Making Headway

The second in our series on relationships; Ryan and Anna Teal come on to share their journey. Ryan suffered a stroke that caused apraxia and aphasia.  He and Anna have worked together as a couple to establish new communication patterns and roles within their relationship. They are a shining example of how a willingness to flexibly support each other forged them into a stronger unit that moves forward together. 

Their experiences led them to a new purpose, helping adults with aphasia.  This has led them to create Aphasia Readers, a workbook for adults looking to practice reading aloud to improve their speech. Join us in this episode to learn more about their recovery path, how they are giving back, aphasia tips, and the things that keep them strong as a couple experiencing the wake post stroke. 

Links to any resources mentioned: 

• Apps for aphasia: Otter, Tactus, Phonics, Grammerly, Google recorder> search on your app platform
• Aphasiareaders.com: for fridge functional phrases and and to buy the book

Reach out to:

• Ryan and Anna on Email: [email protected]
• Eryn on IG @eryn_makingheadwaypodcast
• MHP on IG @makingheadwaypodcast 
• Go to our website www.makingheadwaypodcast.com for full show notes and resources
• Stroke Recovery with Motus Nova: https://motusnova.com/makingheadway/ 
• The Headache Nutritionist: https://www.headachenutritionist.com/ 

Using our Amazon links to buy products gives us a small kickback.  Thank you for your support!

• Aphasia Readers on Amazon

Support us at: 

• Patreon
• Donate section on our website.  10% of profits go to our favorite non-profit of the moment

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

 We are a podcast for brain injury survivors by brain injury survivors. If you dug this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!

Ways to subscribe to the Making Headway Podcast:

• Click here to subscribe via Apple Podcasts
• Click here to subscribe via Spotify
• Click here to subscribe via RSS
• You can also subscribe via Stitcher

Visit the Making Headway Podcast website to learn more about Eryn and Mariah and our journey to podcasting.

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

If you dug this episode, kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe!

Visit the Making Headway Podcast website at www.makingheadwaypodcast.com to learn more about Eryn and Mariah and our journey to podcasting.

Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/makingheadwaypodcast

Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/makingheadwaypodcast

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/makingheadwaypo

As an Amazon Associate, Making Headway may earn from qualifying purchases via links provided.

February.  The month of commercialized love aka Valentines Day.  While buying chocolates and teddy bears is a questionable way to show you love someone; it is a good reminder that we need to show support and be vocal about appreciating those who love us, especially those who have stood by us in our worst moments.  

Brain injury is a unique circumstance in a relationship where roles change quickly.  Suddenly an independent partner has increased needs and the significant other becomes a caregiver.  This is a really hard time for the survivor and spouse.  This month, we talk with some amazing couples who have stuck together through the hard times.  A true in sickness and in health test.  

For our first in the series, stroke survivor Tymiak and his beautiful wife Rachel Hawkins provide their perspectives on what was needed for their relationship to thrive post injury.  Join us as we listen to them converse about communication, mindfulness, honesty and the roles they play in keeping a solid relationship post brain injury. 

Links to any resources mentioned: 

• Becoming the Light: Navigating the Darkness after Stroke by Tymiak Hawkins.  Buy here.

Reach out to:

• Tymiak on IG @twotheT2.0
• Tymiak on facebook @tymiakamirhawkins
• www.tymiakhawkins.com: free guide for survivors and caregivers.  Buy the book here
• Eryn on IG @eryn_makingheadwaypodcast
• MHP on IG @makingheadwaypodcast 
• Go to our website www.makingheadwaypodcast.com for full show notes and resources
• Stroke Recovery with Motus Nova: https://motusnova.com/makingheadway/ 
• The Headache Nutritionist: https://www.headachenutritionist.com/ 
• Using our Amazon links to buy products gives us a small kickback.  Thank you for your support!
• Buy Tymiak’s book on Amazon using this link.

Support us at: 

• Patreon
• Donate section on our website.  10% of profits go to our favorite non-profit of the moment

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

 We are a podcast for brain injury survivors by brain injury survivors. If you dug this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!

Ways to subscribe to the Making Headway Podcast:

• Click here to subscribe via Apple Podcasts
• Click here to subscribe via Spotify
• Click here to subscribe via RSS
• You can also subscribe via Stitcher

Visit the Making Headway Podcast website to learn more about Eryn and Mariah and our journey to podcasting.

