How I dealt with my two major sports injuries

Sports injuries are really tough, and one thing that many athletes struggle with is their fear of re-injury as they go through physical therapy. Some athletes show signs of PTSD, and more research is confirming this trend. But, how can a player get through this? What can they do if they're depressed after an injury? Having been through two major surgeries myself, these are some of my insights.
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DISCLAIMER: 👉 I am not a mental health professional, doctor or physical therapist, and these opinions are from my own experience as a former athlete who was injured - they are for entertainment and educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional help. Seek professional help and guidance from a licensed doctor, PT or mental health professional. Before beginning any new type of physical activity - including play activities mentioned in this video - consult your physician and rehab team for approval of said activities. Always stay within your approved surgical and rehab parameters.
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✅ Resources
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👉 If you're depressed and need help: www.samhsa.gov/find-help/nati...
👉 The book The Body Keeps the Score: www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Sco...
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📘 My mental skills book for athletes - This Slump Shall Pass - Get your copy here 👉 slumpshallpass.com
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[@BringMeTheMonkeys]

Sprinter and jumper here-I trained hard through my Christmas break and was ready to come back to school and get on the track, but I got a foot injury literally just 3 days before school started. Coming back to school and seeing everyone workout and go outside is really beating me up inside,but it's not my first injury and I'm sure if I stay patient everything will straighten itself out in the end 👍

[@DanBlewett]

the timing aspect is really hard - sounds like the timing was really bad for you this time, but take it day by day and open up to your friends and family.

[@ivansastre1578]

had my first shoulder dislocation at 13, couldn`t go into surgery due to my age, so i continued having dislocations until 14, my first surgery. i went back to rugby at 16... re dislocated my shoulder once again. went into surgery at 17, my other shoulder pops out and i cut my thumb flexor. now i`m 18, recovering from my third shoulder surgery, mentally fucked up, talking to strangers, hopeless. absolutely terrified of moving my shoulder. mocked by friends and family when i´ve been drowning since 13. without physical activity i am nothing, can`t focus, tons of energy not released, weak. hope you all get better, stay in the fight, we deserve a happier outcome

[@elissavetargiriou2407]

I totally understand you. Family is a really big influence and it is so hard I have been having the same response. 2 years struggling with a knee injury I am still in pain every single day and nobody gets it. I barely am allowed to get the economical support to attend psychotherapy... I feel exactly the same way as you described... I hope we can get through this I am barely trying to stay alive I am having so many repeated sadness for so long in my life which only gets worse and family doesn't help at all in this.

[@vedaarvind8592]

I hope you all get better soon, I understand you.

[@ivansastre1578]

@@elissavetargiriou2407 keep pushing, I feel much better now although not there yet. there is light after so much darkness I guarantee you. Be safe

[@rokometer8]

I had two hip injuries at 17...2 years later still didnt recover....I was/am almost suicidal...

[@laniac5269]

Broke my ankle in April of 2023, had surgery in August because it wasn’t healing, and still not able to run without a limp or squat because of mobility issues. Missed my senior season of football which is the hardest part of the whole thing aside from me having to always be mindful and careful. It’s also been hard because I’ve never had any major injuries and really wasn’t injury prone at all, so it was new at first, but now it’s my life

[@BKL1994]

Have slip disc, injured last month, trying to cope up with it. It’s very hard 😢, 29 years old with average income. It’s difficult with back injury. Life is tough but I am trying to be tougher than this.

[@buramann5529]

same here // disc slipped on feb 19 second time after 15 year from first spinal cord injury. lost movement of lower limb for almost 20 days. I am trying to heal and get movements back without surgery.

[@cn1878]

Hey man. Look up Jeff Nipard if you need some inspiration. He was temporarily paralyzed after a bad deadlift but has now beaten old prs.

[@siepye8648]

Was keeping myself fit over the Christmas holidays this year for my soccer season, just to hyperflex my toes upwards and gave myself tissue damage a week before my first game back. I struggled a lot, mentally and physically as I couldn't walk properly for about 3-4 weeks, and once I could I still had limited movement in my toes. It was hard missing out on soccer; I had been looking forward to it for like 16 weeks. Fast forward a few weeks, I played 2 games in 2 weeks and had been doing alright, I noticed a huge mental boost and life was going well. Come today, 4 days before my next game, and I hyperflexed the same foot in the exact same way. I'm distraught, I've been injury written for so long and I haven't been able to enjoy my sport. I feel like I'm just a burden to my family and team at this point, it's the 4th injury I have gotten in the past 9 months. I'm just struggling to come to terms with the fact that I will most likely have to miss more games than last time, and just knowing that I am going to go through so much physical and mental pain is so hard for me to swallow.

