A Journey of Hope is the inspirational life story of Dr J Michael Davey.  It holds out hope for everyone who has experienced emotional and physical trauma leading to severe anxiety and depression.  It describes Michael’s journey – both through the trauma and ultimately to recovery.

As a child and teenager Michael experienced significant abuse from within his family and the institutions appointed to care for him.  As a very young child he was taken from his mother and institutionalized.  Foster homes only compounded the abuse he suffered.  Down the track Michael was kidnapped by his a struggling father and eventually returned home to discover the mother he had idolized was really a violent and crazed schizophrenic who actively hated him. To escape violence and neglect Michael left home for the Royal Australian Navy when he was 15 years old.

Michael showed extraordinary courage and determination to survive the circumstances surrounding his early years of life.  A few instances of normal kindness towards him by others he came into contact with him stood out like beacons in his mind, but only increased the longing he had to experience love and affirmation from his parents. 

As Michael’s life progressed into adulthood he experienced self doubt, a sense of worthlessness, severe anxiety, immobilizing panic attacks and debilitating depression.  These all impacted on him, his wife, family and friends.  He was driven to plan his suicide but fortunately did not proceed.  His wife and children’s unconditional love for him was something he had never before experienced.

Several events and significant people in his life, the support of his wife, her parents and his own children, encouraged Michael to courageously battle the gloom that had settled upon him and to take charge of his own future. With the help of professional counseling he realized the needed to reprogram the way he thought about himself, his past, the events happening around him and the future that was before him.  

Eventually, Michael has worked his way through his depression and anxiety, has learned to forgive the parents for their part in his trauma and has committed himself to encouraging others who can relate to his life’s journey.

As an adult he made up for the education he missed out on as a child gaining a PhD and winning a prestigious medical scholarship which he relinquished to work with children as a teacher, so that they too, could have journeys of hope..

Share Michael’s journey as he describes his route from heartache to happiness.  Smile at his sense of humour and antics through all the trials.

Michael’s journey will inspire you with hope and encourage you to share hope with all those who need it.