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Season 2, Episode 6:

Watching PTSD up close is one thing. Watching it happen to your child is another. For this conversation, I bring on my mum and dad to tell the story people rarely hear: what it’s like to raise a strong-willed kid, cheer her on into the police force, and then sit in the shockwave when trauma finally shows up years later.

We talk about the proud moments and the ordinary memories, but we also get real about the scary parts: not knowing the right thing to say, worrying when the phone stays quiet, and learning that you can’t “fix” someone else’s depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress. We unpack why PTSD can feel sudden even when the signs are hidden, how stigma around mental health hospitals can keep families stuck, and why inpatient care can actually be the safest, most supportive step forward.

We also go into medical retirement at 37, the loss of identity that can follow emergency service work, and the coping strategies that helped me climb back, including education, therapy, medication, support from my husband and kids, and the small daily wins that signal the old me returning. If you’re searching for honest first responder mental health stories, PTSD recovery, and what family support really looks like, this one will land.

If it helps, share it with someone who needs hope, then subscribe and leave a review so more people can find Mad Mel’s Mic. What part of the parents’ perspective hit you hardest?

Thought of the Week:

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse - Daniel Mackesy

"Sometimes, said the horse, Sometimes what asked the boy. Sometimes just getting up and carrying on is brave and magnificent"

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Season 2, Episode 5

I catch up on a huge week and use a “song of the week” to remind us that everything we are is enough, even on the worst days. I also reflect on how my PTSD recovery shows up in real moments like family parties, anxiety spikes, and the small routines that keep me steady.
• song of the week as a self-worth reminder and a way to stay open
• Rory’s 18th birthday party chaos and accommodation stress
• noticing real change since Mackenzie’s 18th and feeling more present
• hope after dark periods and hospital stays and why small progress counts
• basketball semis, injury prevention, and choosing preparation over pain
• anxiety-provoking life stress while off antidepressants and how I’m coping
• redefining mindfulness through trash TV, reading, and pickleball focus
• using SUDS to track distress and understand what shifts it
• Canberra pickleball tournament nerves, morning routines, and boundaries
• thought of the week on fear and PTSD catastrophising
You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow.

Song of the Week:

This is Me - The Greatest Showman

https://youtu.be/CjxugyZCfuw?si=in3hp_gEawoM02Rl

Thought of the Week:

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse - Daniel Mackesy

"Imagine how we would be if we were less afraid"

Send a text

Season 2, Episode 4

We break a two-week silence with a real check-in on PTSD, sleep, and why progress shows up as longer stretches between low days. From pickleball highs to a Bali trip without meds and a surprising psychedelic light session, we map tools that kept us steady.

• owning the social media gap and why showing up matters
• using “brighter days” as a practical frame for recovery
• tracking intervals between bad days as progress
• travel stress, lost sleep, and anxiety triggers
• pickleball wins, fatigue costs, and body signals
• Bali nightlife, unexpected joy, and dancing anyway
• psychedelic light and sound healing takeaways
• sleep hygiene, medicinal cannabis, and consistency
• managing high SUDS in sport with breath and awareness
• resisting catastrophising and choosing self-kindness
• redefining success as love, especially self-love

You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don’t forget to like and follow

Song of the week:

Brighter Days - Blessing Offors

https://youtu.be/I6lp1Oxb9L4?si=epzcou0gNKAm5Tph

Thought of the Week:

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse - Charlie Mackesy

"What do you think success is? asked the boy. To love said the mole"