Did you know that healing the gut can be a powerful tool in brain injury recovery?

Let's learn about the Gut-Brain Connection.

This week on Hope Survives® | Brain Injury Podcast, Dr. Meaghan Kirschling is here 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.

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 on Hope Survives® | Brain Injury Podcast, Cristabelle shares a personal story and encouragement for the days when everything is all too much.

After a brain injury, the vestibular system can be impacted and cause symptoms such as feeling off-balance, dizziness, vertigo, headaches, vision, and more.

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

What does it mean to have a creative mindset - and how can it help brain injury recovery? Let’s talk about it!

This week on Hope Survives® | Brain Injury Podcast, Cristabelle is joined by fellow survivor Ali Rheaume to discuss the benefits of creativity, and how having a creative mindset can aid in adaptability.

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 on Hope Survives® | Brain Injury Podcast, 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.

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.

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.

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

Did you know? It is common to develop exercise intolerance while recovering from a brain injury.

This week on Hope Survives | Brain Injury Podcast, 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.