Holly Kostrzewski's guest appearances

Holly Kostrzewski

Faces of TBI

Making Headway

Mimi Hayes

Vanessa Woodburn

Dan Engle

Michael Lewis

Eric Zielinski

Deb Brandon

Josh Perry

Mark Moore

Linda Wells

Kathryn Bertine

Ariane Resnick

Carolyn Dean

David Wu

Sam Black

Robert Sherman

OwlTail

If you have been struggling with putting it all back together post brain injury, this is the episode to listen to!  Holly Kostrzewski is a veteran brain injury survivor 21-years out.  She uses her experiences to provide encouragement and advice to others experiencing the aftereffects.  This episode provides heartwarming inspiration and support for anyone in the throes of recovery.  It is a MUST listen!Bulleted list of topics covered:Female Brain Injuries-- all the research until recently has been done on male brains.  Female hormone cycles affect how we respond to the injury and healHolly’s survivor storyMotor vehicle accidents are not accidents.  They are predictable events due to a cause i.e. you run the stop sign and it causes a crash; the correct term is motor vehicle crash.  Calling it an accident diminishes the event to something random.  It’s important to determine the causeNeuropsych testing: everyone should have it.  It gives a baseline and things to work onThe first five years are the hardestHolly uses a combination of Eastern and Western medicine: craniosacral therapy for pain, kinesiology chiropractor, anti-inflammatory diet and supplementationNutrition and brain injuries: you need to research what will work for you.  No two injuries are alike. Some ideas to research for yourself:Limit caffeineClean dietRemove inflammatory foodsSome with epilepsy find keto helpfulResources: Funk’tional Nutrition podcast and Adventures in Brain injury podcast (see resources section below for links)Safety net support systemFatigue, being overwhelmed, poor instincts, mental health, and grief all affect the brain injured person’s safety.  Survivors may think they are fine but they need someone watching out for themGrief and depression post injuryIt’s ok to be sad after your injury.  Something terrible happened!Medications don’t address the cause of the symptomsGrief is an upward spiral and you never know when it is going to hit you.  Grief therapyBereavement overloadThe first five years after injury, you are still acute and trying figure it all outBrain injury symptoms and the grief get diminished.  People without brain injuries may try to commiserate with you saying that they have headaches, feel down, and are tired too not realizing how different it is for youTo overcome you need to have an abundance of gratitude and grace for yourself.  Find the small victories.  Celebrate you! Look at where you were at the beginning of the injury compared to now--you have done hard things and overcome!!!There is a difference between disappointing and devastating events.  Brain injuries are devastating!Dealing with the struggleGive yourself graceKeep a positive attitudeMake a plan with goals that you can work on dailyGoogle the lobes of the brain to understand what each part does.  It will help you understand your injury and the symptoms you experience Functional medicine or functional neurology could be helpfulRemove alcohol (it lowers your seizure threshold and all brain injury survivors are at higher risk for seizures)Try taking out gluten and sugar and see how you feelTBI: Truly Brave IndividualDevaluation of feelingsYou’ll get through the feelings; its ok to feel themMusicGet a theme song.  No matter how bad it is, pull up the song and dance it outHolly’s motivational speaking and journey to her traffic safety career“Brain injury, the gift that keeps on giving” ~Cathy CrimminsBe mindful with how you sit in your injury.  Your brain injury is your story but doesn’t need to become youHope, Humor, and Inspiration: Holly is available to book for speaking events; see the link to her website and social media below Links to any resources mentionedBrain Injury Medical Provider: “Women vs. Brain Injury”:   https://issuu.com/braininjuryprofessional/docs/bip_september_2020/4Pink Concussions: Facebook group for females with brain injuries Funk’tional Nutrition Podcast: https://www.erinholthealth.com/funktional-nutrition-podcastAdventures in Brain Injury:Think First: https://www.thinkfirst.org/ Where is the Mango Princess? A Journey Back from Brain Injury by Cathy CrimminsHolly Kostrzewski: find her on Facebook and Instagram: @HopeHumorInspiration and https://www.hopehumorinspiration.com/ HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! If you dug this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!Ways to subscribe to the Making Headway Podcast:Click here to subscribe via Apple PodcastsClick here to subscribe via SpotifyClick here to subscribe via RSSYou can also subscribe via Stitcher Visit the Making Headway Podcast website to learn more about Eryn and Mariah and our journey to podcasting.Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.As an Amazon Associate, Making Headway may earn from qualifying purchases via links provided.

