261: Patrick broke his neck
Author: Scott Johnson & Glassbox Media.
July 10, 2026
Duration: 1:04:47
I’ve never had an injury that was serious enough to be what I would
think of as “life changing” but some people have. It’s a pretty
deep idea to think about.
I
came across this post online recently. Here’s what this woman
wrote:
I
experienced a life changing injury 6 months ago, which has left me
very physically disabled and in excruciating pain 24/7. I am waiting
for scans in the next month, after being refused medical care in the
country where I was injured, but it is likely there is very little to
be done to fix this. I am also trying physical therapy to get better,
but so far with no results and just increased pain. The situation is
making me severely depressed, and I really need to find some
acceptance for what happened, and my life moving forward. I am in
therapy already for some other stuff, but not able to come to
acceptance for this injury yet.
I'm
stuck feeling despair and anger, and like I'm only a burden for the
people around me, including my partner. I can't work, nor participate
in fun activities that requires anything other than sitting, and even
that I cannot do for long. I can't go for walks, sex is painful,
almost all my hobbies are no longer possible. I barely sleep because
of the pain, so I'm always sleep deprived as well. I have to be
medicated for pain through the day and night to even be able to talk
or move. If I try to skip a day, I cannot function.
I
really would like to feel that life is worth living even with chronic
severe pain and physical disabilities I never imagined having to deal
with. I spend so much energy and tears on feeling upset about the
situation, and it's interfering with me at least feeling as okay as I
possibly can. I need to find radical acceptance, but I feel so heart
broken when I try. I don't know what to do.
I
can just hear the despair in her words. She wrote that in an online
forum 5 years ago, so I would love to know how she’s doing today.
But I don’t.
My
guest today is Patrick, and he knows what it’s like to have an
accident that results in a life-changing injury. He was young and
athletic, and he loved to go surfing and run ultramarathons. But then
one day he broke his neck, and he had no idea what the rest of his
life was going to look like.
If
you’d like to contact Patrick -
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bodiezepha415/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/patrick.yalon
Full
show notes and pictures for this episode are here:
https://WhatWasThatLike.com/261
Graphics
for this episode by Bob Bretz. Transcription was done by James Lai.
Want
to discuss this episode and other things with thousands of other WWTL
listeners? Join our podcast Facebook group at
WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook
(many of the podcast guests are there as well)
Get
every episode ad-free, AND get all the Raw Audio exclusive episodes
to binge, by joining the other listeners at What Was That Like PLUS.
Try
What Was That Like PLUS free:
iPhone:
at the top of the What Was That Like podcast feed, click on “Try
free”
Android:
on your phone, go to WhatWasThatLike.com/PLUS and click to try it
free on any app
Sponsor
deals:
Visit
AuraFrames.com and use promo code WHATWAS at checkout to get $45 off.
If
you’re 21 or older, get 25% OFF your first order + free shipping
@IndaCloud with code [WHATWAS] at https://inda.shop/[WHATWAS]!
#indacloudpod
Go
to ThriveMarket.com/WHATWAS to get 30% off your first order, plus a
FREE $60 gift just for signing up.
Go
to Quince.com/whatwas for free shipping on your order and 365-day
returns!
Get
15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/
#oneskinpod
Try
Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month -
MintMobile.com/WHAT
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