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

If you dug this episode, kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe!

Visit the Making Headway Podcast website at www.makingheadwaypodcast.com to learn more about Eryn and Mariah and our journey to podcasting.

Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/makingheadwaypodcast

Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/makingheadwaypodcast

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/makingheadwaypo

As an Amazon Associate, Making Headway may earn from qualifying purchases via links provided.

What can we say about Michael Shutt??  His kindness and compassion shine through in this heartwarming interview.  Michael is a three-time, over-achieving stroke victim.  He used his experience to write one of the most powerful depictions of stroke and what it is like to recover from one that I have ever heard.  His one man show, A Lesson in Swimming, is a radio, soon to be live, show that you won’t want to miss. 

Join us in this episode to learn more about the man behind the show. We touch on many important lessons that stroke has taught us both.  I know you will leave inspired and ready to find your community!   

• Links to any resources mentioned: 
• A Lesson in Swimming: michaelshutt.com, Apple podcasts, alessoninswimming.com 
• Neuro Nerd Network on Clubhouse Wednesdays and Fridays at 6p PST
• Reach out to:
• Eryn on IG @eryn_makingheadwaypodcast
• MHP on IG @makingheadwaypodcast 
• Michael Shutt on IG @whmike
• Michael on A Lesson is Swimming on IG @alessoninswimming
• Go to our website www.makingheadwaypodcast.com for full show notes and our new tools/resources page
• Stroke Recovery with Motus Nova: https://motusnova.com/makingheadway/ 
• The Headache Nutritionist: https://www.headachenutritionist.com/ 
• Support us at: 
• Patreon
• Donate section on our website.  10% of profits go to our favorite non-profit of the moment

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

We are a podcast for brain injury survivors by brain injury survivors. If you dug this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!

Ways to subscribe to the Making Headway Podcast:

• Click here to subscribe via Apple Podcasts
• Click here to subscribe via Spotify
• Click here to subscribe via RSS
• You can also subscribe via Stitcher

Visit the Making Headway Podcast website to learn more about Eryn and Mariah and our journey to podcasting.

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

As an Amazon Associate, Making Headway may earn from qualifying purchases via links provided.

What should you look for in a good rehab therapist? How do you find a good neuro recovery clinic? This episode is a must listen for therapists and patients!

Today, Marabeth and Danielle from Expanded Practice explain their ideals surrounding good therapy.  Positive mindset in both the patient and the therapist forms the basis of successful therapeutic relationships.  Without hope, you have nothing; it is a medical necessity.  Their practice proposes that emotions are contagious; therapists have to control their stress to avoid transferring it to their patients.  Join us to feel inspired and gain knowledge on how to get the most out of your recovery!

• Links to any resources mentioned: 
• Stroke Risk Article: Stroke may be triggered by anger, upset, or intense exercise in the hour before.  
• Classes for therapists: 12 month program in 4 month segments
• 8 Simple Ways to Become a Better Therapist Today
• Reach out to:
• Expanded Practice: https://www.expanded-practice.com/ 
• IG: Expanded Practice
• Facebook: Expanded Practice
• Eryn on IG @eryn_makingheadwaypodcast
• MHP on IG @makingheadwaypodcast 
• Go to our website www.makingheadwaypodcast.com for full show notes and resources
• Stroke Recovery with Motus Nova: https://motusnova.com/makingheadway/ 
• Support us at: 
• Patreon
• Donate section on our website.  10% of profits go to our favorite non-profit of the moment

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

 We are a podcast for brain injury survivors by brain injury survivors. If you dug this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!

Ways to subscribe to the Making Headway Podcast:

• Click here to subscribe via Apple Podcasts
• Click here to subscribe via Spotify
• Click here to subscribe via RSS
• You can also subscribe via Stitcher

Visit the Making Headway Podcast website to learn more about Eryn and Mariah and our journey to podcasting.

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

As an Amazon Associate, Making Headway may earn from qualifying purchases via links provided.

This. Episode.  It has hit more glitches than any other one!  Sound quality and late posting aside, this is one of our best! It’s a metaphor for how life is.  Rewarding experiences oftentimes require the most work.  It is these hard times that end up giving us the most value; as brain injury survivors we understand this all too well!  