If you have been struggling with putting it all back together post brain injury, this is the episode to listen to!  Holly Kostrzewski is a veteran brain injury survivor 21-years out.  She uses her experiences to provide encouragement and advice to others experiencing the aftereffects.  This episode provides heartwarming inspiration and support for anyone in the throes of recovery.  It is a MUST listen!Bulleted list of topics covered:<ul><li>Female Brain Injuries-- all the research until recently has been done on male brains.  Female hormone cycles affect how we respond to the injury and heal</li><li>Holly’s survivor story</li><li>Motor vehicle accidents are not accidents.  They are predictable events due to a cause i.e. you run the stop sign and it causes a crash; the correct term is motor vehicle crash.  Calling it an accident diminishes the event to something random.  It’s important to determine the cause</li><li>Neuropsych testing: everyone should have it.  It gives a baseline and things to work on</li><li>The first five years are the hardest</li><li>Holly uses a combination of Eastern and Western medicine: craniosacral therapy for pain, kinesiology chiropractor, anti-inflammatory diet and supplementation</li><li>Nutrition and brain injuries: you need to research what will work for you.  No two injuries are alike. Some ideas to research for yourself:</li><li>Limit caffeine</li><li>Clean diet</li><li>Remove inflammatory foods</li><li>Some with epilepsy find keto helpful</li><li>Resources: Funk’tional Nutrition podcast and Adventures in Brain injury podcast (see resources section below for links)</li><li>Safety net support system</li><li>Fatigue, being overwhelmed, poor instincts, mental health, and grief all affect the brain injured person’s safety.  </li><li>Survivors may think they are fine but they need someone watching out for them</li><li>Grief and depression post injury</li><li>It’s ok to be sad after your injury.  Something terrible happened!</li><li>Medications don’t address the cause of the symptoms</li><li>Grief is an upward spiral and you never know when it is going to hit you.  </li><li>Grief therapy</li><li>Bereavement overload</li><li>The first five years after injury, you are still acute and trying figure it all out</li><li>Brain injury symptoms and the grief get diminished.  People without brain injuries may try to commiserate with you saying that they have headaches, feel down, and are tired too not realizing how different it is for you</li><li>To overcome you need to have an abundance of gratitude and grace for yourself.  </li><li>Find the small victories.  Celebrate you! Look at where you were at the beginning of the injury compared to now--you have done hard things and overcome!!!</li><li>There is a difference between disappointing and devastating events.  Brain injuries are devastating!</li><li>Dealing with the struggle</li><li>Give yourself grace</li><li>Keep a positive attitude</li><li>Make a plan with goals that you can work on daily</li><li>Google the lobes of the brain to understand what each part does.  It will help you understand your injury and the symptoms you experience </li><li>Functional medicine or functional neurology could be helpful</li><li>Remove alcohol (it lowers your seizure threshold and all brain injury survivors are at higher risk for seizures)</li><li>Try taking out gluten and sugar and see how you feel</li><li>TBI: Truly Brave Individual</li><li>Devaluation of feelings</li><li>You’ll get through the feelings; its ok to feel them</li><li>Music</li><li>Get a theme song.  No matter how bad it is, pull up the song and dance it out</li><li>Holly’s motivational speaking and journey to her traffic safety career</li><li>“Brain injury, the gift that keeps on giving” ~Cathy Crimmins</li><li>Be mindful with how you sit in your injury.  Your brain injury is your story but doesn’t need to become you</li><li>Hope, Humor, and Inspiration: Holly is available to book for speaking events; see the link to her website and social media below</li></ul> Links to any resources mentionedBrain Injury Medical Provider: “Women vs. Brain Injury”:   <a href="https://issuu.com/braininjuryprofessional/docs/bip_september_2020/4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://issuu.com/braininjuryprofessional/docs/bip_september_2020/4</a>Pink Concussions: Facebook group for females with brain injuries Funk’tional Nutrition Podcast: <a href="https://www.erinholthealth.com/funktional-nutrition-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.erinholthealth.com/funktional-nutrition-podcast</a>Adventures in Brain Injury:Think First: <a href="https://www.thinkfirst.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.thinkfirst.org/</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375704426/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=makingheadway-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0375704426&amp;linkId=fc643519add0d55439e16e37f4b140bd" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Where is the Mango Princess? A Journey Back from Brain Injury by Cathy Crimmins</a>Holly Kostrzewski: find her on Facebook and Instagram: @HopeHumorInspiration and <a href="https://www.hopehumorinspiration.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.hopehumorinspiration.com/</a> HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! If you dug this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts and kindly<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-headway/id1534964037" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!</a>Ways to subscribe to the Making Headway Podcast:<ul><li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-headway/id1534964037" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Click here to subscribe via Apple Podcasts</a></li><li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4Ishnxgh8xbJfV8BtbCtZw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Click here to subscribe via Spotify</a></li><li><a href="https://making-headway.captivate.fm/listen" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Click here to subscribe via RSS</a></li><li><a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/making-headway" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">You can also subscribe via Stitcher</a></li></ul> <a href="https://www.makingheadwaypodcast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Visit the Making Headway Podcast website</a> to learn more about Eryn and Mariah and our journey to podcasting.Follow us on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/makingheadwaypodcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>, <a href="twitter.com/makingheadwaypo" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, or<a href="https://www.facebook.com/makingheadwaypodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"> Facebook</a>. As an Amazon Associate, Making Headway may earn from qualifying purchases via links provided.

