Coco's Journey of Hope: Five Years of Concussion Recovery and Rediscovery

A few days ago, I reached out to all of you for new podcast/blog topics and ideas. I received many suggestions, including themes like accepting changes in our bodies, life after a concussion, hope for concussion survivors, communicating with loved ones, and sharing stories of hope.

With so many great ideas, I decided to start with a story of hope.

Prefer to listen to this blog? Go to THIS podcast episode.

Prefer to read? Scroll down instead.

Introducing Coco

I want to share the journey of a remarkable girl named Coco. I've been following her on Instagram for a while, and her account is in Dutch. She also hosts a podcast called Hersenschudding Leven (Concussion Life). For all my Dutch listeners, I highly recommend checking it out!

Dutch Podcast Coco: ⁠Hersenschudding Leven⁠ Dutch Instagram account Coco: ⁠@hersenschuddingleven

Coco’s story is inspiring, and even though she isn’t as active on social media lately, she recently posted about her recovery journey. In her post, she explained that she’s starting to pick up her life again, no longer focusing solely on her concussion.

Coco's Inspiring Update

Here’s a translation of Coco’s recent update:

Just a quick update. I’ve been living in Curaçao for just over a year now. Things are going really well, and I can honestly say that I’m fully recovered. I can do everything I want, and I no longer worry about whether I can handle it. I graduated, work 40 hours a week, and can still go out on weekends. Living in Curaçao, where things are less overwhelming than in the Netherlands, has helped me enjoy life again.

Over the past months, I’ve been quiet on my accounts and paused making new podcast episodes. This was because I shifted my focus to graduating and learning to let go of my concussion. The more I brainstormed topics for new episodes, the harder it became to figure out what I wanted to talk about. I felt distant from it all until I reached a point where I could finally call myself fully recovered.

Taking a step back allowed me to reflect on my future—not just on what I can’t do, but on what I truly want. This space helped me decide to immigrate to an island with fewer stimuli, more peace, less stress, and more positivity: Curaçao. Slowly, I’m shaping my life here with all the tools I’ve learned over the years. In a month and a half, I will graduate, marking the beginning of a new phase. I look forward to this with light nerves and a lot of enthusiasm.

I finally discovered what helps me relax both physically and mentally. This has made me feel more balanced and recover faster after busy days. Coping with concussion symptoms was easier. Yes, I still get headaches sometimes, feel dizzy, need more sleep, and sometimes reach my limits, but this is the same for everyone.

I know that complete recovery isn't possible for everyone, but I hope to inspire people to keep going. Every little step brings more freedom. I came from a place where I couldn’t handle light or sound, couldn’t go outside, couldn’t be with people, and couldn’t even go to the supermarket. I isolated myself in my room, hoping that one day I wouldn’t have unbearable headaches. I couldn’t see a future and felt completely lost in fear.

Now, five years later, I have moved on and left all of that behind.

Hope for concussion survivors

Reading Coco’s story truly makes me emotional because I understand how it feels to experience that loss, isolation, and hopelessness. It can be incredibly challenging, right? I’m just so happy for her and hope to convey that recovery is possible.

I’ve been in a similar situation, feeling lost and wondering if I would ever escape the cycle of pain. I tried many things, including physical therapy, psychology, acupuncture, and more.

It’s crucial to recognize that recovery takes time, and that's okay. Each journey is different, and it’s all about discovering what works for you and how you can rest your brain.

Tips for Your Concussion Recovery Journey

Here are a few key takeaways from Coco's story and my own experience:

1. Try New Things One at a Time: Experimenting with different recovery methods is great, but avoid trying multiple things simultaneously. This approach can lead to overstimulation, making it harder to identify what works for you.

2. Be Patient: Remember that every concussion is unique, and recovery can take time. Don’t compare your journey to others; focus on your progress.

3. Seek Support: If you’re struggling, reach out for help. Whether it’s talking to friends, family, or fellow survivors, support can make a significant difference.

4. Stay Inspired: Follow stories like Coco’s to remind yourself that recovery is possible.
   

I want to hear from you!

I want to hear from you! If you have suggestions for podcast/blog topics or know someone who would like to share their concussion story, please reach out.

Whether it’s a survivor or an expert with valuable insights, I’m eager to bring more awareness to this journey.

And remember, there’s always hope for ALL concussion survivors. If you’re feeling lost and unsure of your next steps, don’t hesitate to send me a message on Instagram. Together, we can explore possible treatments and coping strategies.

2 methods that helped me the most in recovery

In my free masterclass, which I’m hosting regularly, I’ll share the 2 researched methods that helped me the most in my recovery (and now also for thousands of others).

I love hosting this masterclass and engaging with all of you, but it takes a lot of effort to organize. That's why it's only available for a limited time. Make sure to sign up and join before it's too late!

>> Register here