Sara Tucker Howe is an inspiration.  She has used her journey to sculpt her into a compassionate and loving human.  Our conversation is a powerful reminder that true beauty is a reflection of our inner spiritual and mental health.  This episode has elements to feed your soul! 

Learn more about Sara and connect with her as one of life’s sherpas at saratuckerhowe.com! Get a free workout with Sara on our NEW tools and resources page! 

• In this episode:
• Sara’s Website and coaching business is LIVE!! Saratuckerhowe.com
• Health coaching, personal training, virtual training
• Clients come to Sara for mindset, learning how to care for your whole self, and personal training.  
• Mindset, mindfulness, and movement builds you as a healthy person on the inside which is then reflected on the outside.
• Go to the new tools and resources page on our website www.makingheadwaypodcast.com for a FREE lower body workout from Sara!
• Gender norming
• The roles that are expected of us
• Living in your emotions and learning to self soothe
• Filling your own cup
• How Full is Your Bucket by Tom Rath: super powerful kids book we all can learn from; link below
• We can’t fix others.  We can fix ourselves and then live by example
• On Site Workshops; Cumberland Furnace, TN, link below
• Living Centered Program
• An off the grid, inner-work retreat 
• Group meditation, lectures, group experiential therapy
• Insights
• Everybody has trauma and your body remembers it, from small things that happened with your peers to large life events
• Psychodrama- a role play experience that allows you to play your inner child and members of your family. Allows you to experience situations from multiple viewpoints
• Very safe environment
• Every human wants to be seen and heard for who they are
• Validating experience
• Human beings not human doings
• Trust the process
• It may suck but you will get there and get through it
• Recharging to find your peace
• The spider web
• A parallel to life
• While making the web, the spider falls and gets back up making beautiful imperfections within the web.  These lines strengthen the structure.
• The web is like life.  Our story is written a little bit (the big lines of the web).  You’re born into what you’re born into
• Throughout life you fall and get back up. It’s not perfect.  You get back up and keep going.  These make all the beautiful intricacies of life (like the intricacies within the web)
• A reminder that we make beauty out of our life events
• Sara’s personal training
• Half marathon, a challenge out of the comfort zone
• Continual challenges to the body yield results
• Stroke risk article: high intensity workouts and high stress as risk factors for stroke, get link below
• Adding stressful exercises to high stress lives–maybe the better challenge for you at those times is doing something soothing, walking or yoga
• Listening to our bodies
• Looking healthy isn’t the same as being healthy on the inside
• Mindset, mindfulness, movements
• Consider your morning routine and how it makes you feel
• Consider helpful day starters beyond your cell phone: meditation, yoga flow, inspirational reading
• Find Your Happy Daily Mantras by Shannon Kaiser, link below
• The compliments on your body don’t equal health.  
• Are you going to suffer internally to have a “good” body? 
• Where do you get your validation: internally or externally?
• Our bodies aren’t meant to stay stagnant.  They change over the course of our lives.
• Focus should be on respecting our bodies
• You might not always love what you see.  The inner strength keeps you happy.
• I'm important no matter what I am going through
• Not comparing ourselves to others.  Our paths are all different.  We are only responsible for ourselves
• Creating boundaries.  
• ‘No’ is a complete sentence.  You don’t have to explain and give reasons all the time.  
• You setting boundaries gives others permission to make some as well.
• Start small with someone you are comfortable with.  
• When setting a boundary, explain what you would like instead.  You’re not cutting her off.  You’re offering an option that meets your needs
• Dr. Brene Brown, episode on We Can Do Hard Things; link below
• How people respond to your boundaries is not your responsibility 
• Developing throughout our whole lifetime, not just our childhoods
• We are human beings that grow and change.  Growth is essential; The only constant is change
• Tucker the dog! Pics here
• See our website for a workout video by Sara!!
• Links to any resources mentioned: 
• Saratuckerhowe.com
• On Site Workshops
• Stroke Risk Article: Stroke may be triggered by anger, upset, or intense exercise in the hour before.  
• Dr. Brene Brown, episode on boundaries on We Can Do Hard Things
• Reach out to:
• Sara on IG @saratuckerhowe
• Eryn on IG @eryn_makingheadwaypodcast
• Mariah on IG @mariah_makingheadwaypodcast
• MHP on IG @makingheadwaypodcast 
• www.makingheadwaypodcast.com
• Using our Amazon links to buy products gives us a small kickback.  Thank you for your support!
• How Full is Your Bucket by Tom Rath
• Find Your Happy Daily Mantras by Shannon Kaiser
• Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown 
• Support us at: 
• Patreon
• Donate section on our website.  10% of profits go to our favorite non-profit of the moment

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

If you dug this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe!

