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.

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. Molly

11:20 Work-Life-Symptom Balance

15:58 Routine & Boundaries

17:30 Uniqueness of Each Injury

20:00 Need for Comprehensive Care

22:00 Finding the Right Provider

25:45 Different Types/Sub-Types of Concussions

31:45 It’s Treatable

35:00 The Invisible Side

39:15 What works for YOU?

Connect with Dr. Molly at @mollyparkerpt or concussioncompass.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.

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 having a brain injury for nearly a decade.

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month!

0:00 Intro

6:20 Introducing Jeff

7:50 Brain Injury Awareness

10:20 How did you get your brain injury?

14:55 Finding Normal

16:30 Symptoms & Coping

23:40 Parenting with TBI

30:20 Finding Normal Book & New Normal Movie

33:50 Words of Hope

Connect with Jeff at: jeffhuxford.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 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 Episodes to Check Out:

17. Understanding the Invisible Injury (with Cyndie Braden)

19. Brain Injury Association of America (with Susan H. Connors, BIAA President & CEO)

21. How to Be a Brain Injury Advocate + Tips for Sharing Your Story (with Monica Vaccaro from BIAPA)

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.

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 Introducing Dr. Meaghan

9:00 Brain-Gut Connection

11:45 Inflammation & Information

16:35 Gut Affecting Recovery

18:25 Leaky Gut / Leaky Brain

22:15 Healing the Brain through the Gut

28:15 Gluten & the Brain

31:58 Recommendations

39:15 Words of Hope

Connect with Dr. Meaghan Kirschling: @drmeaghankirschling on instagram or through www.oneagorahealth.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.

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

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 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 do to maintain vestibular recovery over time.

0:00 Intro

7:34 Introducing Sonia Vovan, PT

12:40 What is the Vestibular System?

16:57 How does Brain Injury affect it?

20:34 Dizziness, Vertigo, Balance

25:07 Vision / Vestibular Relationship

29:04 Chronic vs. Acute

31:49 Dysautonomia & POTS

37:04 Vestibular Rehab Therapy

40:44 Ways to Improve Vestibular Recovery

45:18 Adaptation vs. Habituation

52:09 Maintaining Recovery

54:49 Words of Hope

Connect with Sonia on IG: @all.in.your.head.pt

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.

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! Creative activities can help with learning skills post-TBI like trying new things, expressing emotions, and coping with change.

0:00 Intro

2:25 Cristabelle: Applying Creativity

10:35 Introducing Ali

13:25 Ali’s TBI Story

20:50 Creative Mindset in Recovery

23:30 Planning, Pacing, & Balance

28:05 Benefits of Creativity Post-TBI

32:40 Tips for Trying Something New

36:50 Creative Mindset Helps us Cope

29:30 Words of Hope

Connect with Ali on IG: @alison.rheaume ; @embracingunique

Register for Ali's BIAA webinar: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4100996272117241867

Join the Brain Injury Community on Clubhouse

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.

The “loss of identity” can be so hard to describe after a brain injury. On the one hand, you are still “you” - but you also don’t feel like yourself. There is also a grief that comes with losing the life you had before the injuries.

This week, Cristabelle dives deep into this struggle that survivors face and provides hope in knowing you are more than your brain injury. Then, Cristabelle’s mother Cyndie Braden is here to talk about the caregiver side. Loss of identity does not just affect the survivor, but also the family, as everything changes for them too. We also discuss what is like to grieve the “old life.” You are not alone.

NOTES

0:00 Intro

2:10 Cristabelle on Loss of Identity

10:48 Your Story is not Your Identity

19:31 Introducing Cyndie Braden (Cristabelle’s Mom)

24:41 Caregiver Loss of Identity

25:45 Grief Process

44:15 Words of Hope

Connect with Cyndie: @cyndiebraden | email: [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.

How do you define yourself when everything about your life has changed? Cali Lonardelli is a survivor of multiple brain injuries, and this week she shares her story of perseverance and hope. As a teenager, she went from an accomplished athlete in gymnastics and pole vaulting to struggling to be able to walk. Her journey has taken her through many years of symptoms and learning to live with a new reality, as well as Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) eating disorder. Cali is a true overcomer and is now a Physical Therapy student and an intern for the non-profit Pink Concussions. Take a listen as she joins Cristabelle for an inspiring conversation shining a light on what it is like to live with brain injury.

NOTES

0:00 Intro

6:15 Introducing Cali

9:18 Concussions + Symptoms

13:15 School Adjustments

17:41 Life Change

20:40 Loss of Identity

23:00 RED-S Eating Disorder

27:50 Therapy & Support

39:45 Coping Strategies

46:05 Words of Hope

Connect with Cali: @cali.lonardelli and @pinkconcussions

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.