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 in learning tools for improvement for executive functioning and communication. We also discuss tips for family/caregivers to help the survivor get their goal of communication across, as well as the non-verbal side of social cues, difficulty understanding sarcasm, and more.

Share how this podcast or the Hope After Head Injury groups have helped you! Accepting written & audio messages that could be shared on the podcast! https://hopeafterheadinjury.com/10years

0:00 Intro

2:00 10 Years

7:05 Introducing Katherine

10:15 Communication & Cognition

15:00 SLP / After Brain Injury

22:05 Tools for Improvement

28:55 Routine as a Strategy

33:05 Word Finding / Goal of Communication

36:05 How Family/Caregivers can Help

39:50 Difficulty with Social Cues / Sarcasm

48:35 Words of Hope

Connect with Katherine: @lotus_slp or lotusslp.com

CONNECT

Find more resources, podcast episodes, & our monthly zoom support group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hopesurvives.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ | @hopesurvives

Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cristabellebraden.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the intro song "Hope Survives" by Cristabelle Braden on all music streaming platforms!

Thank you to Council on Brain Injury for supporting this podcast by providing a microphone as part of their grant program to the brain injury community. Check out the amazing work done by CoBI at: ⁠councilonbraininjury.com⁠

This podcast is for education and informational purposes only, and not intended for medical advice. If you need specific medical advice, please consult your physician.

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. We will also discuss how to find the right clinician. You’ll leave this episode with some takeaways that can help you to find where to go next in your recovery journey.

0:00 Intro

8:45 Introducing Melissa

12:15 Why Rehab?

17:40 Pillars of Care - overview

24:05 Autonomic Nervous System

26:40 Nutrition / Supplements

30:25 Psychological Support

31:30 Soft Tissue / Manual Therapy

35:10 Finding the Right Clinician

41:05 Rehab + Memory/Cognition

43:45 Cristabelle’s Example

49:00 Words of Hope

Connect with Melissa: rehablab.ca @the.rehab.lab

CONNECT

Find more resources, podcast episodes, & our monthly zoom support group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hopesurvives.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ | @hopesurvives

Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cristabellebraden.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the intro song "Hope Survives" by Cristabelle Braden on all music streaming platforms!

Thank you to Council on Brain Injury for supporting this podcast by providing a microphone as part of their grant program to the brain injury community. Check out the amazing work done by CoBI at: ⁠councilonbraininjury.com⁠

This podcast is for education and informational purposes only, and not intended for medical advice. If you need specific medical advice, please consult your physician.

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 finding hope in recovery.

0:00 Intro

6:20 Nick’s TBI Story

14:05 Symptoms

17:30 Fighting for Recovery

26:00 Power of Mindset

27:50 Taking Control

29:10 Hormones/Nutrition/Lifestyle

36:50 Autonomic Nervous System Regulation

40:50 Think about How you View Yourself

46:50 Words of Hope

Connect with Nick: @neurofitnick on IG

CONNECT

Find more resources, podcast episodes, & our monthly zoom support group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hopesurvives.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ | @hopesurvives

Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cristabellebraden.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the intro song "Hope Survives" by Cristabelle Braden on all music streaming platforms!

Thank you to Council on Brain Injury for supporting this podcast by providing a microphone as part of their grant program to the brain injury community. Check out the amazing work done by CoBI at: ⁠councilonbraininjury.com⁠

This podcast is for education and informational purposes only, and not intended for medical advice. If you need specific medical advice, please consult your physician.

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 Natasha

13:11 What is the Autonomic Nervous System

14:20 Parasympathetic vs. Sympathetic

17:15 Effect of Concussions/Brain Injury

21:20 Compass 31 Tool to Bring to Practitioners

22:55 Dysautonomia & POTS

25:40 Cristabelle’s Experience

27:25 Identifying Triggers & Response

34:55 Putting the Pieces Together Clinically

36:40 Anxiety or Autonomics?

