving yourself. So you wanting to be the best version of yourself, you wanting to be the best fighter in the ring, you wanting to be the best writer you can be. And so you're always looking for these incremental wins. And it really gets back to that comparison thing is you stop comparing yourself to others. And now you're comparing yourself to Dave yesterday, or you know, where Dave was at before as opposed to worrying about what other people are doing. You're just focused on Dave and his progress and growth. Exactly,

Dave Karaliamis: 46:30

Exactly. Right. Yeah, I'm only focused on myself. And I can yeah, as you said, I judge myself from what I was to what I am now. And now it's just moving forward. Like, I'm nobody, like, I'm just another human in the world, right? But at the moment, like my win, I get proud of myself for and I've never admitted anything like that. I was never proud of myself for anything. I've spoke to you on the phone, like Anthony, I've done this, and I'm actually proud of myself. And that was, again, that was a very hard thing for me to do. And we're thinking about family, well, I just gonna point out that, like, a lot of people don't have good families, which is unfortunate. But in most situations, like if you earn, if you want family yearning for it, maybe just, you know, if you're into something, there's there's groups, and there's stuff you can do so like my Muay Thai, I met a bunch of Muay Thai people, right? And they became really close. And I became really close with them. So if you're, if you're looking for that family connection, just find that one thing, and maybe just venture off into there, you know, it could be a book writing club or something like that, or a gaming club. You know, there's a lot of stuff out there that I've just, like, realised, as I've gotten better that you can just join what of people who have the same mind as you'd like. You're not alone in your interest.

Anthony Hartcher: 47:38

Yeah, 100% because they become your family. Exactly. Yeah. It's your, your fighting family or your writing family. Yeah, yeah.

Dave Karaliamis: 47:46

Yeah, exactly. Right. Yeah. That's what a lot of people earn for the family aspect of things. So yeah, yeah.

Anthony Hartcher: 47:52

Is there anything we haven't spoken about that you was also instrumental in that, you know, turnaround, recovery progress, or the um not? Like, because you've had plenty of temptation, like throughout this 18 months to, you know, there's times throughout the 18 months, where you could have easily snorted coke again, you could have easily gone, you know, like there has, there has been moments. So, is there something else that you could share in terms of what's helped you through the real challenging times?

Dave Karaliamis: 48:24

Yeah, yeah, there has been, there definitely has been temptation there. For sure. It's just, it's a, and it's a hard thing to go through. As you know, one of my cousins at the moment is, is going through that, and I'm help, and I'm helping him, right? And he calls me if he's got temptation mister. But for me, I didn't really have that. So a big part for me, in terms of the temptation was, firstly, getting rid of those relationships that involve the temptation, right? But still, you go out, right, like, sometimes I'll go out. And for me, it started driving first, and I would do stuff while I was driving. But for me, I'll just drive I started going out and driving more, so I didn't have to drink. So I didn't have to do this. But for me, that was kind of a cop-out. Because I would always drive and do stuff. But that's how I started. And then I would tell him, um mate, look, just don't do anything in front of me, right, just don't do anything for me, initially. And so I can get past that sort of faith. So that was a big one for me the relationships around. In terms of self, I just don't like the way I felt after so I would keep thinking of the day after every time the temptation was there. I'm like, okay, I can have this now. Right? But I've had so much progress. I have this now. Tomorrow, I'm going to wake up, and I'm going to feel how I was and not feel how I am now. And that was a big part of me. And even if you're sober for like two weeks, like for me when I got sober, right? It was like my third, fourth week, I went out with a couple of the boys. And don't get me wrong, the temptation was there. And I just, I looked at it, and I'm like, alright, if I do this, there's no going back, there's no, I'm going to I'm going to wake up tomorrow, I'm going to wake up depressed. And I'm just going to keep doing it. So for me, that's a big one, the day off. I always say that to my cousin now, do you know, I'm like, think of the day off because and that's when he calls me he's like, Hey, I've got this going on. And like think of the day after your repercussions, your family, you, everything. That's that's a big one for me. So, you know, and writing, writing was a good one. Write down all your thoughts like all temptations was at the start. I would write it down and look at it and just realise, this sounds like bullshit. You know, even though it was coming from my heart, I'll look at it like, I want to do this because I want to have fun tonight. And I'm like, what? So writing was it, yeah, writing was a big thing for me. Even if you don't write, I'm telling you like, get the pen and paper, old school style. And if you're thinking of the temptation, write down why you're thinking it, why you're thinking it and then write down, what's going to happen the day after. Are your parents gonna find out, are you gonna, all your progress is going to be in the bin. So for me, that was a big one.

Anthony Hartcher: 50:55

Yeah, you didn't want to undo all the good that you've been doing and and also, you didn't want to go back to where you were so that you had that strong association with the pain, where you've come from that I just don't want to go anywhere near that again. Exactly. Right. Want to keep moving forward.

Dave Karaliamis: 51:15

Yeah, exactly. Right. And the relationships, again, are a big part of it, you know, if you have a group that knows what you're going through, if they're good people, if they're your best mates that will help you get through that as well. So, yeah.