Ways to subscribe to the Making Headway Podcast:

• Click here to subscribe via Apple Podcasts
• Click here to subscribe via Spotify
• Click here to subscribe via RSS
• You can also subscribe via Stitcher

Visit the Making Headway Podcast website to learn more about Eryn and Mariah, our journey to podcasting, or if you’d like to donate.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

Apple Notes:

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

If you dug this episode, kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe!

Visit the Making Headway Podcast website at www.makingheadwaypodcast.com to learn more about Eryn and Mariah and our journey to podcasting.

Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/makingheadwaypodcast

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.copm/makingheadwaypo

Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/makingheadwaypodcast

A first ever solo episode! Join Eryn as she delves into all the skills that have helped her post brain injury.  Listen to learn more about pacing, the value of a broad support team, monopolizing on your new ‘slower’ brain, and for some awesome pod, book, and movie recommendations. You won’t want to miss this one.  It’s all that and a bag of tricks! (Just a little biased:)

• In this episode: 
• **note: this was recorded before our season opener, we WILL be releasing episodes every week starting Jan. 3, 2022
• Value of rest
• Value of the community.  We got you! I know they had me and still do.
• Lessons learned in recovery:
• Reaching out and helping others
• Not here to preach to others on what to do or not to do
• Value of life coaching
• See links below for Joanne Susi
• Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA)–has great support group resources
• The pitfalls of doing what you “should“ do or some rule you need to follow
• …this is your ego talking.  Your mind’s voice. 
• The ego is based on what you have done in the past and values keeping you safe.  Left unchecked, it can keep you stuck
• The other voice is your spiritual self i.e. god, intuition, universe, etc..it can help you try something new
• The art of slowness
• Sitting and reflecting
• Brain injury may make you feel slow, the art of getting through brain injury is figuring out how to monopolize on this
• Rest
• Prioritization
• Suggestion: write dpwn each thing you need to do and then put it away. Take a rest. Come back to it.  Narrow down which things need to stay on the to-do list based on the due date. 
•  What date is it actually due? Do you really need to get this done ahead of time? 
• Do things for when they are actually due.  
• Work on a piece of each thing gradually.  
• You don’t have to over-achieve or have things done early. 
• Time out how long common tasks take you.  This will help you plan so that you can avoid overbooking yourself
• Time blocking
• Try to avoid rigidity.  Leave some flexibility in your schedule
• In order to time block you have to know how long each thing actually takes you (on average)
• Once you know how long things take, were you scheduling realistically or trying to cram too much in?
• Do you have realistic expectations?
• Reflect on how you use your time
• The dangers of unsolicited advice and trying to force moments with other people.  What you want might not be realistic
• “Brain injury strength”: the opportunities found in hardship; where you see the beauty
• Movie: Collateral Beauty- seeing the beauty in the hard times
• Beauty still occurs while awfulness is happening. The world is filled with oxymorons
• It's ok to be human; to be imperfect.  Dichotomies exist.  We have to be flexible. It’s not black and white.  Good exists with the bad. Look for the collateral beauty. 
• Brain injury journey
• I lay out what I’ve been through.  I’m vulnerable.
• I’m a caterpillar that can see butterflies and wants to be one.  I’m slowly becoming one.
• Synopsis of my stroke experience (related to perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage) 
• The lows of depression lasted 10 months
• Mental Health Therapy and life coaching have been a must!
• Support system: family and friends
• Best hubby award goes to…Troy!
• Low self-esteem with depression
• Hyperactivity, headaches, tingling, no-energy, fatigued, and impulse control issues rear their ugly heads
• Unsupportive healthcare providers 
• Functional neurology (turned out to be a dead end, OT ended up being the most helpful)
• Asking supports to give me a check if I am acting out of line
• Resources
• Coaching for Leaders with Dave Stahowviack (podcast): Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coaching-for-leaders/id458827716
• We Can Do Hard Things (podcast): Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-can-do-hard-things-with-glennon-doyle/id1564530722
• Untamed by Glennon Doyle (book): buy here
• Collateral Beauty (movie): buy here
• The Upside (movie): buy here
• Links to any resources mentioned: 
• Instagram @joesorocks.  Survivor Clubhouse rooms Wed & Fri 6pm PST/ 9p EST
• Joanne Susi, life coach and stroke survivor at Healing for Helping Professionals
• BIA-MA, follow this link for free online support groups and activities
• Collateral Beauty: buy here
• Joe and Mariah’s episode: E30 Crawling out of the Dirt
• Functional neurology episode: E34 Help for the Hopeless 
• Coaching for Leaders with Dave Stahowviack (podcast)
• We Can Do Hard Things (podcast)
• Reach out to:
• Eryn on IG @eryn_makingheadwaypodcast
• Mariah on IG @mariah_makingheadwaypodcast
• MHP on IG @makingheadwaypodcast 
• Using our Amazon links to buy products gives us a small kickback.  Thank you for your support!
• Untamed by Glennon Doyle (book)
• Collateral Beauty (movie)
• The Upside (movie)
• Support us at: 
• Patreon
• Donate!- section on our website.  10% of profits go to our favorite non-profit of the moment

