Psychiatrist Dr. Bessel van der Kolk helps a shark attack survivor cope with lasting trauma on the podcast. They discuss grieving the 'old you' and embracing your new self to heal mentally and physically.
31:52
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Shark Attack
David was stand-up paddleboarding with his dad in Hawaii when a shark attacked.
The shark bit off his leg and hand, causing him to lose consciousness.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Rescue and Recovery
Bystanders rescued David, applying tourniquets before a helicopter arrived.
He survived the flight and underwent multiple surgeries, ultimately losing his leg below the knee.
insights INSIGHT
David's Transformation
Before the attack, David was a driven, ambitious 25-year-old working in software development and venture capital.
The lowest point of recovery involved frustration with physical limitations and a pervasive anger.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
David was in the ocean in Hawaii when the unthinkable happened—a shark attacked him and bit off his leg. “I don’t think you’re gonna make it,” a medic told the 25-year-old on the helicopter ride to the hospital. But David did make it, and soon he learned that surviving the shark wasn’t the hardest part—it was what came after. On this episode of How To!, we bring in Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, psychiatrist and author of The Body Keeps the Score, to help David understand and deal with the lasting psychological trauma of the attack. For anyone suffering from severe trauma, Bessel says, it’s okay to grieve the person you were before. Accepting the loss of the “old you” will allow you to better embrace who you are now, both in your mind and body.
Do you need help overcoming life’s many challenges? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.
How To!