When a brain injury changes your cognitive abilities, your self-worth can be affected. For survivors attending school or in any type of learning environment, it can be hard to keep up because of symptoms and fatigue. Cristabelle knows this firsthand, as she had her first TBI during high school and attended college post-injury. Today we are talking about difficulties with learning after a brain injury, what sort of accommodations are helpful, and how to advocate for yourself. Educator Carly Endres, MS, CBIS, also joins to share insight from her special education background.

This episode will provide insight for survivors, parents, families, and anyone in a learning environment. We also talk about some studying tips that are applicable to survivors- whether you are currently in school or not!

NOTES

0:00 Intro

2:15 Cristabelle

11:33 Introducing Carly

15:45 Accommodations & Modifications

37:04 Advocating for Yourself / Your Child

41:30 Studying & Reading Tips

49:15 Words of Hope

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.

It is common to develop exercise intolerance while recovering from a brain injury. Today, Dr. Mark Heisig is here to explain why this happens, and give advice for survivors on how to increase movement.

Some topics covered: the relationship between symptoms and exercise, autonomic system dysfunction, different types of exercise affect on the brain, suggestions for where to start with increasing movement, and more.

Connect with Dr. Mark Heisig and sign up for his newsletter at drheisig.com

0:00 Intro- Exercise Intolerance

7:47 Introducing Dr. Mark Heisig

12:02 What are some challenges with exercise after concussion?

15:33 Exercise & Concussion Symptoms

17:40 Symptom Limited Activity

21:54 Increasing Activity

23:20 Buffalo Concussion Test

28:32 Low, Moderate, and High Intensity Exercise

35:22 Resistance Training

40:53 Duration

44:09 Where to Start for PCS

49:26 Ways to Increase Movement

53:12 Words of Hope

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 be a brain injury warrior? To kick off the new year, here are some words of hope from 6 incredible survivors.

0:00 Intro

2:21 Cristabelle: Warrior Words of Hope

10:20 Tanya Gauthier: Keep Going

14:02 Jo Ann Glim: Resilience

20:25 Shane Warner: Never Quit

24:07 Ali Rheaume: Combatting Fear

29:34 Rachel Rose Dombeck: Self-Kindness

34:04 Tracy Yatsko Onyekanne: Surviving is Fighting

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 is a trend to post highlights of the year on social media. But do you find that actually hard to do, or even see from others? Living with brain injury, it is easy to feel discouraged from setbacks, or a recovery timeline you had in mind, or comparing to the "old you" and grieving the life before, as well as coping with symptoms on a daily basis. Listen as Cristabelle discusses all of this, while also sharing some of her personal journey through TBI. 

Life is not a highlight reel. And that is okay. Let's talk about it!

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

0:00 Intro

9:44 Life is Not a Highlight Reel

13:56 My First TBI

19:58 Feeling like a Failure

21:47 Improving Little by Little

23:47 Re-Injuries & Setbacks

26:39 Most Recent Concussion Setback

30:14 It Can Be Hard to Look Back

32:14 Celebrating Steps

35:31 Reasons for Discouragement

38:59 You Don’t Need a New Years Resolution

39:41 You Don’t Need Highlights

40:56 You are More

44:34 Different Ways to Reflect

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.

Lisa is a fighter, living with both an invisible injury (TBI) and physical disability. She was born with Spina Bifida and hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain), contracted spinal meningitis as an infant, and has been an advocate for disabilities her entire life. Then, in 2011 she sustained a traumatic brain injury from an accident playing wheelchair basketball. 

This is an episode that is sure to inspire and encourage all who listen, as Lisa Pubantz eloquently shares her story of victory. She joins Cristabelle to discuss the tension between the invisible injury and the physical disability, how society treats people with disabilities, and how the TBI symptoms are often misunderstood.

