One bright, sunny day in January, we three were enjoying brunch together following a delightful morning of boogie boarding. We left the cafe in our separate cars then, moments later, the planet seemed to stop rotating on its axis. Taryn spotted a nasty car crash, realised the crumpled car belonged to Mia, and jumped out of her moving car to be with her friend. Gemma received a call from Taz’s husband Tim, slammed on her brakes and raced to the scene. Police cars, fire engines and ambulances were called. Mia had sustained a serious spinal injury, and was taken by ambulance to hospital.

 In this episode, we dive into what happened that morning, how it has impacted all of us, and share some of the pearls of wisdom that have emerged from the experience.

Although the concept of post-traumatic stress is familiar to us, research by psychologists over the past 25 years has shown that negative experiences can result in *positive* changes, including recognising personal strengths, discovering new possibilities, improving relationships and appreciating life more fully. Post-traumatic growth is possible, and Mia’s experience is a wonderful case study.  

At the time of recording this episode, Mia was in the early stages of recovering from her spinal fracture and deep in the messy middle of meaning-making. Despite that, you’ll hear us bring a healthy dose of healing humour to this episode, without any pretense about the fact that it has been a painful and disruptive time.

Listen as we explore some of the golden highlights, including how Mia is learning to receive the support of friends and family, to see herself and value her life energy more fully, and to reframe her relationship with her body. Plus, if you’re wondering how to be an expert companion for others in the aftermath of adversity, you’ll definitely want to tune in to see how Gemma and Taryn encourage curiosity, listen actively, and offer compassionate feedback.

Some gentle advice: this episode contains discussion of a traumatic event, including depictions of a car accident and resultant injuries, so you may wish to take care in choosing the most appropriate moment for you to listen.