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

If you dug this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe!

Ways to subscribe to the Making Headway Podcast:

• Click here to subscribe via Apple Podcasts
• Click here to subscribe via Spotify
• Click here to subscribe via RSS
• You can also subscribe via Stitcher

Visit the Making Headway Podcast website to learn more about Eryn and Mariah, our journey to podcasting, or if you’d like to donate.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

Apple Notes:

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

If you dug this episode, kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe!

Visit the Making Headway Podcast website at www.makingheadwaypodcast.com to learn more about Eryn and Mariah and our journey to podcasting.

Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/makingheadwaypodcast

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/makingheadwaypo

Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/makingheadwaypodcast

We’re BAAAAAACCCKKK! And better than ever!  Check out Season 2, episode 40 to find out what Mariah and Eryn have been up to and where the show is headed in 2022.  Also, tune in for some great, hard-earned advice on how to help yourself and others dealing with brain injury along with what to look for in a healthcare provider.  These lessons have come hard won by yours truly, Eryn! Join us in celebrating the start of Season Two!! Happy 2022 to you all!! 

• In this episode:
• Where We’ve Been
• Burnout
• The need for seasons, pacing, and rest
• Health Updates
• The dangers of all or nothing thinking
• Leads to a crash
• Long term recovery; when the symptoms don’t consume you daily
• Identifying as brain injured, what does it mean long term?
• Brain injury as a fanny pack, it comes and goes but can be taken with you if chosen
• Living in brain injury vs. letting it own you vs. moving away from it
• You can move past it and some of us are lucky enough to not have to live in it daily
• Mariah’s gallbladder surgery: a reminder of needing self-care
• Priorities shift over time, then you readjust, and they shift again
• The power of saying “No”
• Bye Mariah!! Tata for now.  Thank You!!!!!!!
• When do you let go of brain injury? Can you? 
• Maybe it is when you don’t need or have to think about it every day?
• Brain injury as a spectrum
• Not sitting in the trauma or reliving it
• This is not a ‘peace out’ for Mariah
• Krempels Center: a support program for brain injury survivors and caregivers.  It is local in NH but also online
• Mariah is working with this agency 
• Allows her to apply lessons learned in brain injury a different way
• Having a brain injury gives her an advantage
• New life after brain injury can be a very devisive term.  So many are trying so hard to obtain their old life
• Where MHP is going in the future
• Season Two starts now!
• Series on relationships and brain injury
• Shows on trauma, meditation
• IG relationships and interactions help to form the speakers and topics for the upcoming season along with being a personal support for Eryn in her recovery
• Eryn’s updates
• 2021 was 1 mile forward and 2 miles back
• Blood in brain in now reabsorbed and old, damaged circuits are trying to come back on board.  It’s like using a cell phone with a cracked screen.  It might still work but it doesn’t work well
• Yes! Final confirmation that Eryn DID have a STROKE.
• Medical and personal acknowledgement of this has allowed for better resources
• Depression from November 2021 to August 2021
• It gets dark
• When joy returned Eryn’s brain wasn’t used to the high energy
• Movie recommendation: Inside Out
• Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction
• Emotional Dysregulation
• How to help someone or yourself while they’re going through it:
• Food
• Provide a safe space to share, be heard and respected
• Acknowledgement allow for awareness.  Awareness allows you to have a choice of how you want to respond
• You have a unique skill set; listen to it and use it
• Have a broad support system filled with many different people with many different skills
• Make sure the person suffering knows you are there for them
• Not everyone can be there or has the right skills to be present in that moment.  This is OK!  It is preferred that you know your lane and stay in it.
• Find people with the right skills
• Learn how to listen to yourself
• Awareness allows you to make a choice
• Know yourself.  Know your intuition. Learn to know what you need. Practice it.
• Healthcare providers (HCP) may not be supportive
• Look for HCPs who know how to say, “I don’t know; let me help you find someone who does.”
• HCPs may not listen or recommend.  
• They likely don’t understand you.  
• They may recommend treatments that are WRONG for YOU.  (They don’t know you like you know YOU!)
• Self advocacy is needed with HCPs but is really hard!
• Many providers need their egos managed.  Some doctors do not like to be challenged.  Massaging their egos is a skill and doesn’t always work.
• Doctors may lose trust in you.  You are different after brain injury and they don’t get it or have a working knowledge of what it is like living with an injury.
• Could be due to a lack of knowledge on HCP’s part
• Neuroplasticity takes a LONG time.  You need providers who will give you time. 
• Mariah’s tattoo: rescheduled for January, follow her MHP account for updates
• This is not a goodbye for Mariah, just a talk to you later, see you soon!
• Links to any resources mentioned: 
• Mariah’s Marketing Agency: https://stoutheart.com/ 
• Joe Borges @joesorocks @neuronerds
• Krempels Center: a brain injury support and programming network.  Reach out to see if it is for you at https://www.krempelscenter.org/ 
• Reach out to:
• Eryn on IG @eryn_makingheadwaypodcast
• Mariah on IG @mariah_makingheadwaypodcast
• MHP on IG @makingheadwaypodcast 
• Using our Amazon links to buy products gives us a small kickback.  Thank you for your support!
• Pink (or many other colors), water resistant fanny pack
• Inside Out
• Support us more at: 
• Patreon
• Donate section on our website.  10% of profits go to our favorite non-profit of the moment