[@svenheuseveldt7188]

Going through something simular, not as bad as you but, i cant do the thing thats making me happy and fulfilled in life due to an elbow injury. and i was actually getting happy for once and then it happened, so now im isolating myself, less social, lot of negative emotions etc. but i just thought of a quote i heard from alan watts. be like water, when water hits a rock it finds another way around it, another arm grows in a different direction and it moves forward. The take away message here for us, is not to abandon sport, but look for something else to give us fulfilment in the time we need to recover. Learn an instrument, learn how to draw, go and craft something or whatever. find another hobby that will give you a sense of purpose and fulfilment in the meantime. i myself will buy my first acoustic guitar this weekend and plan on playing everyday, it gets me excited and i look forward to it. i suggest you to do the same. and what the video suggests, talk to a friend or if you have none that understands you, a therapist might be a good option. but look for something else, its out there man. all the best to you adn thanks for sharing your story, its not fair but we gotta deal with it💪

[@cn1878]

I had a bad strain of my left pec in 2021. It was misdiagnosed as shoulder impingement and I never did proper chest PT initially. I was 18 and didn’t know any better, so after 5 months of jack shit happening I got frustrated and slowly eased my way back into the gym. Over the course of 6 months i got strength back but it always felt off. Fast forward another 2 years, I strain it again. I am just so exhausted. What’s left of my rational brain knows I need to stop lifting but I don’t. Fucking. Want. To. I’m in this impossible situation where I have to choose between my health and future or giving up the thing that gave me my life back.

[@xcreedx6382]

Thanks man this rlly opened up my mind abt things in baseball

[@fitmamaroberta]

Currently healing tear in my right quad. I do high intensity training. I am in process of navigating this experience. I appreciate this video. In a immobilizer brace a month. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@DanBlewett]

itll pass quicker than you think. good luck!

[@fitmamaroberta]

​@@DanBlewettexactly. Rehabilitation is going awesome. Stronger today for the experience. Thank you for sharing on this topic!

[@user-mw2we1zd3l]

9 months late to this comment section but my third meet in smashing prs in track I just tore my hamstring mentally it’s so draining especially as a Junior who loves the sport trying to get scholarships trying to get through it thanks for this video

[@DanBlewett]

yeah it's really hard getting set back like that. You'll heal up. good luck.

[@adamhowington7317]

Dan, I'm 37 yo and have not pitched in about 25 years. I am getting back into throwing for fun and might join a free adult league in Florida, however, I take the game very seriously. I have seen most of your vids about mechanics, etc., but I am already experiencing minor strains. Where would you recommend I start as far as working on stance, wind up, delivery, etc so that I'm not injured seriously? I have a day job that I can't afford to miss because of an after-work past time. But - baseball is my passion. How can I ease into this after so much time off? Thanks!

[@adamhowington7317]

Gosh, I'm commenting on my own comment. That's sad. I have two very specific strains I'm constantly nursing. If you have any time, I'd like to ask you some advice. Disclaimer: you're not a doc or PT. I got ya.

[@joelv92]

I had a herniated disc last year and recovered and now I have another setback. It really affects me mentally but I am hoping to get back to normal

[@DanBlewett]

back pain is really tough.

[@lucassobris]

Check out Dr. Stuart Mcgill and his book Back Pain. It's been changing my life

[@Ayatollah_Khamenei]

I’m really struggling that I’ll never be able to play basketball again after tearing my knee. It’s been 9 months and it’s not looking good :(

[@DanBlewett]

Take it one day at a time. It’ll keep healing.

[@vedaarvind8592]

I got an ACL tear last month. I am in college and it’s been very hard to deal with it being away from home and not being able to play or even walk or sit comfortably. I hope it gets better soon and I hope your injury gets well soon too

[@crayo550]

Im sorry But i can't a therapy im still 13 and my mom always say it will on its own and its struggling..

[@peteskinner7709]

As a distance runner I’m going through this at the moment

[@DanBlewett]

sorry to hear that.

[@peteskinner7709]

@@DanBlewett yeah unfortunately I’ve done my glute through over use

[@gerardmoran9560]

Well said! This applies to more than baseball.

[@gerardmoran9560]

@@mazinblasterzetto9645 Sorry to hear that. Do whatever activity (swimming?) you can. Keep yourself active. Exertion is a good mood lifter. Good luck!

[@terrencemilton5088]

They dont know...

[@pbcbeats2854]

did you ever get back into baseball? if so, were you happy with your results when you came back?

[@DanBlewett]

yes

[@sphericalwavefront]

I was trying to comment, but it turned into rambling toss. Do you offer like 1 hr conversation?

[@sphericalwavefront]

Idk how this works, but I'm happy to give you my email or number. Please message me? Kyle J. A big fan over the years

[@DanBlewett]

I do consulting for a fee - you can contact me through my danblewett.com website