Making Headway is a podcast made for brain injury survivors by two friends who also happen to be brain injury survivors. Known as the "invisible disability", brain injuries can make survivors feel alone and isolated even though an estimated 1.5 million Americans are affected every year. You are not alone. Join hosts Eryn Martin (subarachnoid hemorrhage survivor) and Alison House (subarachnoid hemorrhage survivor) on their brain injury recovery journeys as they interview medical practitioners ...
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The third in our brain aneurysm awareness month series does not disappoint! Gia Patel a teenage survivor of a brain aneurysm rupture comes on to talk about her experience and how she transformed it into an educational campaign supporting accurate diagnosis of childhood aneurysms. She also gives advice on storytelling, highlighting its importance fo…
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S3E7: Brain Aneurysms and Women: Finding a Diagnosis and Symptom Relief
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Summary In this conversation, Tawnie, an aneurysm survivor, shares her experience of misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. She discusses the symptoms she experienced leading up to her aneurysm rupture and the challenges she faced in getting proper medical attention. Tawnie emphasizes the importance of advocating for oneself and the need for better aw…
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S3E6: What Puts the Buzz in The Bee Foundation
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Welcome to brain aneurysm awareness month! For the month of September, Making Headway Podcast and the The Bee Foundation have partnered to provide a month of episodes exploring resources for brain aneurysm survivors and caregivers. We will also be featuring more great survivor stories and advice. Today’s episode speaks with Erin Kreszel and Christi…
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S3E5: Get Real Results! Supplementation and Craniosacral Therapy with Aaron Cloutier, DC and Anna Blash
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Introduction This is the episode we have been searching for! We highly recommend it for anyone struggling to get the recovery results they hope for post brain injury. In today’s episode, Aaron Cloutier, Doctor of Chiropractics and Anna Blash an Upledger trained craniosacral therapist, massage therapist, and somatoemotional release expert guide us o…
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S3E4: Surviving AVM with MHP’s #1 Intern, Andrew Penarubia!
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Did you know, 10% of people in the US under the age of 45 experience having a stroke? In this episode, Alison and Eryn interview of childhood survivor of AVM rupture, Andrew Penarubia. Andrew is the one and only intern for Making Headway Podcast. His claim to fame didn’t start there though. Since being left with only one fully functioning hand he h…
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Feeling isolated after your diagnosis? Finding your tribe is life altering and tremendously helpful in facilitating your treatment and recovery from brain surgery and bleeds. TAAF is The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation, a foundation focused on supporting brain bleed survivors, grieving families, caregivers, and research. In this episode, Eryn interview…
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S3E2: Updates from Eryn: Where She's Been and How She's Doing
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Summary Did you know there are more than 5.3 million individuals in the U.S who are living with a permanent brain injury-related disability? That's 1 in every 60 people. In today's episode, Eryn updates everyone on where she has been and how she has been doing over the past few years. She shares with us her struggle with depression, the impact of C…
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S3E1: Dear Jesus, Don’t Let my Son Grow up Without a Mom: Survivor Story with Host Alison House
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Intro Welcome Back! Season Three is starting strong with a kick ass survivor and our new co-host Alison House. In today's episode, both Alison and Eryn go over their experiences as well as the many obstacles they face as stroke survivors. They share their experiences on how standing firm in their faith, showing gratitude, and spending time in natur…
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Summary Season 3 of the Making Headway podcast is about to begin!! Fun things are in store as there is a new co-host joining Eryn. Welcome Alison House! Both Eryn and Alison are brain injury survivors and nurses, bringing a unique perspective to the show. They will continue to interview brain injury survivors who have achieved amazing things in the…
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S2 E60: The Mental Side of It All with Dr. Judy Gooch and Tyanne Crook, BrainStorm for Brain Injury
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Our last episode of the podcast is definitely not the least! We’ve heard from so many of our listeners and have personally experienced just how much brain injuries can affect our mental health. From overstimulation to irritability; emotionality to anxiety; impulsiveness to depression; brain injuries really change how our minds work! In this episode…
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S2 E59: Be All the You Can Be Post Injury! Heal the Brain with Jane Connely
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Are you looking for community post brain injury? Are you trying to develop and become the new you? Do you need support? Look no further than Heal the Brain. Heal the Brain is a non profit offering active, virtual experiences that empower survivors with practical resources and social support. Through their workshops, Heal the Brain connects brain in…
