Hope Survives | Brain Injury Podcast artwork

Hope Survives | Brain Injury Podcast

154 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★★ - 42 ratings

Have you or a loved one experienced a traumatic brain injury, stroke, concussion, or ABI? This podcast is for you. Providing practical tools and inspirational interviews to equip, educate, and encourage the brain injury community. Hosted by award-winning TBI survivor, advocate, and singer/songwriter Cristabelle Braden, this is an uplifting podcast to bring hope to your darkest days.

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Episodes

80. Wordlayer - Speaking Life, Love, and Hope through TBI (with Lindy Boone Michaelis)

March 22, 2024 20:40 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MB

Today, Cristabelle is joined by Lindy Boone Michaelis, sharing her family’s journey with her son Ryan’s severe TBI. Brain injuries affect the entire family: "You get a call or you get notified, and for me, my life is now divided into two halves: before June 19, 2001 and after June 19, 2001... because everything changed." Listen as Lindy shares from a place of vulnerability, wholehearted compassion, and kindness - and you are sure to be uplifted as she shares her story and words of life, lo...

79. Hope in Neuroplasticity + New Research and Technologies in Rehabilitation (with Dr. Jeremy Schmoe)

March 15, 2024 16:22 - 53 minutes - 60.9 MB

Whether you just had a brain injury or if you are years or decades out, there is hope. Concussion protocol is continually evolving, there is always new research coming out, and new technologies that completely change the game! It is so encouraging to know that the future is bright in brain injury rehabilitation. Today, Cristabelle is joined by Dr. Jeremy Schmoe from The Functional Neurology Center to share some examples of cutting edge research and technologies within the field of brain inj...

78. Your Voice Matters + TBI Act Reauthorization Efforts

March 08, 2024 14:29 - 36 minutes - 41.3 MB

Did you know your voice can make a huge difference? Today Cristabelle shares about her experience advocating for brain injury in Washington D.C. and explains some of the specific asks for members of congress and senate. Brain Injury is invisible - so using our voice for awareness is even more important. Significantly, this year the TBI Act is up for reauthorization. You can join the Brain Injury Association of America's letter writing campaign and ask your representative to join the Congres...

77. Season 3 Premiere! + Embracing Your Unique Brain Injury Journey (with Ali Rheaume)

March 01, 2024 06:00 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MB

We’re back and ready to kick off Season 3 with some special episodes for Brain Injury Awareness month! Join our host Cristabelle and guest Ali Rheaume for an inspiring and honest conversation about the challenges on the brain injury journey. You are not alone! Ali Rheaume is an award-winning artist, public speaker, disability advocate, and spokesperson who is an encouraging light in the journey of overcoming brain injury. Connect with her on social media @alison.rheaume or at https://www.al...

76. Be Kind to Yourself + Encouragement from Brain Injury Professionals

March 21, 2023 14:06 - 47 minutes - 53.8 MB

You can't see it on the outside, but every day living with a concussion / brain injury brings an internal struggle. You're constantly fighting what you want to do, what you used to be able to do, and what your brain will allow you to do. There's the physical toll- the fatigue, the headaches, the balance issues... There's also the emotional toll- the grief, the depression, the loss of identity... and more. Today we wrap up Season 2 with an uplifting episode. Cristabelle opens with an encourag...

75. Heartfelt Words of Hope - from Survivors

December 16, 2022 12:15 - 30 minutes - 34.5 MB

Cristabelle shares reflections and encouragement from her 15 year traumatic brain injury anniversary, along with powerful heartfelt "Words of Hope" from survivors. You are NOT alone! Featuring Season 2 guests: Lisa Pubantz (ep.32), Allison Cook (ep.26), Dillon Berenty (ep.58), Ali Rheaume (ep.39), Madi (ep.62), Nick Krantz (ep.53), Silvie (ep.70), Jeff Huxford (ep.44), Bella Paige (ep.63), Bobby Apgar (ep.68), Cali Lonardelli (ep.37), and Cyndie Braden (ep.38). CONNECT Join the online com...