Survivor Story: Hope, Humor, and Inspiration with Holly Kostrzewski

Holly’s path forever changed, when at the age of 18 she sustained a life-changing traumatic brain injury, as a result of a motor vehicle crash. Significant challenges followed, during her ongoing recovery.Through faith, determination, tenacity, a positive attitude, and a great sense of humor, Kostrzewski graduated college with honors, went on to earn a Master’s degree in Public Health, and is currently writing her dissertation to complete a PhD in Public Health/Community Health. Ironically, Holly works in traffic safety for the State of Minnesota. In 2014, Holly’s family faced a new challenge. After taking a break of nearly a decade from public speaking to concentrate on her career and graduate school, Holly is back with a new perspective based on living with a brain injury over time. Through her frank and entertaining presentations, Holly will explain the challenges she has encountered in living with a brain injury including challenges related to working, dating, seizures, and how grief and trauma have affected her life. Holly will also review how she faced the issues and helped herself succeed. In addition, Holly will share the journey she and her family have traveled through her traumatic brain injury and resulting fractured self, and her father’s spinal cord injury, hospitalization, rehab, and associated every day challenges for her father and her family.  https://www.hopehumorinspiration.com/Brought to you by: Integrated Brain Centers

Holly’s path forever changed, when at the age of 18 she sustained a life-changing traumatic brain injury, as a result of a motor vehicle crash. Significant challenges followed, during her ongoing recovery. Through faith, determination, tenacity, a positive attitude, and a great sense of humor, Kostrzewski graduated college with honors, went on to earn a Master’s degree in Public Health, and is currently writing her dissertation to complete a PhD in Public Health/Community Health. Ironically, Holly works in traffic safety for the State of Minnesota. In 2014, Holly’s family faced a new challenge.  After taking a break of nearly a decade from public speaking to concentrate on her career and graduate school, Holly is back with a new perspective based on living with a brain injury over time. Through her frank and entertaining presentations, Holly will explain the challenges she has encountered in living with a brain injury including challenges related to working, dating, seizures, and how grief and trauma have affected her life. Holly will also review how she faced the issues and helped herself succeed. In addition, Holly will share the journey she and her family have traveled through her traumatic brain injury and resulting fractured self, and her father’s spinal cord injury, hospitalization, rehab, and associated every day challenges for her father and her family.  <a href="https://www.hopehumorinspiration.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.hopehumorinspiration.com/</a> Brought to you by: Integrated Brain Centers

Hope, Humor, and Inspiration after brain injury with Holly Kostrzewski