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All right, I promised to make more podcasts, but life has been a bit busy. We're still in Greece, but we decided we want to go to Italy next. You might be thinking, “What the hell is she doing, moving from place to place?” The thing is, we're looking for a place to call home.
Greece is wonderful. The beaches are great, and the weather is amazing, but it’s more of a feeling—like I love it here, but not for a lifetime.
So now, we’re thinking about Italy or Spain.
We’ve decided to leave earlier, probably in January or the start of February, instead of at the end of March. We’ll still stay for Christmas, which I’m really okay with. Christmas is often stressful with so many appointments and people to meet. This year, it’s just me and my boyfriend, which feels quite peaceful.
Prefer to listen to this blog? Go to THIS podcast episode.
Prefer to read? Scroll down instead.
Insights From other concussion survivors
The reason I’m writing this blog isn’t to talk about our plans, though. Recently, I shared a post on Instagram that asked:
"If you could share a message with a young woman struggling with concussion symptoms, what would it be?"
The responses were amazing—so many thoughtful and heartfelt comments. Some people even liked each other’s comments, and one had over 40 likes! If you missed it, you can read all the comments on the post from November 25th on Instagram.
Here, I’ll highlight a few of the comments that really stood out to me. They touched me deeply and seem to have resonated with many others as well.
Many people feel alone in their recovery, but this post became a space of connection and support. Here are some of the most powerful takeaways:
1. Let Go of the Old You
One person said:
"It will get better, but it may take years, not days or weeks. I also came to the conclusion after three and a half years that I may never be exactly the same as I was pre-concussion. Once I allowed myself to feel that and be okay with it, it felt like a weight lifted off of me."
This comment really resonated with me because I fought so hard for so long to become my old self—the person I was before the accident. The one with a busy social life, working five days a week, always making spontaneous plans, and constantly on the go.
I spent years trying to return to that version of myself, to recreate that busy life. But after a few years of recovery, I started to feel differently. I thought, What if I let go of this idea of being my old self? Because by then, I realized that version of me wasn’t even there anymore.
I didn’t want to keep feeling frustrated, sad, or disappointed that I wasn’t the person I used to be. When I allowed myself to focus on who I am now and look toward the future instead of the past, it felt like this huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.
It shifted my perspective. Instead of focusing on what still isn’t “fixed,” I started to ask myself, What is possible from here? It’s such a completely different mindset—one that’s much more positive and healing.
Of course, this kind of change doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time. But I encourage you to try shifting your perspective because it’s such an important part of recovery.
I really believe that mindset plays a huge role. When you let go of the frustration and stop fighting against yourself, you save so much energy. And with that energy, you can focus on healing, which helps you feel better—not just mentally, but physically too.
That’s why this comment meant so much to me—it reflected a journey I know so well.
2. The world can wait
Another comment said:
"Give yourself grace. It’s okay to be tired. It’s okay to feel confused. The world can wait if you just need to lie down."
And this is a good one too. I was always so busy and always thought there was no time to rest. I felt like I needed to keep going, to move forward, and to focus on healing.
It felt like I was missing out on things. But then I realized: nothing bad happens when I take a day to just lay down and rest. It brought me so much peace because the world keeps moving, and that's okay.
It's okay to take a break. Keep that in mind—nothing will fall apart.
3. Your concussion Healing and symptoms are Non-Linear
Another one said:
"Your healing will be non-linear, and that’s okay. Embrace the new you. The new you is learning to adapt to changes and needs your love, support, rest, and grace. Say no to what doesn’t support your healing journey without feeling guilty."
This is such an important point: say no if something doesn’t support your recovery.
It’s a big lesson I had to learn too. At the beginning of my recovery, I really struggled to say no to people. I was always the person who said yes to everything because I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. I was constantly thinking about others before considering myself.
But learning to say no is essential when you’re recovering from a concussion. If you don’t, you end up prioritizing others over your own healing, and that slows down your recovery. When I finally learned to say no—without feeling guilty—it made such a difference. Guilt takes up so much energy, and letting go of it is freeing.
When you start saying no, you’ll likely notice your healing progresses more quickly. You’ll put yourself first, practice self-love, and feel stronger. It’s not just about recovery; it’s about taking charge of your life because your life is yours, not someone else’s.
So remember, it’s okay to say no. You’re allowed to prioritize yourself.
Slowing Down in a Fast-paced World
One comment perfectly captured something many concussion survivors feel: "The world is fast-paced, but your brain needs you to slow down. Learn what the fast-paced world doesn’t know—rest."
Yes, I always felt like the world was moving so fast while I was stuck on pause. We live in such a fast-paced world, even for people who haven’t sustained a concussion. Healthy people, too, are constantly bombarded with impressions—especially through social media. It’s so different now compared to 40 years ago when there was no internet. Our brains simply aren’t designed to process this overwhelming amount of information.
When you’ve had a concussion, your brain becomes even more sensitive, struggling to process all this data. That’s why it’s so important to slow down. Just because the world moves quickly doesn’t mean we need to live at that same speed.
This realization really helped me. I grew up in the Netherlands, living in Amsterdam, where life was always fast. People were constantly busy, planning everything far in advance. If I asked someone, “Hey, want to grab a coffee tomorrow?” the answer was often, “No, I’m too busy. Maybe in three weeks?” I realized that wasn’t the kind of life I wanted.
After sustaining a concussion, I didn’t just slow down because I had to—I realized I didn’t want to live that way anymore. Slowing down made me feel so much better. It allowed me to focus on what truly matters, on things that give me energy, and to cut out the things that drain me. Before the accident, I never even thought about energy management like this.
I’ve learned so much from this experience.
Just remember: even though the world moves quickly, you don’t have to keep up with it. Decide what speed works for you, and don’t compare yourself to others—only to your own progress. That mindset has lifted so much weight off my shoulders, and I hope it can for you too.
6 free concussion healing classes
I created something special, and it’s free for everyone who joins the waitlist for the Concussion Community. I’ve selected six different classes from within the community, and by joining the waitlist, you’ll receive them for free.
When you sign up, the first class will land in your inbox right away, and the other five classes will be sent over the next few days or weeks.
To get started, simply click this link and enter your email address. You’ll receive the first class directly in your inbox, and the other five will follow in the coming days/weeks.
Calming your nervous system
Regaining energy
Building a healing mindset
Understanding the role of hormones
Managing relationships during recovery
You’ll also find practical tools and tips that have helped countless members of our community. If you’re interested, sign up via the link: https://www.theconcussioncommunity.com/join-the-community
This promotion runs until the end of December.
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