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PTSD After 18 Years as a Cop: Trauma, Identity & Coming Back | Andrew Maclean
Description
Andrew Maclean is a former news reporter and police constable with 18 years of service — including frontline patrol, major investigations, and leadership roles mentoring new recruits. But this conversation goes deeper than policing.
After being diagnosed with PTSD in 2021, Andrew began confronting the invisible toll of trauma, identity collapse, and what happens when the person trained to protect others needs saving too. His book, Beating Black and Blue: A Journey to the Light, is a raw account of trauma, survival, and recovery — and a broader reflection on the mental health crisis facing first responders.
In this powerful conversation, Andrew shares:
• Who he was in his 20s before policing and trauma
• What drew him toward a life of service
• The reality of PTSD after years on the front line
• Identity collapse when the protector needs help
• Lessons on masculinity, resilience, and asking for support
• What it actually takes to come back from the edge
If you’re in your 20s (or beyond) dealing with trauma, carrying silent struggles, or questioning who you are after hard experiences, this episode offers honest hope and real perspective.
Timestamps below ⬇️
#AndrewMclean #PTSD #FirstResponders #Trauma #ConversationsWithSekani
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Chapters
0:00 - Intro & Welcome Andrew Maclean
1:40 - Life in His 20s Before Policing
8:15 - What Drew Him to a Life of Service
15:30 - 18 Years on the Front Line
23:10 - The PTSD Diagnosis in 2021
31:45 - Identity Collapse & Needing Help
40:20 - Writing Beating Black and Blue
48:50 - Masculinity, Resilience & Asking for Support
57:15 - Final Advice on Coming Back from the Edge