D.A. Michaels: Navy Veteran, Retired Law Enforcement Officer, Author of Courageously Broken

<div>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.<br> <br> </div> <div>She also authored the book, <em>Courageously Broken</em> - her journey to hell and back. </div> <div>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.</div> <div>  </div> <div><strong>In this episode you will hear:</strong></div> <br> <ul> <li>My career didn’t pan out anything like I thought it would as a teenager.</li> <li>The last thing I ever thought I’d be is a cop. I didn’t even like cops.</li> <li>In the Navy, I wanted to go where the action was.</li> <li>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.</li> <li>Women are equally different.</li> <li>The teams (Navy SEALS} are elite for a reason.</li> <li>I love the idea of helping people.</li> <li>In law enforcement, I could be part of the greater good.</li> <li>I won’t be a bitch, unless someone really, really forces me to be one.</li> <li>I made up my mind that I was either gonna get my shit together or put myself out of my pain.</li> <li>The suicide rate among veterans and first responders is a lot higher than people realize.</li> <li>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.</li> <li>Once you hit rock bottom, you’ve got nowhere to go but up.</li> <li>Everybody goes through some traumatic event in their life.</li> <li>I want to teach others that there’s hope. Otherwise, I went through all this shit for nothing.</li> <li>I want to be known for inspiring someone to get the help they needed.</