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

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.