This week’s episode brings you the incredible, first-hand account from Donna Michaels, a US Navy veteran turned police officer – all the while suffering horrifically from depression, nightmares, and PTSD, yet embracing every day of her life with passion and courage. Donna went from victim to solution – she’s now on a relentless mission to stop PTSD suicides.
She also authored the book, Courageously Broken - her journey to hell and back.
Donna has quite a story to tell, including the candid memoirs of her military life, her association with Navy SEALS, becoming a cop, the dark years of her life, and her unbelievable recovery.
In this episode you will hear:
- My career didn’t pan out anything like I thought it would as a teenager.
- The last thing I ever thought I’d be is a cop. I didn’t even like cops.
- In the Navy, I wanted to go where the action was.
- It was tough, but I volunteered for this shit, and I’ll be damned if I’m gonna walk away from it as a quitter.
- Women are equally different.
- The teams (Navy SEALS} are elite for a reason.
- I love the idea of helping people.
- In law enforcement, I could be part of the greater good.
- I won’t be a bitch, unless someone really, really forces me to be one.
- I made up my mind that I was either gonna get my shit together or put myself out of my pain.
- The suicide rate among veterans and first responders is a lot higher than people realize.
- I want to let those who’ve been through hell understand that there are options for them. They just need to know where to look.
- Once you hit rock bottom, you’ve got nowhere to go but up.
- Everybody goes through some traumatic event in their life.
- I want to teach others that there’s hope. Otherwise, I went through all this shit for nothing.
- I want to be known for inspiring someone to get the help they needed.
- Never quit.
