Navigating life after brain injury often leaves survivors and families facing a sense of loss that lacks clear answers or closure - with emotions that are overwhelming and hard to describe. Today, we’re discussing some tools to help process these big emotions - there is hope!

In this episode, Cristabelle welcomes Dr. Daniel Ignacio, a clinical neuropsychologist and TBI survivor himself, to explore the concept of ambiguous loss and the unique grief that follows brain injury. We discuss how these emotional challenges can deeply affect identity, relationships, and the journey to healing. Our conversation also dives into the impact of stress on the nervous system and offers insights for coping and finding hope. Dr. Ignacio brings both professional expertise and personal experience, making this discussion especially inspiring, relatable and helpful for anyone navigating life after brain injury.

Whether you're navigating big changes in your identity or processing your emotions, we know it takes courage to listen and explore this. So if you're processing emotions like grief or anger, or you're still trying to make sense of what healing looks like, we want you to know that we're here for you - you do not have to process this alone. Reach out to us anytime: hi@hopesurvives.org + connect with our global online community & zoom groups: ⁠hopesurvives.org/community⁠

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CONNECT

Connect with Hope Survives: @hopesurvives | ⁠hopesurvives.org ⁠

Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden |⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cristabellebraden.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Dr. Daniel Ignacio: @tbioc - St Jude Brain Injury Network: https://www.sjbin.org/

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Thank you to The Functional Neurology Center for sponsoring this podcast - The FNC’s personalized neuro-recovery programs offer hope for those suffering from Brain Injuries, Dysautonomia, Vestibular, Chronic Pain, Stroke, Movement Dysfunction, Developmental Disorders, PPPD, FND and Complex Post Concussion. Learn more: ⁠https://www.thefnc.com⁠

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0:00 Intro

2:40 Welcome with Cristabelle

7:15 Introducing Dr. Daniel Ignacio

14:30 Dr. Ignacio’s Personal TBI Journey

19:15 Neuropsychologist Explaining Ambiguous Loss

28:45 Identifying Persisting Symptoms Affect on Emotions

31:30 Navigating Tension of Hope and Grief

36:45 Impact of Nervous System Dysregulation + Chronic Stress

44:00 Tools for Processing Emotions + Healing

49:45 Advice for Survivors & Families

55:20 Words of Hope

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Listen to the intro song "Hope Survives" by Cristabelle Braden on all music streaming platforms!
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. More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hopesurvives.org/podcast⁠

A brain injury can bring unexpected changes in identity, abilities, and relationships… and when things feel different, grief is a natural response. Today, we are exploring the concept of “ambiguous loss” - a type of loss that remains unclear, unresolved, or without closure - with our first Brain Injury Community Panel.

Today’s panel features 3 brain injury survivors, each with their own unique journey: Helena Jacobson, Stefanie Beeney, and Scott Tribble. Our conversation will help you to learn more about the concept of ambiguous loss, the impact on identity and social relationships for survivors, and tools to help navigate grief and move toward healing.

You do not have to process this alone: if you can relate to any of this, we are here for you. We invite you to join our online support groups, and feel free to reach out any time at hi@hopesurvives.org. We also have some grief processing resources available for both survivors & family members at our resource hub: hopesurvives.org/resource

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CONNECT

Connect with Hope Survives: @hopesurvives | hopesurvives.org

Join the online community & zoom groups: hopesurvives.org/community

Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cristabellebraden.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Helena on IG: @healingwithhelz

Connect with Stefanie on IG: @evolving.stef

Learn more about volunteering, sharing your story, or becoming a Hope Ambassador: https://www.hopesurvives.org/getinvolved

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Thank you to The Functional Neurology Center for sponsoring this podcast - The FNC’s personalized neuro-recovery programs offer hope for those suffering from Brain Injuries, Dysautonomia, Vestibular, Chronic Pain, Stroke, Movement Dysfunction, Developmental Disorders, PPPD, FND and Complex Post Concussion. Learn more: https://www.thefnc.com

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0:00 Intro

2:30 Welcome with Cristabelle

6:45 Introducing Panelists - Survivor Stories

10:25 Ambiguous Loss after Brain Injury

16:00 Internal Loss of Self and Identity

23:30 External Loss of Life and Relationships

30:00 Navigating Grief & Loss

37:40 Strategies for Processing Grief

48:45 Maintaining Hope and Motivation

58:45 Advice through Ambiguous Loss

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Listen to the intro song "Hope Survives" by Cristabelle Braden on all music streaming platforms!

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. More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hopesurvives.org/podcast

Healing is a journey, and we’re here for the long haul. As Brain Injury Awareness Month is drawing to a close, this remains true: brain injury doesn’t just impact survivors and families for a month—it’s every day, all year long.

In this episode, Cristabelle Braden sits down with her mother and Hope Survives board member, Cyndie Braden, to share personal experiences through more than a decade of navigating Cristabelle’s brain injuries, along with insights into the impact of brain injuries on families and the need for better support systems. This is an encouraging conversation for anyone on the journey of healing, or who would like to learn more about brain injury. We'll also explore the profound impact of support groups on individuals dealing with brain injuries, the importance of recognizing changed family dynamics, and ongoing efforts to raise awareness and build a brighter future for survivors.

CONNECT

Connect with Hope Survives: @hopesurvives | hopesurvives.org

Join the online community & zoom groups: hopesurvives.org/community

Hosted by Cristabelle Braden: @cristabellebraden | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cristabellebraden.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thank you to The Functional Neurology Center for sponsoring this podcast - The FNC’s personalized neuro-recovery programs offer hope for those suffering from Brain Injuries, Dysautonomia, Vestibular, Chronic Pain, Stroke, Movement Dysfunction, Developmental Disorders, PPPD, FND and Complex Post Concussion. Learn more: thefnc.com

0:00 Intro

3:35 Welcome with Cristabelle

8:48 Introducing Cyndie

12:20 Early Symptoms and Recovery Challenges

21:00 The Impact of Support Groups

29:51 Building Hope After Head Injury

32:40 Changes in Family Dynamics Post-Injury

34:30 The Future of Hope Survives

40:55 Words of Hope

Listen to the intro song "Hope Survives" by Cristabelle Braden on all music streaming platforms!

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. More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hopesurvives.org/podcast