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Season 2, Episode 8

We talk with my brother Matthew about our messy, funny sibling history and how my policing career changed the way we both saw the world. He shares what it felt like watching my PTSD unfold, what he got wrong at first, and what helped him learn how to support me with patience and faith.
• where “Fez” comes from and what it says about our childhood
• the age gap between us and why we clashed so hard
• the confidence shift Matthew sees when I join the police
• what first responder exposure can do over time
• how PTSD shows up later even when you think you coped
• what helplessness looks like for family on the outside
• why music becomes an outlet when words fail
• the guilt and uncertainty of visiting and supporting
• what Matthew learns about stigma and men getting help
• why healing has no fixed timeline and patience matters
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Songs of the week:

Linkin Park - Heavy is the Crown

https://youtu.be/ZAt8oxY0GQo?si=0WGCoxmQN2x9d1Pz

Harvest - There is a Peace

https://youtu.be/YWmH9a4gjn4?si=0Vm7_BdLKfhfMR0l

Thought of the week

Romans 12:2 NLT

"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

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Season 2, Episode 7

I share what’s been on my mind lately, from a reel that reminded me I’m not a burden to the small routines that keep me steady when I start to feel flat. I also tell the full story of our Canberra pickleball weekend, a compliment that meant more than weight loss, and the progress I can finally see in my PTSD recovery.
• A reel that reframes depression and shame
• Why your past does not define you
• Canberra pickleball tournament highs and mishaps
• Swearing at myself and learning to laugh
• Feeling flat, tired, and tempted to isolate
• Rebuilding routine with walks, sport, and sleep
• Guilt when you cannot show up physically
• Fundraising for Wings for Kids and why it matters
• “You look happy” as the best kind of well
• Using hospital-taught coping skills in daily life
• Thought of the week on friendship and healing
If you want to make a donation to Wings for Kids, please do.
You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow.

Song of the week:

Reel by Abe Parker

https://youtube.com/shorts/9AtoMZ2CN0U?si=psDTps95xFAbHdZB

Thought of the Week:

The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse by Carlie Mackesy

"What do we do when our hearts hurt? asked the boy. We wrap them with friendship, shared tears and time, till they wake hopeful and happy again"

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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"