Shownotes Transcript
In this episode we chat with ex-Army medic and East Timor veteran Kate McDougalKate explains the East Timor experience was the best but also the worst in her life. She gathers a lot of comfort for being able to share moral injuries or traumas with other military and first responders working through similar challenges. She goes on to recount really difficult tasks in East Timor. Morally things that clashed with the Core Medic Ethos and was horrible she states.
Trying to remain “on game” in the compound living 24/7 in her square alters your perception she said and caused her to have a brush with alcohol and then be fired. The unraveling started by going AWOL before finally putting her hand up to say “I’m not ok”.
The lowest point was admitting to herself she was in a place that she couldn’t get out of. She found herself waking up to the MP's and Police off base, taken to hospital then taking drastic action get away from there by scaling a fence. A letter she had written earlier emerged and was taken into consideration for the circumstances.
Andy asked about Kate’s experience coming back to civilian life in 2006 and how she re evaluated her life. Very courageous in her candid answer, Kate admitted that for 2 years there was drugs, partying most of the week, right or wrong, no judgement, that’s where she was then. One day she was struck with the realisation that she was more than this and chose an industry to move into. There was little social media back then for support she explains. In a terrible space in her head back then Kate discovered the Veterans Retreat and how she nearly backed up and drove away.
Kate introduced her beloved horses into the conversation telling Andy she left the army and all that behind her until 2015 when she pretty much reached her breaking point. She had endured DVA Psychiatrists, telephone consultations rehashing her story, all which just just re-traumatised her and triggered unpleasant memories.
With a retrospective medical discharge came closure on the Army stuff but Kate faded into the background with her internal struggles. It was a dark place of isolation and suicidal thoughts especially after her first compensation knock back. Desperate for some Equine Therapy ( just straight out horse love) Kate headed to the Gympie Sale Yards fighting with herself “to just to get there.”
Join us next episode for Kate's take on how Equine therapy has given her purpose and helped with managing her PTSD.Contact - Kate McDougalFacebook - Veterans RetreatWebsite: https://www.veteransretreat.org.au/) **Help Lines *Open Arms (VVCS))* | Lifeline) | **RedSix app)"RESPECT, NO POLITICS, WE'RE VOLUNTEERS"Disclaimer: The accounts and stories are "Real lived experiences" of our guests some of the content may trigger Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) symptoms in some of our audience. Feedback regarding other organisations, courses and initiatives remains largely unsensored. Whether its good or bad they remain the OPINION of our guests and their experiences it is important in building an accurate statistic on what really happens. During the course of our conversations sometimes sensitive information may be accidentally mentioned, as such, Invisible Injuries respects the law and sensors any information that may breach Operational Security OPSEC
Support the show)