74. Managing Symptoms (with Natalie Mackenzie)

November 25, 2022 13:40 - 57 minutes - 65.8 MB

There are a lot of layers when it comes to brain injury symptoms. In the middle of it, how do you even begin to start to tackle your symptoms in order to move forward? Some days are up, some days are down. It can be overwhelming and emotional when you are just trying to get through each day. This week, Natalie Mackenzie joins Cristabelle to discuss advice on managing symptoms, identifying triggers, how to cope, and work towards a plan to improve over time. There is always hope! Connect with...

73. I have a concussion… now what? (with Dr. Mark Heisig)

November 18, 2022 21:13 - 52 minutes - 60 MB

Spoiler alert: there’s more than “just rest”! This week Dr. Mark Heisig helps us to understand some of the new research on what can help concussion patients to improve. It's a comprehensive look at what you can do metabolically to prime your brain to heal. Key takeaway: it's important to take a full picture look when someone has a concussion, and creating a targeted treatment plan, rather than just ignoring the symptoms and hoping they go away. This will be helpful if you (or your loved one...

72. Post-Injury Headaches vs. Migraines- and what to do about them (with Dr. Thompson Maesaka)

November 11, 2022 12:30 - 52 minutes - 48.9 MB

When your head is in pain, everything else feels harder. After a brain injury, headaches can be a major symptom that decreases quality of life for survivors. This week, Dr. Thompson Maesaka is here to help us understand all things post-injury headaches, including hidden causes. We will also discuss the difference between post-concussion headaches and "true migraine," neurologists, and medication. When you can identify the cause behind WHY your head is in pain, it will help you to treat it ef...

71. Social Communication + Relationships after TBI (with Katherine Noyes)

November 04, 2022 17:39 - 51 minutes - 58.7 MB

Friends, dating, family, co-workers, and more... social communication can be a struggle for brain injury survivors! Let's break down some of the common difficulties in interpreting social cues from others, as well as how symptoms affect the way we communicate.  This week, Cristabelle has invited Speech Language Pathologist Katherine Noyes to join for all things relationships and social communication after TBI. Some topics include: nonverbal cues, tone of voice, repeating yourself, memory lo...

70. Rebuilding Life after Concussion (with Silvie)

October 28, 2022 11:30 - 43 minutes - 49.7 MB

It is common to feel a loss of self after a concussion when you lose so many things you used to be able to do - but there is hope. This week, Cristabelle speaks with Silvie from The Concussion Community. Silvie struggled for years to find the right help and understand what was going on with her. Her concussion was even misdiagnosed as anxiety. The regular doctors she visited couldn’t address her symptoms, so she wasn’t getting help from them. Eventually, Silvie found the right concussion tr...

69. Dysautonomia and Beyond - Addressing Symptoms after Brain Injury (with Sonia Vovan, PT)

October 21, 2022 13:20 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MB

If you have felt like something is “off” but you can’t quite pinpoint what it is, it is possible that you have a form of Dysautonomia (related to the Autonomic Nervous System). It is very common after brain injury. This week, Sonia Vovan, PT is here to help us understand the basics of dysautonomia - and beyond - as we discuss ways to help address symptoms. October is dysautonomia awareness month! Sonia Vovan is a Registered Physiotherapist and Certified Vestibular Therapist working in Toro...

68. Frustrations of Living with Brain Injury + Not Giving Up (with Bobby Apgar)

October 14, 2022 15:30 - 44 minutes - 51.2 MB

The ups and downs of brain injury can be hard to navigate, and can often feel downright frustrating. This week we’re talking about these frustrations and what it means to learn to advocate for yourself, the journey of acceptance, how it affects relationships, and more. This week’s guest Bobby Apgar is a TBI survivor and speaker. In 1995, Bobby was a college football start getting recognized as a pre-season All-American at a Division 1 level when he suffered a life changing car accident whic...

67. Furthering your Recovery, Part 2 - (with Dr. Michelle Eisenmann)

October 07, 2022 12:00 - 31 minutes - 35.7 MB

Let's continue the discussion on how to keep your recovery moving forward - Dr. Michelle Eisenmann is back to help us understand the importance of a lifestyle that supports brain healing, and what to look for in a practitioner. Connect with Dr. Michelle: https://www.resiliencybh.com/ CONNECT Join the online community & monthly zoom support group: hopeafterheadinjury.com/community Listen to Cristabelle's "Hope Survives" song on all music streaming platforms! Hosted by Cristabelle Braden:...

