How To Heal an Injury and Your Mind (Intro)
Note: this will be a four part blog - each part will be published on Monday of every week for the next four weeks.
“I know my journey is not an isolated experience, therefore, I felt it was my duty as both an athlete and therapist to share my experiences so I can help others going through injury, post-op recovery, chronic pain, etc. get back to holistic health and a fruitful identity.”
— Stephanie Lindsey: athlete turned mental health specialist
I’m pretty sure (very scientific therapist here) it is inevitable you will get injured or experience some form of pain when you are a “gym rat,” powerlifter, athlete, etc. I say this because I don’t know of one athlete who hasn’t faced pain. I am no newbie to the injury and pain game (I think that makes me an expert), and I have to say, it is one of the most depressing, frustrating, miserable experiences, especially when relief doesn’t come quick or easy. I have always had physique and sport specific goals for myself. Sport and movement have been huge parts of my identity since I was a kiddo…and unfortunately, they have been taken from me, time, and time, and time, and time again. Losing this identity every few years has been a major setback. I never felt my goals would be achievable or that my identity would ever be fully actualized…and this took a toll on my mental health. I lost confidence in myself and my ability to perform. My depression and anxiety sank in, my perfectionism judged, and my physique changing from strong to weak (I lost a lot of muscle from injuries) made me feel so sad and out of control. Nothing…nothing made me feel better! ALL I wanted was to move my body and be with my gym/athlete fam.
After one year of quite literal suffering from an injury, and realizing my first hip surgery had failed after spending so much $$$$ on scans, I went on a mission to find the best surgeon in the country to get me back into the gym and living my life. After multiple opinions, I found my dream team in Houston, TX (Dr. Joshua Harris with Houston Methodist Hospital). In September 2023, I had my first hip arthroscopy revision surgery. A few days post-op, I already knew I felt better. And now, five months later, I have NO PAIN on my left side. My body is truly thankful and grateful for the return to movement… so is my mental health. I know my journey is not an isolated experience, therefore, I felt it was my duty as both an athlete and therapist to share my experiences so I can help others going through injury, post-op recovery, chronic pain, etc. get back to holistic health and a fruitful identity.
This blog will be divided into four parts:
Part one will outline my own personal experiences with injury and my story of getting back into sport after SO many injuries over the years. My goal for this section is for you to feel heard, understood, and educated on the impacts of injury on your well-being and identity.
Part two will discuss the mental health decline that can accompany an injury/pain and how to regain your grit and mental toughness while recovering.
Part three explores how grit, resiliency, and good supports can center you back into goal setting, motivation, and our already established discipline to our sport.
Part four will educate you on the fear of reinjury and how to overcome it – the mind body connection. Let’s get that confidence back!
Buckle up, Part One is next!
