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THE DEPRESSED POET, DOC “POP’S” DALTON
Suffering from depression/bi-polar disorder, feeling suicidal, lost and the feeling of being alone. But when he was hospitalized God came through to him in the most unlikely place, with the right words, at the right time.
I am not a great poet or writer, states Dalton. In fact, I am not even a good poet or writer, and I say that because it’s the truth.
What I am is a man who struggles through his words,
so, he can make it through his days.
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He was the host of the children’s cable show, Body-Slam on Drugs, a show geared toward the youth in an effort to help educate them on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. He did this show in association with a North Jersey Police Department and both he and the department received praise from children, parents, teachers, mayors, governors, congress men and women, senators and countless others.
The police department noticed Doc when they saw him co-hosting a pro-wrestling cable show, “Wrestling Tracks U.S.A.” At the time, Doc was a manager in the pro-wrestling field. They contacted him about their idea, set a date for a meeting, and they agreed on producing a show together.
In addition, Doc hosted a Christian based radio show called Outlaws 4 Christ Radio, where independent Christian artists had a platform to air their music. He interviewed a number of people on the program, and he still maintains that one of his favorite interviews was with Hall of Fame Fisherman, Jimmy Houston. Great guy, states Doc. The new show was set up in three days thanks to his daughter Sherri.
While everything seemed great on the outside, that wasn’t what Doc was going through on the inside. He suffered sleepless nights, confusion, anger, and his thoughts ran wild. Shortly after, depression set in followed by the highs and lows, and finally constant thoughts of suicide.
One evening while taping a number of shows, he told himself he couldn’t do it anymore and when the last show was completed, he looked at everyone, told them he quit, and walked away from it all.
It wasn’t long after he was hospitalized on two different occasions for being suicidal. During the second hospitalization, a doctor pulled him aside and told him to try his hand at poetry. Doc thought this doctor was crazier than he was, but he was locked in, couldn’t leave, and thought why not? To his surprise what took place was unreal. Everything he wrote about was God, heaven, the angels, Jesus and more. He had no idea where it all came from, but the one thing he knew was that he didn’t want it to end.
Since then he has been experiencing a different feeling even though many days and nights are difficult and the depression and more comes and goes. Still, it’s the words that pull him through in the middle of the night.
There is so much more to tell but not enough space to tell the entire story.
Since then he has been baptized, speaks at different events about depression, continues to write what he calls God poetry. He was ordained by the International Christian Ministers Association where they call him the Pastor of Prayer.
Doc says he feels prayer is the most unselfish act of kindness you can give to someone because you are asking God to help that person, love that person, heal that person, be by that person’s side and guide them while asking for nothing in return for yourself. It’s the gift of kindness from one’s heart that makes that gift of prayer so special.
This year Doc is releasing a book under The Coffee and Prayer Series. The name of the book is, “It’s a God Thing. In 2020 there will be two more releases with “That’s the Beauty of it All” which happens to be the title of the first poem Doc wrote and “The Happiest Sad Guy in Town.”
Where does the coffee come from for The Coffee and Prayer Series? Doc says that at this stage of his life, coffee is his drug of choice. At times even that is a bit tough to handle, he says with a laugh.
There is even a new show starting in 2020 called, The Coffee and Prayer Series. It will touch on a number of topics including depression and prayer but for right now, it’s all about writing and praying. Praying with whomever wants and needs prayer, and even for those who you may not know personally but understand that prayer should still be directed at them.
And growing more within the community of believers and the ICMA.
To find out more about The Depressed Poet, you can visit his website at docdalton.com