66. Grace and Grit: Furthering your Recovery, Part 1 - (with Dr. Michelle Eisenmann)

September 30, 2022 11:50 - 32 minutes - 37.6 MB

Do you ever feel "stuck" in not knowing how to move forward with your recovery? Today, Dr. Michelle Eisenmann is here in part 1 of a 2 part series to help us understand some things we can do to to keep our brain injury recovery on track. This week we will touch on the importance of finding the right practitioner (more on that next week!) and some tips on how to define your recovery goals. Most importantly, you will be encouraged to move forward with confidence, grace, and grit. Connect with...

65. How to Grow in Self-Awareness for Survivors

September 23, 2022 15:36 - 32 minutes - 36.8 MB

For brain injury survivors, having some sort of self-awareness when it comes to symptoms is key to moving forward in recovery. When we are able to learn our brain & body's "tells" or when a symptom flare-up is beginning to happen, we are better able to assess if we need to rest, or if we can push through. It also helps us to know what types of treatment to seek out - especially because it's invisible, so others can't see your symptoms on the outside. However, self-awareness after brain injur...

65. How to Grow in Self-Awareness for Survivors (with Cristabelle Braden)

September 23, 2022 15:36 - 32 minutes - 36.8 MB

For brain injury survivors, having some sort of self-awareness when it comes to symptoms is key to moving forward in recovery. When we are able to learn our brain & body's "tells" or when a symptom flare-up is beginning to happen, we are better able to assess if we need to rest, or if we can push through. It also helps us to know what types of treatment to seek out - especially because it's invisible, so others can't see your symptoms on the outside. However, self-awareness after brain injur...

64. How to Improve Symptoms on Hard Days (with Dr Jeremy Schmoe)

September 16, 2022 13:36 - 47 minutes - 54.7 MB

Symptom flare-ups and hard days will happen when recovering from a brain injury / concussion - and it can be exhausting and disheartening. But there are actually things we can do to help, if we learn the right things to check and respond to our brain & body’s signals. Our nervous system is more adaptable than we may think! Dr. Jeremy Schmoe is here to teach us exactly how to help ourselves feel better on those hard days.  Connect with Dr. Schmoe: theFNC.com  0:00 Intro w/Cristabelle 10:00...

64. How to Improve Symptoms on Hard Days (with Dr. Jeremy Schmoe)

September 16, 2022 13:36 - 47 minutes - 54.7 MB

Symptom flare-ups and hard days will happen when recovering from a brain injury / concussion - and it can be exhausting and disheartening. But there are actually things we can do to help, if we learn the right things to check and respond to our brain & body’s signals. Our nervous system is more adaptable than we may think! Dr. Jeremy Schmoe is here to teach us exactly how to help ourselves feel better on those hard days.  Connect with Dr. Schmoe: theFNC.com  0:00 Intro w/Cristabelle 10:00...

63. Concussions, Depression, + Mental Health (with Bella Paige)

September 09, 2022 11:59 - 41 minutes - 47.9 MB

Concussion symptoms and mental health can be very interconnected, especially when you can't see the symptoms on the outside. Today, Cristabelle interviews Bella Paige (founder of Post Concussion Inc) on her journey with 10+ concussions and trying to hide her symptoms at first and pretending like nothing was wrong. This led to depression, which Bella openly shares with us today in a candid and inspiring conversation. Bella Paige is a brain injury advocate. After sustaining over ten concussio...

62. Finding Yourself Again After TBI (with Madi Grose)

September 02, 2022 15:53 - 39 minutes - 44.8 MB

"I realized that I can recover without being who I was, and I can find myself without being who I was, and I don't need to fully recover  - and walk and see and do all of these things that might not be possible for me - to be happy. Like I can still be happy without being the person I was with the abilities I had." -Madi Grose After a brain injury, it is really common to struggle with identity when your abilities and entire life changes. Today, we are talking about finding yourself again af...