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S2 E58: Conquering Concussions with Melissa Biscardi from the Rehab Lab
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Recovering from post concussion symptoms? Then we don’t need to tell you how challenging that can be. Melissa Biscardi, osteopath and registered nurse joins us from the Rehab Lab to talk about recovery. In her practice, she focuses on treating concussion through movement, vestibular training, nutrition, and mental health. Listen to learn about trea…
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S2 E57: Medical PTSD with Emily Parks, founder of POP! Medical PTSD
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After your brain injury, have you felt scarred by the medical community? Do you feel yourself pulling away from others, having intrusive thoughts, avoiding medical appointments, having increased anxiety about your health, or having trouble focusing on your appointments? You may be experiencing Medical PTSD. In today’s episode we have Emily Parks wh…
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S2 E56: A Survivor’s Experience with CBD with Adrian Treadway
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At Making Headway Podcast, we love to talk with people about different tools in their recovery toolbox. In today’s episode, we talk with TBI survivor Adrian Treadway. She shares her experience with using CBD as a recovery aide. Adrian has found CBD assists with pain, sleep, focus, and mental clarity. Learn tips from Adrian, the CBD connoisseur, on …
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S2 E55: Craniosacral Therapy with Amy Mercury
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Did you think you had heard of all the different types of therapy by now? We just discovered one more– craniosacral therapy! Craniosacral works with the body’s innate ability to self correct to homeostasis. It is a tool of consciousness helping you connect with your energy and your body’s ability to heal. Amy Mercury’s role as a craniosacral therap…
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S2 E54: Tips for Recovery with Dr. Nidhi Shah DPT
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Recovering from a brain injury is a physically and emotionally trying time. Addressing both your physical and mental health helps you get the most out of your therapy. Dr. Nidhi Shah, physical therapist fromYour Movement Specialist knows this all too well. In this week’s episode, Nidhi gives us tips to ground ourselves, strategies for better sleep,…
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S2 E53: Limitless Life with Kyle Mengelkamp
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Boom! You have a brain injury. Life as you knew it is forever changed. Your brain injury is a time of rebirth; a time to become something greater. Kyle Mengelkamp of Stroke of Genius joins us in this episode to talk about our potential. He introduces the concepts of resilience, mentorship, perseverance, vulnerability, and curiosity for all your lif…
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S2 E52: Headaches Handled: Fasting for Relief with Susannah Juteau, Registered Dietician
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Struggling with debilitating headaches? Have migraines taken over your life? There is hope beyond medications or elimination diets! Fasting has the potential to decrease brain fog, increase alertness, repair neurons, improve gut health, eliminate headaches and more. Today, Susannah Juteau MSc, CLT, RD talks with us about the benefits of therapeutic…
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S2 E51: Regulators! Relearning Emotions Post Injury with Elle Gargano
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Managing emotions can stump anybody. The ante is upped post injury since trouble regulating our emotions is a common side effect of brain injury. Elle Gargano and Eryn talk about their struggles and lessons learned through their experiences with emotional dysregulation. They get into it all; the anxiety, the ‘tantrums,’ trauma responses, and panic …
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S2 E50: Survivor Story: Running Your Way Through Depression with Brooke Trotter
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Depression is so real for many of us post injury. It robs us of feeling joy and part of life. It takes tremendous courage and strength to persevere and feel your sense of worth again. In today’s survivor story, Brooke talks about how he was able to reinvent himself post injury all while dealing with depression. He has used his experience to increas…
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S2 E49: Hormones and the Brain with Michelle Rusk, MA, CCC-SLP
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Struggling to feel energized and well post brain injury? Are you finding that you process and think differently? Michelle Rusk of Coastal Speech Therapy and Wellness addresses all of these things through providing speech therapy with a wellness coach’s touch. Not only can she address apraxia, aphasia, cognitive and executive function issues, but he…
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S2 E48: Brain Health, Concussion Recovery, and Meditation with Heather Van Tassel
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Are you looking for ways to increase your brain health but are unsure of where to start? In this week’s episode of Making Headway Podcast, Heather Van Tassel from Neuro Fit for Life joins us to talk about the 4 pillars of brain health and concussion recovery. Her approach to coaching people back to wellness post injury includes mindset, nutrition, …
