You can't see it on the outside, but every day living with a concussion / brain injury brings an internal struggle. You're constantly fighting what you want to do, what you used to be able to do, and what your brain will allow you to do. There's the physical toll- the fatigue, the headaches, the balance issues... There's also the emotional toll- the grief, the depression, the loss of identity... and more.

This week on Hope Survives® | Brain Injury Podcast, we wrap up Season 2 with an uplifting episode. Cristabelle opens with an encouraging reminder to be kind to yourself, and then we hear some empowering words of hope from brain injury professionals. You are not alone - and there is always hope!

Concussion symptoms and mental health can be very interconnected, especially when you can't see the symptoms on the outside. Today, Cristabelle interviews Bella Paige (founder of Post Concussion Inc) on her journey with 10+ concussions and trying to hide her symptoms at first and pretending like nothing was wrong. This led to depression, which Bella openly shares with us today in a candid and inspiring conversation.

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 Braden 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.

This week on Hope Survives® | Brain Injury Podcast, 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.

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

Today is an inspiring episode all about finding hope, featuring survivor and Emmy Award winning host Tracy Yatsko. In 2005, she sustained a serious traumatic brain injury from playing basketball that completely derailed her life. From dealing with the invisible injury, grieving the old self, debilitating symptoms, and deep depression, she candidly shares her story.

This episode is all about encouragement to anyone listening - survivors, caregivers, family members - it is possible to find your way out of the darkness.