61. Overstimulation, Brain Fog, Sensory Awareness (with Taryn Barlow)

July 08, 2022 12:00 - 58 minutes - 54.1 MB

Have you ever been so overwhelmed you couldn't finish a task? What about feeling overstimulated in a grocery store, to the point of panicking? Many brain injury survivors experience overstimulation and brain fog. This is a great episode to learn some tools on how to process this, whether you are a survivor yourself or a caregiver learning how to identify this for your loved one. Overstimulation and brain fog can be frustrating both for the survivor and for the people around them. Taryn Barl...

60. Setbacks During Brain Injury Recovery

July 01, 2022 18:30 - 25 minutes - 29.5 MB

It can be hard to hold onto hope when it feels like there are just setbacks around every corner. Listen as Cristabelle shares her heart on this and how to continue moving forward, even when things are really hard. You are not alone. CONNECT Join the online community & monthly zoom support group: hopeafterheadinjury.com/community Listen to Cristabelle's new "Hope Survives" single on all music streaming platforms! Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | cristabellebraden.com Ho...

60. Setbacks During Brain Injury Recovery (with Cristabelle Braden)

July 01, 2022 18:30 - 25 minutes - 29.5 MB

It can be hard to hold onto hope when it feels like there are just setbacks around every corner. Listen as Cristabelle shares her heart on this and how to continue moving forward, even when things are really hard. You are not alone. CONNECT Join the online community & monthly zoom support group: hopeafterheadinjury.com/community Listen to Cristabelle's new "Hope Survives" single on all music streaming platforms! Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | cristabellebraden.com Ho...

59. Patient Empowerment + Guide for Navigating Healthcare (with Dr. Kelsy Rayl)

June 24, 2022 14:03 - 51 minutes - 59.4 MB

A major part of living with brain injury can become the doctors appointments, therapies, and healthcare system - but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. Dr. Kelsy Rayl is here to walk us through some steps to be more empowered as a patient, including practical tools on what to do to show up at appointments informed and get the most out of them. We also discuss managing symptoms in appointments, identifying personal recovery goals, and how to find the right medical team. It is important to kn...

58. Beating the Odds (Inspiring Survivor Story with Dillon Berenty)

June 17, 2022 17:02 - 37 minutes - 42.4 MB

"I was given less than 10% chance of surviving. Doctors were saying that they couldn't imagine me walking, that I wouldn't be able to talk, that I couldn't see... and the one big thing about my story is that I proved them all wrong. Even if the odds are stacked against you, and hope seems almost lost, always believe in the little percent that things are going to be okay. Because I took that small percent that they said that I was going to make it - I took it and ran. And I'm still here today...

57. Female Hormones after TBI / Concussion (with Melissa Biscardi)

June 10, 2022 14:06 - 33 minutes - 38.2 MB

Hormones can become disrupted after a brain injury, and today Melissa Biscardi is here to share current research and dive deeper into what this looks like for females, including the menstrual cycle, menopause, birth control, and more. We also discuss practical steps you can take if you think you or your loved one's hormones may have been affected. 0:00 Intro 4:55 Melissa & Her Research 8:10 When Menstrual Cycle is “Off” 10:25 Women and Concussions 12:25 Overlap with TBI Symptoms 14:25 ...

56. Empowered Hope + Lessons Learned from TBI (with Cyndie Braden)

June 03, 2022 14:26 - 51 minutes - 58.9 MB

Living with a brain injury, some days hope is the only thing that gets you through. This week, Cristabelle is joined by her mother, Cyndie Braden, to speak about lessons they have learned over the 14 years of brain injuries. They speak vulnerably about some of the difficult aspects of the journey, while also sharing the growth in the family, caregiver, and survivor perspectives. You will also hear clips of Cristabelle from 10 years ago in 2012 speaking about her injury, at around the 5 year ...