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S2 E47: Brain Injury and Relationships Series: Wise Warriors with Felice LaZae and Joe Borges
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The last in our series on relationships is definitely not the least! This week we talk with Felice LaZae and Joe Borges from the NeuroNerds podcast. They share the wisdom they have gained that came out of the trauma. From gaining perspective on priorities to reprogramming old ways of being that no longer work for you, Joe and Felice touch on it all…
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S2 E46: Brain Injury and Relationships Series: Supporting Each Other Post Stroke with Ryan and Anna Teal
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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…
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S2 E45: Brain Injury and Relationships Series: Being the Light with Tymiak and Rachel Hawkins
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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…
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S2 E44: A Lesson in Swimming with Michael Shutt
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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, i…
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S2 E43: Hope as a Basis for Recovery with Expanded Practice’s Danielle Stoller (neuro PT) and Marabeth Quin (mama bear)
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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 therapeut…
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S2 E 42: Mindset, Mindfulness, and Movement with Sara Howe, Holistic Coach and Trainer
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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 i…
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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! (…
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S2 E40: Mariah and Eryn: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going
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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 h…
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Tools to Help You In Your Recovery with Felicia and Allie of Keep Your Head Up Foundation
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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 …
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Survivor Story: Traveling New Trails with Hannah Halvorsen, US Cross Country Ski Team
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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, an…
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Survivor Story: Blessings Hidden in the Moments with Elle Gargano
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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 experien…
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See BI Series: Domestic Violence and Brain Injuries- Helping Domestic Violence Advocates Best Reach Survivors with Julianna Nemeth PhD, MA
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Domestic violence survivors are a unique subset of brain injury. Many have experienced several types of brain injury from blunt force trauma and strangulation inflicted on them by their abusers. They commonly experience several types of trauma and mental health struggles. Substance use and limited social support can also play a role. Getting surviv…
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Survivor Story: Inspiration Through Action with Chris Dittrich
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We're off for the July 4th holiday but wanted to re-air an oldie but a goodie- one of our very first interviews with our friend Chris Dittrich! He has been an inspiration to us since we met! Hope you all enjoy. Eryn and Mariah interview fellow survivor, Chris Dittrich, who suffered from a traumatic brain injury as a result of a car crash during his…
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Survivor Story: Better is Better with Lea Damata
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Recovery is a journey. It is not an event with a defined end-point. The road can be hella hard! Fortunately, there is help out there! Lea Damata joins us in this episode to talk with us about her experience with post concussive symptoms. She shines a light on all the different types of therapy that have helped her. Riding on this twisting path is f…
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Neuroplasticity: Hope for the Hopeless with Dr. Angela Gabella, Functional Neurologist
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Our brains are truly remarkable organs!! They are what make us unique! It provides the connections needed to support all our body functions, thoughts, personality, and well-being. Their complexity and highly individualized nature are what make it the most misunderstood organ. There is no medicine or one size fits all approach to treatment which mak…
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If you have been listening to us for a little while you’ve probably figured out that sometimes, Mariah and Eryn just talk. Are we the smartest people in the room? Maybe if we are by ourselves (hehe)! But seriously, sometimes we just want to get real and talk about what we’re going through. In this episode we broach fear, fitness, cookies, selfishne…
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Video Games as Rehab with Dr Nick Housley PT, DPT, PhD of Motus Nova
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Are you looking to regain movement and independence days or years after your stroke? Take a listen, this rehab approach may be for you! Our last episode introduced everyone to Motus Nova, a company that uses technology and video games to regain movement post stroke or neurologic injury. We were so fascinated by this pairing of technology and recove…
