In today's episode Sarah chat's with Andy and Zoe Cullen of PTSD Resurrected Inc (https://ptsdresurrected.org).

Andy is a veteran of 17 years service in the Australian Army. Retiring as a Major in 2012 having served 6 years as a soldier in the Royal Australian Infantry (RAINF) and later as an Officer in the Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) focusing much of his career in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). He was awarded the COMMENDATION FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE for operations in Afghanistan.

Zoe grew up in the tranquil hills of Byron Bay living in a mud brick home built by her parents. Zoe has a passion for life, family, travel and after university married into the Army, her own career taking a back seat to Andy’s life as a Military Officer. Andy was diagnosed with PTSD following multiple deployments to Afghanistan. Zoe was forced into the position of sole parent of their four young children. Andy’s condition worsened while he battled with a loss of identity and purpose following his retirement from the Army. He eventually ended up in a mental hospital falling into a dark depression that very nearly cost him his life, leaving Zoe to pick up the pieces of the broken family. Together they fought their way through the many challenges that living with PTSD brings.

PTSD RESURRECTED Inc gives a unique insight into the realities and sacrifices of service and its effects on individuals marriage and family. Our Goal is to break down stigmas associated with Mental Illness by providing awareness and support to individuals and families impacted by trauma as a result of their service. We provide tools, resources and community needed to overcome suffering.

If you’re looking for help overcoming any kind of service-related trauma — you can learn more at https://ptsdresurrected.org and find them on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PTSDresurrected/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ptsdresurrected/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/PTSDresurrected).

They also happen to be very dear friends of ours, as John and I have a very similar story to them and are both graduates and facilitators of REBOOT Recovery programs. They feel like great friends even though we've only ever interacted online! That goes to show community can happen, even if only virtually.

In this episode we chat about:

- How Andy went from a PTSD diagnosis and being suicidal to living a joy and hope-filled life

- How PTSD affected their whole family and how Zoe and the children coped

- Learning to fight together instead of fighting each other

- What life looks like now that they devote their time to helping others like them

- How sharing their story has spread to the States and Ireland

- Why they help all people who serve in any capacity (nurses, teachers, pastors, etc.)

- How healing from PTSD requires family and/or community

We hope you enjoy the show and please continue the conversation in the comments below!

We hope you enjoy the show and please continue the conversation in the comments on our website, where you can also find links to all the resources mentioned in the show:

https://www.bravelove.tv/how-ptsd-affects-the-whole-family-no-matter-where-youre-from-with-our-australian-friends-andy-and-zoe-cullen-episode-3/