37:55 Practical Things to Do to Help

42:00 Words of Hope

Connect with Natasha: @natasha.wilch or https://www.natashawilch.com/

Compass 31 Assessment: https://www.mvpctr.com/compass-31-online-questionnaire/

CONNECT

Find more resources, podcast episodes, & our monthly zoom support group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hopesurvives.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ | @hopesurvives

Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cristabellebraden.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the intro song "Hope Survives" by Cristabelle Braden on all music streaming platforms!

Thank you to Council on Brain Injury for supporting this podcast by providing a microphone as part of their grant program to the brain injury community. Check out the amazing work done by CoBI at: ⁠councilonbraininjury.com⁠

This podcast is for education and informational purposes only, and not intended for medical advice. If you need specific medical advice, please consult your physician.

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 sharing some of the harder parts to talk about including mental health struggles, navigating social cues, abuse and trauma, and more.

You'll hear Dr. Jen Blanchette ask Cristabelle questions, as today's interview was originally aired on TBI Therapist podcast: tbitherapist.com

CONNECT

Find more resources, podcast episodes, & our monthly zoom support group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hopesurvives.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ | @hopesurvives

Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cristabellebraden.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the intro song "Hope Survives" by Cristabelle Braden on all music streaming platforms!

Thank you to Council on Brain Injury for supporting this podcast by providing a microphone as part of their grant program to the brain injury community. Check out the amazing work done by CoBI at: ⁠councilonbraininjury.com⁠

This podcast is for education and informational purposes only, and not intended for medical advice. If you need specific medical advice, please consult your physician.

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

14:03 What is “Trauma” exactly?

19:45 Trauma Symptoms

20:45 PCS/PTSD Overlap

24:15 What is Trauma Therapy?

26:25 Role of Autonomic System

31:05 Strategies to Help

32:00 Importance of Community

38:30 Different Types of Trauma Therapy

45:05 Words of Hope

Dr. Jen Blanchette is a Maine based licensed psychologist, trauma (PTSD) expert, fitness/yoga professional, and concussion clinician. She has over 10 years of training and experience in brain injury therapy and neuropsychological testing. Her superpower is curiosity and out of the box thinking to aid in finding new ways to thrive. She helps determined, ambitious brain injury survivors gain the tools and support they need to LIVE again. Dr. Blanchette is also the host of the TBI Therapist podcast, which discusses the intersections of meaning, mental and emotional wellness, and acquired brain injury.

Contact: tbitherapist.com @tbitherapist

CONNECT

Find more resources, podcast episodes, & our monthly zoom support group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hopesurvives.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ | @hopesurvives

Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cristabellebraden.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the intro song "Hope Survives" by Cristabelle Braden on all music streaming platforms!

Thank you to Council on Brain Injury for supporting this podcast by providing a microphone as part of their grant program to the brain injury community. Check out the amazing work done by CoBI at: ⁠councilonbraininjury.com⁠

This podcast is for education and informational purposes only, and not intended for medical advice. If you need specific medical advice, please consult your physician.

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 Staying Asleep

16:15 Help with Sleep Medicine

18:05 What is a Sleep Study?

19:30 What Happens when you’re Sleep Deprived

22:15 More Sleep Study Info

24:15 Sleep Hygiene / Habits

33:30 Do what you Can Do

35:15 Words of Hope: There’s Help

37:20 Contact

Roy Wilkins, D.C., M.D., RPSGT has extensive training and history in neurology, chiropractic medicine, and sleep medicine. He received his D.C. degree in 1983, residency orthopedics with board certification in 1989, residency neurology board certification in 1992, fellowship with sleep medicine American academy sleep medicine waiver B program in 2006, and MD degree UHSA 2010. He has owned and operated sleep labs White Mountain Sleep Lab from 2003 to present.