56. Empowered Hope + Lessons Learned (with Cyndie Braden)

June 03, 2022 14:26 - 51 minutes - 58.9 MB

Living with a brain injury, some days hope is the only thing that gets you through. This week, Cristabelle is joined by her mother, Cyndie Braden, to speak about lessons they have learned over the 14 years of brain injuries. They speak vulnerably about some of the difficult aspects of the journey, while also sharing the growth in the family, caregiver, and survivor perspectives. You will also hear clips of Cristabelle from 10 years ago in 2012 speaking about her injury, at around the 5 year m...

55. Communication and Cognition after Brain Injury (with Katherine Noyes)

May 27, 2022 11:30 - 50 minutes - 57.9 MB

Communication is so important to our world, but it can be drastically affected for brain injury survivors. Difficulties include word finding, forming ideas, expressing oneself, understanding nonverbal cues, and more… so let’s work to understand this deeper and talk about some tips that can help! Today we are diving into the connection between communication and cognition, and how this can be affected after brain injury. Katherine Noyes is a Speech Language Pathologist who is here to guide us...

54. Pillars of Concussion Care + Holistic Approach (with Melissa Biscardi)

May 20, 2022 14:04 - 50 minutes - 58 MB

Brain injury affects the whole person - and every injury is different. That is why it is so important to learn as much as we can about current research and rehab practices. This week, Melissa Biscardi from Rehab Lab is guiding us through pillars of concussion care to learn about different pieces of recovery that we may not have known to address. This includes: Autonomic Nervous System, Nutrition / Supplements, Psychological Support, Soft Tissue / Manual Therapy, Rehab + Memory / Cognition. W...

53. Take Control of Your Recovery (Survivor Story with Nick Krantz)

May 13, 2022 12:00 - 48 minutes - 55.7 MB

After 17+ concussions, Nick Krantz found himself at the end of his rope, having been told by many medical professionals that there wasn't really anything he could do, and he would just have to live with the symptoms. It was then that he discovered that there is so much more to brain injury recovery than he ever knew, and he began a journey of learning to overcome PCS, including nutrition, mindset, balancing hormones, exercise, and more. Today, Nick shares his story of overcoming PCS and find...

52. Autonomic Nervous System Recovery (with Natasha Wilch)

May 06, 2022 14:43 - 43 minutes - 50.3 MB

After a concussion or brain injury, the function of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) can be commonly disrupted. This can cause a dysregulation between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system - leading to increased symptoms. This week, Natasha Wilch is back to explain the ins and outs of the ANS as it relates to brain injury. She will also explain dysautonomia and POTS, and share some practical tools to improve autonomic function. 0:00 Intro 2:20 Cristabelle 7:55 Introducing ...

51. Survivor Self-Worth + Cristabelle's Mental Health Journey

April 29, 2022 11:30 - 45 minutes - 52.2 MB

How can the "invisible" injury affect our self worth? Survivors often don’t realize their own identity as separate from their brain injury. Living with symptoms for so long can take a toll on mental health. It's also easy to take in how other people view the "invisible" injury and let it negatively impact how we view ourselves. But you are more than your injury, and there is hope for improvement! This week, Cristabelle goes deeper into some lesser known pieces of her own story, candidly sha...

50. The Role of Trauma/PTSD in Brain Injury + How to Find Help (with Dr. Jen Blanchette)

April 22, 2022 12:00 - 48 minutes - 55.2 MB

Something often overlooked in brain injury recovery is the effect of trauma or PTSD on the survivor. Trauma symptoms can have a lot of overlap with brain injury symptoms, as both stimulate the Autonomic Nervous System. Dr. Jen Blanchette helps us to uncover what this overlap can mean, and explains how addressing trauma can often be a missing piece that can really help to further along brain injury recovery. 0:00 Intro 5:15 Introducing Dr. Jen Blanchette 9:09 Neuropsychology vs. Therapy 1...

49. How to Sleep Better to Improve Brain Healing (Dr. Roy Wilkins - Part 2)

April 15, 2022 12:00 - 40 minutes - 45.9 MB

Let’s discuss some specifics on how to sleep better after a brain injury. Dr. Wilkins also shares important information on sleep hygiene, what a sleep study will do, and hope that there is help available. This is Part 2 - check out last week’s episode to hear an introduction on how sleep affects the brain and sleep disturbances after brain injury, along with more of Dr. Wilkins personal journey with TBI. 0:00 Intro 5:15 Getting to Root Cause 7:00 Trouble Falling Asleep 10:00 Trouble Sta...

