I’ve been contemplating if I should write this blog, but I figured if my trauma experience helps one person in any way, it’ll be worthwhile. The judges on America’s Got Talent (AGT) often say that 2 minutes can change your life. So can one second.

Several months ago, I was in a car accident where I sustained injuries that I continue to get treatment for. I must admit, as a lifelong athlete, not being able to do all the things I’m used to and having to limit my activities has been a hard pill to swallow, but it’s also pushed me to explore emotions and situations I haven’t experienced before. And for a while, seeing my injured face in the mirror left me feeling incredibly grateful, lucky, and sad—all at the same time.

As I often say, the universe teaches by expanding, or giving, and it also teaches by contracting, or taking away. Adversaries are there to make us grow.

So, what can I tell you?

1. Prioritize your health—NOW

It may sound like a cliché but it’s so true. There are 3 things that saved my life and lowered the severity of injuries: my SUV, guardian angels and the fact that I was in great shape at the time of the accident. I didn’t know that I was going to get hit so I didn’t have a chance to prepare for the collision to soften the impact. Let me tell you, muscle memory is real.

So, make time for your health. You just never know what life throws at you and your body can really help you out. I wrote about this before in a blog about my brother’s near-fatal accident.

On a side note, eating also plays a role in your body’s ability to stay strong and resilient, so don’t overlook the importance of a good diet. My diet has become even more important after the accident to help reduce inflammation (pitta) as well as vata dosha. I rest(ed) a lot and upped my intake of turmeric, ginger, ashwagandha, omega 3, vitamins, and started a yogaraj guggulu regimen along with a nourishing diet, my Wellness tea and some other herbs.

2. Adapt and be patient

Patience has been a theme throughout my life and this was certainly a reminder. For sure, I thought I was going to be back tumbling in a week at the most. As a “glass half full”-type of person with belief in a higher power, I was very motivated to move forward and get back to normal quickly, so at first, I tried to push through. But things were just not happening on my timeline. I didn’t realize the severity of the situation.

Once it hit me (ok, bad joke here) what had happened, I was angry, anxious and sad. If you find yourself in a similar situation, no matter what anyone says, it’s ok to feel that way. Trauma response is real. A key to recovery is to acknowledge and work through these emotions without feeling or exuding any judgment. Without a doubt, working through these emotions is much harder than suppressing them, but it’s a good thing I can do for myself in the long run.

I needed to accept what happened, and make peace with where I was physically, mentally and emotionally as a result of the accident. I needed to honor my new circumstances, process things, and keep faith in the outcome—without getting hung up on a timeline. Finally, I gave myself the permission to fully heal however long it may take.

3. Recommit to your life plan gently

Trauma can do a number on your spirit, too. On one hand, I felt incredibly grateful, lucky and happy to be alive. And on the other hand, I felt numb, empty and sad. All at the same time, often switching back and forth between emotions.

Things I loved before were hard to do now, which was so not me. Normally, I have an enormous amount of mental and physical capacity, which hasn’t been the case since the accident. In fact, I stopped several things cold turkey, which I never imagined I would. But, I need(ed) my energy for processing and healing. And after lots of introspection and recommitting to my “ikigai”, or purpose, I’m slowly starting to get my second wind.

I’m doing things gently. Being gentle with yourself on any day should be a priority, and even more so when you’re bouncing back from something significant.

4. Add new tools

Breathing/meditation, gratitude practice and exercise have been my “go to”-s when I feel off balance. Exercise, aside from walking and very light movements, was off the table so I only had my meditation and gratitude practice to resort to. I did some journaling, too. And for the first time, early on, they were just not working. Maybe for a minute. This was very strange to me. Experiencing frequent panic attacks was also new to me. I was very easily triggered and my anxiety went through the roof so I couldn’t hold space in a meditative state.

Mind you, throughout all this, I didn’t stop driving (although I limited it). As a gymnast, I was taught that when you fall off the beam, you go right back up and do the skill again. Whether it’s right or not, I used the same principle in my recovery, too. I realize that comparing falling off an apparatus to a traumatic experience may sound foolish, but I didn’t want to stop driving altogether. That said, I did have times (and still do) when being on the road doesn’t feel right. And when that happens, I respect that message.

I paid extra attention to my triggers and experimented with different coping mechanisms. For example, obviously, being on the road was a trigger so I made changes to my driving patterns and only did what I felt comfortable with. I said no to everything else, even if it meant canceling activities. I created a plan for myself on how to get back to driving without any constraints and started slow.

To be honest, another early trigger for me was when people started telling me about their accidents. I get it, we do it out of sympathy so the other person doesn’t feel alone, but it was the worst timing as I was just starting to wrap my head around my own situation and my sympathetic nervous system was still on high alert. In case you’re around someone whose trauma experience is fresh, they may just appreciate knowing that you’re there for them without hearing the details of your accident. There will be a place and time for sharing your story, too. For me, it was because every time someone brought up their accident with the best possible intentions, I was triggered to relive my experience without an outlet. And I wasn’t ready for that. I, for sure, will be a lot more mindful of others’ experiences in the future.

Emotionally, I found tapping, or emotional freedom technique (EFT) to be very helpful early on. Breathing also helped, but it was more effective when I intentionally combined it with tapping. One of the reasons I like tapping is because it makes you recognize and acknowledge your current state first before you change the dialogue.

5. Take each day without judgment or expectation

Each day, each minute is truly a gift. The recovery process is a series of ups and downs, with an overall upward trend. I know that I’m on the road to full recovery in every way. I learned to take each day, heck, each minute, as it comes and celebrate small improvements, but not feel down when pain or sensation presents itself. Instead, I take them as signs that my body is working through things and that I should honor the process, do my part to help it and then get out of my own way.

Recovery takes a village, and I want to thank my partner, friends, family and care team for your support.

If you’re experiencing something similar, I hope this blog helps. You’re not alone. If you know someone you think might like to read this story, please feel free to share it. All it takes is one second to change someone’s life. So, let’s make it a good second for ourselves and others. Cheers!

Image by Trisha Leeper

This blog is intended to share a story, not to give medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider about your specific situation for medical advice.