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

If you dug this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe!

Ways to subscribe to the Making Headway Podcast:

• Click here to subscribe via Apple Podcasts
• Click here to subscribe via Spotify
• Click here to subscribe via RSS
• You can also subscribe via Stitcher

Visit the Making Headway Podcast website to learn more about Eryn and Mariah, our journey to podcasting, or if you’d like to donate.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

Have you had trouble describing what you are experiencing post brain injury? Is it hard for you to connect what makes symptoms better or worse? Felicia and Allie know first hand how hard it is to gain self-awareness, understand your new self, communicate your experience with others, and get the help you need. Their own personal journeys with brain injuries caused by concussions led them to start the Keep Your Head Up Foundation. The foundation aims to give others the tools and education needed to empower survivors and their support systems post injury. We love how these two used their injuries to support each other and have shared their learning to help others! We know you will too!

In this episode:

• Felicia tells her story: suffered a concussion playing ringette in grade 10
• Allie tells her story: suffered a concussion playing rugby in grade 12, 6 weeks before graduation
• Severity of symptoms at the time of the injury and/or loss of consciousness do not correlate with if you’ll get Post Concussion Syndrome/Symptoms
• They formed a friendship and supported each other through their recoveries
• Being able to connect with others going through similar injuries has been really helpful.  Recovery can be lonely and people that haven’t experienced it do not understand what you are going through
• Keep Your Head Up Foundation was born to connect people, make a community, and provide tools to help you connect with resources and cope with your brain injury. The goal is to teach and provide others what they need to get support and gain self-awareness
• The mission is to educate those with brain injury along with the community
• The website has tools to help those with brain injuries track symptoms and how they affect your life.  The tools help you become more aware of what is draining and what is restorative along with how this changes over time. 
• Energy journal
• Sleep journal
• Symptom tracker 
• Wellness plan
• Circle of Support
• Goal Setting
• You are in charge of how you carry your injury with you
• Community outreach through Keep Your Head Up Foundation--follow them on Instagram to stay involved.  
• The foundation also has education programs geared towards students, athletes, teachers, coaches, and parents that aims to empower individuals to be more prepared to face the challenges they may encounter after a concussion. Learn more here.
• Wisdom Wednesday: if you are interested in sharing your story and what you have learned reach out here
• Wisdom learned through the foundation: there is power in sharing your story; not only for your own healing but also to help someone else.  You never know when what you have to say will resonate with someone who really needs to hear it.  

