02/02/2025
My Story… 💙
I always cringed when I saw this photo which was from my Attestation Ceremony where I was sworn in to the role of Police Constable back in 2005.
But my Nan & Grandad loved it and had it framed and it stills sits on the side, at their house to this day.
Now, when I look at this photo, I feel pride.
Pride that I did that!! And pride that even though that 25 year old me in that photo knew nothing of what was to come in the years ahead. And I’m still here to tell the tale.
Probably, like many of you at some stage of life, it all got too much. I felt like someone had torn my world apart, hopeless, useless and broken… vulnerable. Now I was the one who needed looking after.
That was hard to accept.
Moral injury, depression, PTSD were just some of the things I took with me when I lost my career in the way that I did. I was left with weakness, chronic pain and no future.
Then I discovered therapy and, it saved my life.
After some hard work and reflecting, I was able to regulate and balance my emotions again, found purpose and meaning, freedom from fear and I was becoming stronger day by day…
I was waking up ready to take the world on again, reconnecting with pride, having compassion for and being kind to myself. I began to feel powerful.
With the right help and support, I was able to make the transition and turn pain into strength and knew that I wasn’t the only one who had felt this way about their time in ‘the job’ and what it looked like now.
And I stand here today shouting out to all those cops and supporting staff out there that are struggling. 🙋🏻♀️
Now look… I know you don’t want to admit it. But, it’s best you take the reins now or it will come back and bite you on the butt later on. Usually when you least expect it.
Take it from someone that’s been there and helped many others that have also been there, are still there and are going there right now as you read this.
It’s ok to get the right support. Get in touch, I’m here for you. When you’re ready to talk, I’m here to listen 💙