0:00 Intro

6:13 Introducing Lisa’s Story

15:03 Wheelchair Basketball & Races

16:27 Adjusting after TBI

19:53 Surviving the Injury

22:14 Symptoms & Challenges

25:45 Visible vs. Invisible Disability

28:37 Misunderstood TBI Symptoms

31:38 Mental Health

34:49 How Others Treat People with Disabilities

42:58 Claiming Victory

46:28 Words of Hope

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 hormones can be affected by a brain injury? Hormonal imbalances can actually be a contributing factor to persistent symptoms, along with affecting sleep, stress response, and reproductive systems.

Today, Dr. Meaghan Kirschling is here to talk about some of these potential hormonal changes, and how it could potentially affect a brain injury survivor. We also including variables in age, differences between male and female, and sex drive.

NOTES

0:00 Intro

4:29 Introducing Dr. Meaghan

10:18 Brain Injury Affects Hormones

14:14 What if it goes untreated?

15:22 Stress Response

16:32 Hormones & Persistent Symptoms

17:25 Pituitary Gland

21:58 Cortisol & Adrenal Glands

25:28 Variables (Age, etc.)

27:59 Oxytocin, Emotional Connection

31:19 Male vs. Female Differences

34:59 Birth Control & Menstrual Cycle

37:38 Testosterone & Estrogen Balance

40:03 Sex Drive

43:47 Sleep & Melatonin

45:25 Recommendations

51:43 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.

Emotions after brain injury can come in extremes - highs, lows, outbursts - or you can end up just feeling "blank" or nothing at all. Survivors also could have a hard time expressing their emotions and verbalizing it. Emotions also affect our identity, how we view ourselves, and directly impact our relationships. Today, Cristabelle leads us through all of this, sharing some personal examples along with encouragement for listeners.

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.

"A brain injury is the only time that we ask the injured body part to regulate itself..." How do you handle emotions after brain injury? What are some ways to help? Let's talk about it!

Today Cristabelle is joined by Rebecca Quinn & Carly Endres from the North Dakota Brain Injury Network for a conversation about emotional dysregulation as it relates to brain injury. We cover some common "tells" including outbursts and overstimulation, the cognitive behavioral spiral, the importance of mindfulness, and encouragement for both caregivers and survivors.

Episode Info & Tip Sheet Download: https://hopeafterheadinjury.com/644/emotional-dysregulation-with-ndbin/

NOTES

0:00 Intro

2:21 Why this topic?

7:50 Introducing Rebecca & Carly

14:35 Emotions after Brain Injury

16:23 Cognitive Symptom Inventory Info

20:40 Emotional Dysregulation

26:20 “Tells” - Outbursts & Overstimulation

32:35 Cognitive Behavioral Spiral

34:06 Mindfulness

37:03 Giving Permission to Yourself

43:27 Healing is Physical and Emotional

49:55 Little Steps for Improvement

Connect with Rebecca & Carly through the North Dakota Brain Injury Network: https://www.ndbin.org/

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 realistically implement medical recommendations into your lifestyle? Let's talk about it.

Today Cristabelle is joined by Marlene Rivera, CBIS, to learn about how to develop a balanced life post-injury. We discuss some of the barriers that people might encounter, and also strategies such as how to communicate with medical professionals, the importance of a routine, prioritizing, and community.

More Info on Re-Discover U: https://www.councilonbraininjury.com/rediscoveru

Cristabelle will be sharing on Monday December 6, join via zoom at the link above!

NOTES

0:00 Intro

1:46 Why this topic?

7:24 Introducing Marlene

10:12 Identifying Barriers

17:14 Communicating with Medical Professionals

18:59 How to Better Follow Through

21:44 Connection with Others

23:17 Examine your Season of Life

24:36 Schedule & Routine

33:05 Prioritizing

39:16 Perspective

45:14 Words of Hope

46:38 ReDiscoverU Info

Connect with Marlene through CoBI at: councilonbraininjury.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.

The Holidays are upon us - and that can be overwhelming for brain injury survivors! For the first shorter "minisode" (mini+episode!) of Season 2, Cristabelle will walk us through some strategies and practical tips to manage symptoms and get the most out of your holiday gatherings.

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

Brain Injury Bible Study: @braininjurybiblestudy | braininjurybiblestudy.com

Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | facebook.com/cristabellebraden | cristabellebraden.com

Email: [email protected]

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.