Links to any resources mentioned: 

• Instagram: @keepyourheadupfdn
• Website: https://www.keepyourheadup.ca/
• Toolkit: https://www.keepyourheadup.ca/toolkit
• Community outreach: https://www.keepyourheadup.ca/what-we-offer
• Interested in sharing your story on Wisdom Wednesday? Click here!

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

 We are a podcast for brain injury survivors by brain injury survivors. If you dug this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!

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In a world where being fast and pushing through exhaustion is everything, the slow down after a brain injury is especially jarring. Hannah Halvorsen, professional ski racer on the US Cross Country Ski Team, joins us to share what brain injury has taught her. Take a listen to our talk on how awareness, acceptance, appreciation, kindness, support, and gratitude have all culminated to make this athlete a true star!   

In this episode:

• Hannah’s Story
• Hit by a car when crossing the street in November 2019
• Suffered a subdural hematoma and knee injury
• Her knee, the visible injury, slowed her down from jumping right back into skiing.  This was a blessing in disguise as it slowed her down from pushing too hard with her brain injury. 
• Some of her brain injury symptoms were much more vague and would leave her wondering if it was just her being lazy or over sensitive
• Some lessons:
• As soon as you start to feel tired, just stop
• As a high level athlete you are trained to push through fatigue, pain, and exhaustion--that’s what gives you an edge.  With a brain injury you have to adjust and learn to listen to yourself 
• Returning to skiing
• Her coach understood that she needed to take it slow and helped her train at a safe pace 
• The knee’s rehab was cut and dry with tangible protocols to follow.  Brain recovery requires so much more awareness since others can’t see what is happening.  We aren’t trained to have awareness of our brain function so when changes occur it is easy for us to judge ourselves as being personal failures
• When she could admit that there was depression and accept it as a result of her brain injury it helped lessen her personal burden
• “Everything is going great,” but she didn’t feel great.  That can lead to feeling ungrateful because everyone perceives you as being an inspiration but you don’t feel that way.  Everyone’s support is amazing but it doesn’t take away the depression and can feel extra heavy. 
• Being a professional athlete means there are many resources for recovery.  Like most things in life you have to go get it. Through the recovery process, Hannah has learned to assess what the resources are and how to ask for them.  Asking for and accepting help can be really hard to do but is a crucial skill especially in recovery 
• Gratitude 
• For having health insurance and access to care
• For having strong support systems
• For all the people that have helped
• For inter-reliance and the loving support of others.  
• Lessons from recovery
• Becoming more aware of how you treat yourself allows you to better treat others.  
• Getting help when you are struggling helps to fill you back up. You are not alone, there is help
• It takes a team to recover. 
• Gratitude for physical abilities that were easy to take for granted prior to the injury
• An ability to appreciate things even if they aren’t perfect
• Appreciate what you can do today.  Celebrate what you did rather than focusing on what you couldn’t do.  
• A new appreciation for health without picking on every little thing about your body. It was a time to reset thinking.  
• It’s not about denying yourself your goals.  It’s about accepting where you are and working towards what you want. 
• Advice when you are in the thick of recovery: figure out what you can be grateful for and what you can do today.  If you can accomplish both of those things, that’s enough!
• Follow Hannah: 
• Instagram: @hannah.g.halvorsen
• https://www.hannahhalvorsen.com/

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

 We are a podcast for brain injury survivors by brain injury survivors. If you dug this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!

Ways to subscribe to the Making Headway Podcast:

• Click here to subscribe via Apple Podcasts
• Click here to subscribe via Spotify
• Click here to subscribe via RSS
• You can also subscribe via Stitcher

Visit the Making Headway Podcast website to learn more about Eryn and Mariah and our journey to podcasting.

