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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"

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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"

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Season 2, Episode 3

We explore how fast life feels and why music, small joys, and steady people help us face PTSD and depression. A workshop comparing mental and physical disability weights reframes invisible pain, while a weekend of concerts, volunteering and rep basketball becomes a field test for coping skills.

• time racing and naming the squeeze
• song of the week as an anchor
• stadium singalong and shared humanity
• how we record without a script
• volunteering highs, travel fatigue, rest needs
• trash TV as low-stakes mindfulness
• mental vs physical disability weights
• stigma of invisible injury and service dogs
• sideline anxiety and holding steady
• doing the work and owning progress
• thought of the week from Charlie Mackesy

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

Song of the week

Stand By Me - Ben E. King

https://youtu.be/hwZNL7QVJjE?si=J8KRV0nOQcF9Ym7I

Thought of the Week:

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

"Sometimes I feel lost, said the boy. Mw too said the Mole, but we love you and love brings you home"

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Season 2, episode 2

We share a tough week shaped by poor sleep, a medication gap, and that uneasy fear of feeling okay, then map out how the five pillars of PTSD recovery help us build longer stretches between storms. Along the way we own a slip into judgment, reset with compassion, and plan real-world steps that keep us grounded.

• new season update and mood check
• sleep disruption, anxiety spikes, and fatigue
• fear of joy and practicing self‑kindness
• online PTSD program first impressions
• the five pillars of recovery overview
• identity beyond work and uniforms
• catching and correcting judgmental thoughts
• connection plans, travel, and interviews
• weekly intention and thought of the week

Jump onto TikTok and have a look and share away because I feel that the more people who can listen and hopefully it resonates with them and they might be able to just get themselves out of a bit of a pickle
You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don’t forget to like and follow
Have a great week and don’t forget to be kind to yourself

Song of the week:

Bad Day - Daniel Powter

https://youtu.be/gH476CxJxfg?si=X80mNCXKlAqtzeTB

Thought of the day:

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

"Is your glass half empty of half full?" asked the mole. "I think I'm grateful to have a glass" said the boy

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Season 2, episode 1

Season two opens with a clear-eyed check-in on PTSD, family milestones, and the simple habits that shape recovery. We talk sleep, anxiety, honest wins, and a new outpatient program, ending with a gentle nudge to be kind to yourself.

• song of the week and why Unwell resonates with PTSD recovery
• family updates across graduation, school, and apprenticeship
• chaotic, joyful Christmas and six-hour karaoke marathon
• stormy coast holiday, board games, and being more present
• anxiety rising with late-night tennis and sleep loss
• practical link between sleep quality and symptom flare-ups
• pride in progress and permission for imperfect days
• starting an online PTSD and anxiety program and staying engaged
• plans to interview family and peers for lived experience insights
• thought of the week on self-kindness and closing reflection

“Thanks for tuning in to Mad Mail’s Mic. I’m Melissa Smith, and I hope you’ve enjoyed listening. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don’t forget to like and follow.”

Song of the week:

Unwell - Matchbox Twenty

https://youtu.be/WziA88-n02k?si=TBYwEuAyKkC1edNE

Thought of the week:

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

"Being kind to yourself in one of the greatest kindnesses, said the mole"

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Season 1 Finale; Episode 35

We close the season with a candid look at PTSD, support that actually helps, and the messy balance between ambition, health, and holidays. Music memories, first speaking gigs, and hard-won lessons shape a toolkit for getting through Christmas without losing yourself.

• deciding to pause for the year and return with interviews
• why Desperado still hits and why support matters more than fixing
• sport, injuries, and the Sydney Marathon dilemma
• the first official talk, clinician feedback, and refining the story
• sharing the podcast boldly and a lucky comedy‑night connection
• listener messages that validate lived experience
• how to support with texts, SUDS scale, and small, specific offers
• Christmas reminders: say no, take breaks, celebrate micro‑wins
• goals for more talks and consistent socials next year

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

Song of the Week:

Desperado - The Eagles

https://youtu.be/-q93wc3-deU?si=COxU7-nH25nyJ3uf

How to Make Gravy - Paul Kelly

https://youtu.be/iYqIF2XkqKU?si=DCtdPUSGbwPK0L_W

Thought of the Week:

- Its ok if your struggling - You are allowed to say no - You are not a burden - You are more important than other peoples expectations - Christmas looks different for everyone - Its ok to take breaks - You are not alone - Its ok if you need to just get through the day.

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Season 1, Episode 34:

We share a preview of Melissa’s resilience talk, moving from a psychiatric ward bed to a microphone and a new sense of purpose. The story reframes PTSD as a quiet, masked struggle and offers hard-won ways to practice kindness, celebrate small wins, and keep going.

• setting a clear content warning and care invitation
• hospital bed to finding a voice through podcasting
• pride in police service and the cost of identity loss
• ankle injury as the turning point from avoidance to facing PTSD
• the quiet version of PTSD behind everyday routines
• grief for career and self, balanced by music, laughter, and friendship
• starting the podcast to feel human and useful again
• honesty over perfection, no magic cure, steady effort
• power of kindness from others and toward self
• recognition of listeners’ struggles and the value of small wins
• reaching out for support as a sign of strength

If you would like to have me talk to anybody, please reach out