48. Why is Sleep so Important? + Sleep Disturbances after Brain Injury (Dr. Roy Wilkins - Part 1)

April 08, 2022 14:14 - 37 minutes - 35.1 MB

Dr. Roy Wilkins is an expert in sleep medicine - and a brain injury survivor himself! This week we will learn the importance of how sleep affects the brain. Dr. Wilkins also shares some of his own journey with TBI, along with why there can be sleep disturbances after a brain injury. Stay tuned for PART 2 with Dr. Wilkins next week! 0:00 Intro 2:15 Cristabelle 7:50 Introducing Dr. Roy Wilkins 9:50 TBI Experience 17:50 Why is sleep so important? 21:10 Sleep & Brain Injury 25:20 Sleep &...

47. Survivor/Caregiver Partnership and Communication (with Drew and Terry Niemann)

April 01, 2022 12:00 - 45 minutes - 42.5 MB

Let's talk about effective communication between survivors and family caregivers at home! This week, married couple and survivor/caregiver duo Terry & Drew Niemann are here to inspire us and talk about some of the challenges and lessons learned on their journey. We also discuss mental health, depression, mindfulness, and the importance of communication from both sides. 0:00 Intro 5:30 Introducing Drew & Terry 9:45 The Caregiver/Spouse Role 12:50 Finding a Rhythm 19:50 Push and Pull of I...

46. Personal Growth Mindset + Connecting to Your Values and Strengths (with David Freeman)

March 25, 2022 12:00 - 52 minutes - 59.8 MB

There are a lot of things you CAN do to help your recovery - and it's built on the foundation of your mindset! This week, fitness professional David Freeman, who has also had concussions from playing football, helps us to connect to our values and strengths and shares some tangible things we can do to improve our recovery and overall wellness. 0:00 Intro 2:15 Cristabelle 13:40 Introducing David 17:00 Foundation of Mindset 21:30 Redefine Success 27:40 Being True to You with Loss of Iden...

45. Uncovering your Personal Path to Recovery (with Dr Molly Parker)

March 18, 2022 13:00 - 47 minutes - 44.2 MB

While each brain injury is unique, there are things we can do to treat it - as you find what works on your personal path of recovery. Dr. Molly Parker shares her personal concussion experience, including advice for work/life/symptom balance, routine, and boundaries. Then, we dive into the different types/sub-types of concussions, understanding your individual symptom profile, how to find the right provider, and more! 0:00 Intro 2:30 Announcements from Cristabelle 8:00 Introducing Dr. Moll...

45. Uncovering your Personal Path to Recovery (Dr. Molly Parker)

March 18, 2022 13:00 - 47 minutes - 44.2 MB

While each brain injury is unique, there are things we can do to treat it - as you find what works on your personal path of recovery. Dr. Molly Parker shares her personal concussion experience, including advice for work/life/symptom balance, routine, and boundaries. Then, we dive into the different types/sub-types of concussions, understanding your individual symptom profile, how to find the right provider, and more! 0:00 Intro 2:30 Announcements from Cristabelle 8:00 Introducing Dr. Moll...

44. Finding Normal + Living with TBI (with Jeff Huxford)

March 11, 2022 22:39 - 39 minutes - 45.4 MB

What does “normal” mean anyway? Jeff Huxford was a family medicine doctor in northwest Indiana for ten years before having to retire due to complications from a traumatic brain injury (TBI). He has since become a blogger, author, and speaker - and his story is currently being turned into a feature film! This week, Jeff joins Cristabelle for an uplifting conversation, sharing his story and also touching on parenting with a brain injury, coping strategies for symptoms, and the perspective of ...

