In this deeply personal episode, I speak with Dr Olivia Ong, a Melbourne-based GP and rehab physician, about her life-changing experience with a severe spinal cord injury, her journey through rehabilitation, and how she overcame multiple episodes of burnout.

Olivia shares vivid memories of the accident, her emergency spinal surgery, regaining mobility, and what it taught her about resilience and mindset. She explains how the rehab system shaped her path and how she developed an evolving approach to recovery and wellness, combining medical knowledge with nervous system coaching and somatic tools.

We discuss:

• The physical and emotional challenges of spinal cord injury and partial paralysis
• The importance of mindfulness, nervous system regulation, and daily "neurological safety check-ins"
• How burnout is linked to nervous system dysregulation and why mindset alone can't fix it
• Effective practices like breathwork, grounding, tapping, and movement to restore balance
• Olivia's evolution from trying to think her way out of burnout to embracing holistic coaching methods
• Her use of the Neurofit app to assess and train nervous system states, with a special discount code for listeners

Olivia also talks about her upcoming memoir, Back On My Feet, coming in February 2026, where she dives deeper into her recovery and personal growth journey.

• Spinal cord injury trauma, emergency care, and initial recovery
• Adjusting to life with paralysis and intense rehab exercises
• Understanding nervous system states: hyperarousal, freeze, play, and stillness
• Practical somatic tools for trauma, stress, and burnout
• Coaching strategies for self-care, emotional resilience, and physical wellness
• How to create lasting habits that take nervous system health seriously

• Website: drolivialeeong.com
• Neurofit app (with discount code): neurofit.app/app-checkout?c=DROLIVIA20

💚 This episode offers hope and actionable tools for anyone facing trauma, chronic stress, or burnout.