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

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"

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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

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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"