What if healing from chronic illness isn’t just about getting back to where you were — but discovering how adaptable and resilient your brain is?

In this episode, Melanie sits down with Lauren Ziaks, DPT, ATC a leading physical therapist, clinician, and researcher, to explore what it means to heal from invisible injuries like concussion, long-COVID, and dysautonomia.

If you or someone you love is navigating the challenges of chronic illness, fatigue, or brain fog, this conversation is a reminder that your story doesn’t end here — it’s just the beginning, because your brain is never done healing.

Lauren invites listeners to think about health and healing in a broader context — by reclaiming hope, embracing science, and learning how to support the body and mind’s natural ability to recover through effective behavioral changes.


What You’ll Hear in This Episode

Melanie and Lauren talk about three types of complex chronic medical illnesses: concussion, long-COVID, and dysautonomia.  

Understanding Neuroplasticity:
What it really means when we say the brain can change — and how that knowledge shifts the way we approach recovery.

Incremental Stress and Healing:
Why “doing less” can sometimes help you do more, and how gradual, consistent challenges restore brain and body function.

The Mental Health Connection:
How stress management, mindset, and emotional regulation directly influence brain healing and overall recovery.

Living Fully Through Chronic Illness:
Lauren shares strategies for finding balance, energy, and purpose while navigating life with long-COVID, concussion, or dysautonomia.

Hope as Medicine:
Practical ways to stay hopeful and grounded when recovery feels slow — and why small wins matter more than perfection.

Resources and Mentions

Lauren Ziaks, PT, DPT, ATC — physical therapist, clinician, and researcher specializing in concussion, dysautonomia, and long-COVID rehabilitation. Co-founder - Phoenixconcussionrecovery.com

Follow Lauren on Instagram at @lziaks

The WebbWell Way of Life™ — a holistic fitness approach to rebuilding body and mind after illness or injury

WebbWell.com/episodes — explore the archives for conversations and recovery stories that inspire resilience, movement, mental wellbeing, and reconnection with nature

Follow Melanie on Instagram @melanie.from.webbwell
To watch this episode, visit the WebbWell channel on YouTube