Today on Wellbeing, we talk with Michael Raymond about his PTSD journey. Michael served in the Airforce for 16 years as an Avionics Technician and Electrical Engineer Officer working on Fighter Jets such as the F-111 and F/A18F Super Hornet. After a near-death experience involving an engine explosion during a plane flight over Waikiki beach, Michael was medically retired battling with mental and physical illnesses including Major Depression, Anxiety Disorders and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Since his PTSD diagnosis Michael has found success in his recovery by undertaking innovative Psychedelic Therapies. Today Michael is a part of Mind Medicine Australia's lived experience board.  

In this episode, Michael talks about the aircraft incident and how it affected him, the culture towards PTSD and mental health in the air force, how PTSD affects his relationships with others, his journey coming to terms with his PTSD, how PTSD affected his emotional state and his daily life, the challenges military personal go through in opening up about their PTSD, how friends and family can help those going through PTSD, and his experience with psychedelic therapy.     

“I was closer to the engine (of the plane), and I was mechanically minded enough to know it wasn’t very good, the sound of the explosions.” - Michael Raymond on this episode of Wellbeing 

Tune in tomorrow when we speak to someone going through Complex PTSD.

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Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins 
Wellbeing website: https://www.2nurfm.com.au/wellbeing 

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