Contact: [email protected]

CONNECT

Find more resources, podcast episodes, & our monthly zoom support group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hopesurvives.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ | @hopesurvives

Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cristabellebraden.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the intro song "Hope Survives" by Cristabelle Braden on all music streaming platforms!

Thank you to Council on Brain Injury for supporting this podcast by providing a microphone as part of their grant program to the brain injury community. Check out the amazing work done by CoBI at: ⁠councilonbraininjury.com⁠

This podcast is for education and informational purposes only, and not intended for medical advice. If you need specific medical advice, please consult your physician.

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 & Autonomic System

28:20 Suggestions for Helping Sleep

Roy Wilkins, D.C., M.D., RPSGT has extensive training and history in neurology, chiropractic medicine, and sleep medicine. He received his D.C. degree in 1983, residency orthopedics with board certification in 1989, residency neurology board certification in 1992, fellowship with sleep medicine American academy sleep medicine waiver B program in 2006, and MD degree UHSA 2010. He has owned and operated sleep labs White Mountain Sleep Lab from 2003 to present.

CONNECT

Find more resources, podcast episodes, & our monthly zoom support group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hopesurvives.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ | @hopesurvives

Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cristabellebraden.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the intro song "Hope Survives" by Cristabelle Braden on all music streaming platforms!

Thank you to Council on Brain Injury for supporting this podcast by providing a microphone as part of their grant program to the brain injury community. Check out the amazing work done by CoBI at: ⁠councilonbraininjury.com⁠

This podcast is for education and informational purposes only, and not intended for medical advice. If you need specific medical advice, please consult your physician.

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 Independence

21:00 Not Being Hard on Yourself

24:45 Depression & TBI

27:00 Survival Mode

28:50 Mindfulness and Mental Health

33:00 Caregiver Perspective

33:41 Lessons Learned

38:10 “A Battle Within”

42:20 Words of Hope

Drew & Terry also host their own podcast called "A Battle Within" - hear Cristabelle's interview on their podcast on Ep.120 "There is Always Hope" https://abattlewithin.com/120/ and check out their podcast on all platforms!

Connect with them: @a_battle_within

CONNECT

Find more resources, podcast episodes, & our monthly zoom support group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hopesurvives.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ | @hopesurvives

Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cristabellebraden.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the intro song "Hope Survives" by Cristabelle Braden on all music streaming platforms!

Thank you to Council on Brain Injury for supporting this podcast by providing a microphone as part of their grant program to the brain injury community. Check out the amazing work done by CoBI at: ⁠councilonbraininjury.com⁠

This podcast is for education and informational purposes only, and not intended for medical advice. If you need specific medical advice, please consult your physician.

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 Identity

29:50 Importance of Sleep

32:40 Importance of Nutrition

33:55 Management of Stress

35:10 Intentional Movement

38:40 Creating Better Habits

42:55 Personal Growth Mindset

David Freeman is a health and fitness professional that has been in the fitness industry for 10+ years. He is the National Digital Performer Brand Manager, Director of Inclusion and Diversity as well as the Co-Host of Life Time Talks Podcast with Life Time the Healthy Way of Life Company. He has been featured on the cover of Experience Life Magazine as an innovator within the health and fitness industry, and has been featured in Men’s Health and Men’s Journal, as the subject matter expert in helping change lives around the world and grow Life Time’s overall brand.

Connect with David at @freezy30 on instagram

David's Book Recommendation: StrengthsFinder2.0 by Tom Rath

CONNECT

Find more resources, podcast episodes, & our monthly zoom support group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hopesurvives.org⁠⁠⁠⁠ | @hopesurvives

Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cristabellebraden.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the intro song "Hope Survives" by Cristabelle Braden on all music streaming platforms!

Thank you to Council on Brain Injury for supporting this podcast by providing a microphone as part of their grant program to the brain injury community. Check out the amazing work done by CoBI at: ⁠councilonbraininjury.com⁠

This podcast is for education and informational purposes only, and not intended for medical advice. If you need specific medical advice, please consult your physician.