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

We survivors understand the world in a different way. We have found that the worst of times shape you in a fundamental way like nothing else can. The silver linings are plentiful.  Building a life after injury that holds these new perspectives in the forefront takes courage and an openness to become something new. Elle Gargano has taken her experiences after surviving a mass shooting to shape her life into the one she wants it to be.  Recovering from a brain injury doesn’t mean you get over it. It means you learn how to find joy every day, accepting and incorporating all parts of yourself. You have the power to be you and make an impact in this world. Live Brave! @brave_the_label

In this episode:

• Elle survived a gunshot to the head suffered on October 1, 2017 at a country music festival mass shooting in Las Vegas
• As horrific as the shooting was, Elle found silver linings; “blessings hidden in the moments” (6:54).  Goodness is there even in the worst times
• At a time when people were faced with saving themselves, complete strangers helped her, her friend, and others get out 
• During your time on earth, the most important thing about it is the connections you make with others.  Things don’t matter; it's the people in your life that give it value and meaning. 
• Near-death experiences give a valuable and life-changing perspective that others may not understand.  
• A testament to the power of good: complete strangers helped Elle and her friend make it out of the venue and took Elle to the hospital
• Making connections with other survivors of the event is really hard.  Everyone is in a different place with processing it. It can be very overwhelming to revisit the trauma.  
• Elle needed a craniectomy to remove the bullet fragments and a piece of her skull.  A few weeks later she needed a cranioplasty (synthetic skull insertion).  She had side effects of hydrocephalus which is a build up of fluid in her brain that eventually required a third surgery to insert a shunt.
• Loss of self and lack of identity after brain injury-- That feeling of not identifying with your past self and interests.  Not knowing yourself anymore--your interests and abilities are different post-injury.  You have to relearn who you are after injury.  
• Changing from your previous over-achieving self to someone with a different level of performance is not only hard on you but it changes the roles you play within your social contexts. Family, friends, and yourself all have to adjust to the new you and figure out the new role you play. It is hard on everyone.
• Joe Borges ep. 30: Before our injuries we were caterpillars in the dirt but after injury we are butterflies soaring.  Yet everyone expects us to still be caterpillars.  
• The adjustment to being home
• Her initial mentality post-injury was filled with gratitude for being alive but as time has gone on she has learned many things about herself and dealing with trauma.  
• Elle’s career path changed post-injury from a conventional corporate path to one where she could be more mindful of her needs with a controlled pace and a focus on helping others.  
• Elle started a business: Brave the Label
• Brave the Label
• Elle’s company: 
• When she was thinking of names she considered what she wants people to embody while wearing her clothes: Bravery, a feeling of empowerment, confidence, you can do anything you put your mind to, you have it in you!!
• The business is helping others while helping Elle regain her sense of purpose, accomplishment, and meaning.  
• It's a clothing company of hand tie-dyed sets of athleisure wear 
• 10% of all proceeds go to mental health initiatives!!
• Brave the Label is a community, you are a part of something bigger when you are wearing her clothes
• Having structure and things you can do to contribute to your household helps with recovery as it gives you back some purpose
• Having a business has helped Elle build the life that she wants
• Words of wisdom to end with
• If something feels wrong ask for help.  Don’t stop until you feel like you are in a better place with it.  You have to be your own advocate or find someone that will advocate for you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
• Sometimes the help doesn’t come in the form you think it will.  Family and friends may not have the tools and tips to help you process and recover
• Even if you aren’t ready for that first step of seeing a therapist, it is worth taking it.  You don’t have to suffer in silence or suffer alone.  There are people that want to be there and help you.
• It is a journey.  The way you feel one day is totally different than the next. You will have ups and downs, that’s ok.  
• This is a part of your life but it isn’t your whole life.  It is not something you get over because it is a part of you.  You can still enjoy life and have many interests.  PTSD, depression, and injury do not need to become you--there is still an enjoyable life to be had!!

Links to any resources mentioned: 

• Listen to Joe Borges ep. 30: Crawling out of the Dirt, 
• Instagram: @joesorocks
• Follow Elle on Instagram @ellegargano
• Brave the Label
• Follow Brave the Label on Instagram @brave_the_label
• Website www.wearebravethelabel.com 
• Links to any research or studies mentioned
• Any quotes that might be worth having (but no pressure to have any if it just doesn't make sense)

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

 We are a podcast for brain injury survivors by brain injury survivors. If you dug this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!

Ways to subscribe to the Making Headway Podcast:

• Click here to subscribe via Apple Podcasts
• Click here to subscribe via Spotify
• Click here to subscribe via RSS
• You can also subscribe via Stitcher

Visit the Making Headway Podcast website to learn more about Eryn and Mariah and our journey to podcasting.

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.