43. The Importance of Brain Injury Awareness

March 04, 2022 15:30 - 23 minutes - 26.9 MB

Brain Injuries are invisible. You can't see them on the outside, and that's one of the reasons awareness is so important. They can be overlooked, misdiagnosed, or mistreated, and survivors feel the burden.  This week, Cristabelle shares some of her personal brain injury story, and how she has seen awareness improve over the last decade - along with encouragement for how you can make a difference by bringing awareness right where you are. March is Brain Injury Awareness Month! Related Past...

43. The Importance of Brain Injury Awareness (Cristabelle Braden)

March 04, 2022 15:30 - 23 minutes - 26.9 MB

Brain Injuries are invisible. You can't see them on the outside, and that's one of the reasons awareness is so important. They can be overlooked, misdiagnosed, or mistreated, and survivors feel the burden.  This week, Cristabelle shares some of her personal brain injury story, and how she has seen awareness improve over the last decade - along with encouragement for how you can make a difference by bringing awareness right where you are. March is Brain Injury Awareness Month! Related Past...

42. Gut-Brain Connection (with Dr. Meaghan Kirschling)

February 25, 2022 16:20 - 42 minutes - 49 MB

Did you know that healing the gut can be a powerful tool in brain injury recovery? Dr. Meaghan Kirschling is back to explain the way that the brain and gut are connected, including how chronic inflammation can adversely affect healing. There is so much hope in learning things that we can do to take our power back in healing. This is an informative and educational episode that will bring a deeper understanding of what we can do to further our brain healing through the gut. 0:00 Intro 6:45 ...

42. Gut-Brain Connection (Dr. Meaghan Kirschling)

February 25, 2022 16:20 - 42 minutes - 49 MB

Did you know that healing the gut can be a powerful tool in brain injury recovery? Dr. Meaghan Kirschling is back to explain the way that the brain and gut are connected, including how chronic inflammation can adversely affect healing. There is so much hope in learning things that we can do to take our power back in healing. This is an informative and educational episode that will bring a deeper understanding of what we can do to further our brain healing through the gut. 0:00 Intro 6:45 ...

41. Symptom Flare-Ups & Crying Over Bananas (Cristabelle Braden)

February 18, 2022 14:55 - 20 minutes - 23.6 MB

When you are so overwhelmed that every little thing is causing symptom overload & emotional responses... it may be time to step back and allow your brain and body to rest. This week, Cristabelle shares a personal story and encouragement for the days when everything is all too much. CONNECT Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | cristabellebraden.com Hope After Head Injury: @hopeafterheadinjury | hopeafterheadinjury.com Brain Injury Bible Study: @braininjurybiblestudy | braini...

41. Symptom Flare-Ups & Crying Over Bananas

February 18, 2022 14:55 - 20 minutes - 23.6 MB

When you are so overwhelmed that every little thing is causing symptom overload & emotional responses... it may be time to step back and allow your brain and body to rest. This week, Cristabelle shares a personal story and encouragement for the days when everything is all too much. CONNECT Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | cristabellebraden.com Hope After Head Injury: @hopeafterheadinjury | hopeafterheadinjury.com Brain Injury Bible Study: @braininjurybiblestudy | braini...

40. Vestibular Rehab + Ways to Improve/Maintain Recovery (with Sonia Vovan, PT)

February 11, 2022 16:44 - 58 minutes - 66.4 MB

After a brain injury, the vestibular system can be impacted and cause symptoms such as feeling off-balance, dizziness, vertigo, headaches, vision, and more. So this week we are discussing all things vestibular recovery with Sonia Vovan, PT! Sonia is here to share her expertise and educate us on all things vestibular rehabilitation, focusing on things we can do to improve recovery. We will also talk about the difference between chronic vs. acute vestibular issues, and practical things we can...

39. Applying Creativity to Brain Injury Recovery (with Ali Rheaume)

February 04, 2022 17:36 - 45 minutes - 51.6 MB

What does it mean to have a creative mindset - and how can it help recovery? Let’s talk about it! This week Cristabelle is joined by fellow survivor Ali Rheaume to discuss the benefits of creativity, and how having a creative mindset can aid in adaptability. This is an encouraging episode full of practical tips and application points! Ali will also share how incorporating creativity in rehabilitation helped her go from a 10% functioning level and nonverbal after TBI to where she is today! ...