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Technology Meets Recovery to Get You Moving Again! with David Wu, CEO of Motus Nova
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Looking for new ways to regain movement after stroke or brain injury? Does your recovery feel stalled? Are you tired of the limited amount of time and number of rehab session insurance will cover? Do you feel like the healthcare system just isn’t giving you enough to regain movement? Look no further, Motus Nova may be a solution for you! In this ep…
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Survivor Story: Crawling out of the Dirt with Joe Borges, host of the NeuroNerds
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How can we say this without shocking anyone?? We are not the only podcast looking to connect survivors together!!! Today we talked with our friend, Joe Borges, host of the podcast NeuroNerds. He suffered a hemorrhagic stroke from high blood pressure in 2016. He was feeling lonely and like no one understood him post-injury. It wasn’t until he met hi…
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Regaining Balance After Stroke with Jenna Tucker, DPT
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Have you ever heard the saying knowledge is power? When it comes to stroke, nothing is more true. Many of the risk factors for having a stroke are things you have control over--quitting smoking, a healthy diet, and exercise are just a few. In this episode, Dr. Jenna Tucker, DPT teaches us about regaining physical balance to increase mobility and re…
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Survivor Story: Learning to Be with Joanne Susi
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Shit happens! We don’t choose what occurs to us. We may feel victimized and out of control. We may feel scared. How do you get through it? In this episode we talk with Joanne Susi, life coach, stroke survivor, and a student of the law of attraction. We talk about how to move through fear, learn from it, and choose joy. The only control we actually …
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The Therapy You Never Knew You Needed with Dr. Jacqueline Theis, Neuro-Optometrist
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Are you fatigued after using your eyes? Since your brain injury do you feel anxious in crowds or grocery stores? Are you dizzy or do you get headaches? Does reading bring on symptoms? Do you have trouble tolerating screens even when you take breaks? Is it hard to pay attention? You may need neuro-optometry! 20-30% of brain injury survivors have sym…
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See BI Series: Sleep Disruption, TBI, and Long-Term Effects with Olga (Niki) Kokiko Cochran, Ph. D., The Ohio State University’s CBI Program
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Have you ever wondered what the long term effects of your brain injury will be? We know that brain injury is a risk factor to developing types of dementia like Alzheimer’s. BUT not all who have brain injury get dementia. Today in our See BI segment, we are joined by The Ohio State University’s CBI researcher Olga (Niki) Kokiko Cochran to discuss TB…
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Survivor Story: You Are Not Broken, You are You! with Sara Howe
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Since brain injury is invisible, survivors are often left on their own to figure out their cognitive and mental health.After injury, it can be hard to recognize what is going on, realize that this is not how your brain would normally function, and that you need help. Survivor Sara Howe joins us in this episode to share her story and her realistic p…
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Survivor Story: Making Super-Powers Out of Deficits with Comedian Mimi Hayes
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C’mon, y’all know you’ve done some strange and laughable things while being brain injured. Maybe it was funny at the time, maybe it's taken years to laugh, or maybe you still can’t. Finding the humor in all the heart-(ahem, brain)-ache makes those hard days just a little easier. After Mimi Hayes suffered a brain hemorrhage from a ruptured cavernous…
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Survivor Story: How to Love a Battered Woman with Nia Renee
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Domestic abuse and brain injury. Don’t let this scare you off. It is a conversation we all need to take part in. 75% of domestic abuse survivors suffer TBI as a result and you know we can’t leave friends in the community hanging! Today we join How to Love a Battered Woman’s Nia Renee to discuss domestic abuse and brain injury. Strikingly, overcomin…
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Hormonal Havoc: Imbalance after Injury with Dr. Tamara Wexler, Neuroendocrinologist
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Surprise! Our brains control our bodies! While it’s common knowledge that our brains control thoughts, movements, and perception; did you ever think about it controlling your hormones? Hormonal imbalance may sound abstract but could be behind many persistent and chronic brain injury symptoms. Fatigue, brain fog, mood changes, not feeling like yours…
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Facing Fatigue with Jenn Freeburn, Cognitive Therapist
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What is one symptom all brain injury survivors have in common? No, the answer we’re looking for is not our overwhelming awesomeness--although that’s also true! It’s FATIGUE. There are several different types of fatigue and many ways to manage it. Join Jenn Freeburn, MS, CCC-SLP as she schools us on the hows and whys of cognitive fatigue. She’ll hel…
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