Anthony Hartcher: 51:26

Yeah. So that real opening up that you started with was, you know, the biggest challenge you had was opening up and seeking help. And now you're much more comfortable about opening up and sharing your situation. And you're finding that people are supportive, and if they're not supportive, that, you know, obviously, they go on and do other things with other people or, or you just don't hang out with them. And so you're starting to really um attract the right people around you because you're being who you want to be. And that's ultimately what's keeping them magnetised towards you is that you're just being yourself.

Dave Karaliamis: 52:02

Yeah. And like, Anthony, life is short, right? Like, there's only so much you can just keep doing like we only live once, like, I just kept thinking, why am I still doing this? I have so much potential, and everyone's got potential. So whoever's listening, don't act like you don't have potential and you're a loser. Just that, no, everyone's got potential, and it took me a long time to realise it. But we only live once, right? You got to get past that initial stage. It's that bravery aspect. You know, you've got to admit to yourself first, that you have a problem. And then you've got to want to help yourself. You don't want to help yourself. Because a lot of people go through life doing the same thing, right? A lot of the people I meet in the clinic, like I said, were just going in there for fun and going back out and going in. They don't want to help themselves. But if you actually want to help yourself, you will and you can. So yeah. 100%,

Anthony Hartcher: 52:48

as you alluded to before, is putting in the work in, isn't it? It's constant work. It doesn't come. It's not given to you, you got to constantly work at it, like you have been.

Dave Karaliamis: 52:59

Yeah, constant work. And you know, I'm, I come from a great family, great background, you know, great job. So it can happen to anyone, like, I've still got all that under me, and I still hit below rock bottom. So it doesn't matter what your situation is. Everyone can get put in that situation. What are you doing

Anthony Hartcher: 53:17

now to pick you up when you you do get hit, like, so you get a knock back? Whether you know, you're not fighting as well? Or, you know, things aren't going seem to be going your way? What do you do now to pick yourself up and stop yourself from spiraling down? From spiraling again? Yes,

Dave Karaliamis: 53:34

it's basically, like, like I said, it's basically just keeping distracted at the moment. I can't fight because I've got an injury, right? And this is what we're talking about, and I got a little down about it, I got a little, you know, a little depressed, a little angry. And then I'm like, okay, if I can't fight at the moment, why don't I just focus on my writing? So I traded one for the other. And you know that, that helped a lot. It's partly that, and it's probably the communication factor as well. If I'm feeling down about something I will, I will talk about it now, you know, if it really bugs me, I will. And that's a big one for me. For sure. That's

Anthony Hartcher: 54:08

true. You actually seek help now? Yeah, I think that you wouldn't have done in the earlier days was. No,

Dave Karaliamis: 54:13

I wouldn't, I wouldn't have done it at all. And right now that's a big that's a big one for me. And it does really help. So, yeah.

Anthony Hartcher: 54:20

It's keeping that momentum going for you heading in the right direction. Yeah, and

Dave Karaliamis: 54:23

it can be it can be from anyone, like sometimes I'll contact you. Sometimes it could be my sister for something, you know, or my uncle. It can be anyone depending on your situation.

Anthony Hartcher: 54:31

Fantastic. Uh Dave, really appreciate you sharing such great insights, really opening up about your story, too. I know that certainly hasn't been easy to and particularly coming from someone that didn't open up at all. So and you're happy to do so today because ultimately you're helping others in their journey because I know people are coming to you now having witnessed your turnaround and they're thinking, Dave, wow, I can't believe what you've done. How can you help me? So it's

Dave Karaliamis: 54:57

It's surreal and you know, I appreciate you having me on and I appreciate everything you've done for me, Anthony. For everyone listening if you're in need of help give this man a ring mentoring.

Anthony Hartcher: 55:07

Thank you, Dave. Yeah, I really appreciate your gratitude and how can the listeners best connect with you if they feel they want to you know get some support or have an ear or, um, or certainly they may want to connect with your writing your your plays, they might want to know how to follow you. Yeah, no

Dave Karaliamis: 55:27

worries. Look, if anyone just wants to contact me even just for a chat, you know, if you're feeling down you just want to talk about it for me, you can contact me I've got Instagram, it's um, Davekara underscore underscore you're going to put this in the links below anyway and my email which is deckerone@hotmail.com.

Anthony Hartcher: 55:41

Fantastic. Thank you, Dave, for really enhancing and enlightening the well-being of the listeners that's what they're here for. I really appreciate you coming in and yeah, I just think it's amazing in terms of what you've done to really turn around your life and it's kudos to you to put up, you know, putting the work in and sticking with it you've you've had so many, you know, downs whilst you've been up, but you know, you continue to fight and enjoying the fight of life. I think now,

Dave Karaliamis: 56:09

I definitely am and you can see it every time. I really appreciate it, Anthony. Thank you. You're

Anthony Hartcher: 56:15

welcome. Thanks for coming on the show and, yeah, no doubt they will be targeted but uh, and listeners thanks for tuning in to another insightful episode of me&my health up.

Podcast Disclaimer: 56:37

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