When Healing Isn’t Linear: Finding Hope After a Life-Changing Head Injury

In this episode of Talk Dizzy To Me, Dr. Dani Tolman, PT and Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS welcome back Sarah Renberg for her third appearance on the podcast. Sarah shares an inspiring update on her journey after a traumatic brain injury (TBI), vestibular dysfunction, autonomic dysfunction, ocular motor challenges, and more — and how she is now navigating medical school while continuing to manage her health. Sarah offers a powerful patient perspective on recovery, self-advocacy, support systems, and redefining progress after brain injury.Episode Resources: -Instagram: @Sren20-Sarah’s 1st TDTM Episode 2021-Sarah’s 2nd TDTM Episode 2023 Sarah’s Team on TDTM:-Dr. Appelbaum-Dr. KeiserHosted by:🎤 Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS🎤 Dr. Danielle Tolman, PTFor episode recommendations or requests, email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Partnered with:→ Our online program and community, The Dizzy Reset™, use code TALKDIZZYTOME for 40% off your first payment⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Avulux glasses, use code DIZZYRESET for $25 off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Just Ingredients, use code TALKDIZZYTOME for 5% offConnect with Us:→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book a free call with us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get free resources straight to your inbox⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our online program and community, The Dizzy Reset™⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch podcast episodes (and more) on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoying the podcast? Leave us a review!⁠⁠⁠⁠Timestamps:00:58 — Sarah’s TBI, vestibular symptoms & surgical history02:53 — Understanding symptoms and protecting self-worth04:40 — How the visual, vestibular, neck & autonomic systems connect07:02 — Support systems & asking for help12:31 — Identity shifts after brain injury13:54 — Resilience vs. “recovery”16:46 — Embracing hard moments without getting stuck17:46 — Building systems and routines for success20:06 — Navigating plateaus, setbacks & goals22:21 — Rehab habits, consistency & reducing barriers24:41 — Redefining progress and celebrating small wins28:30 — Getting through low moments31:50 — Managing grocery stores and sensory overload35:43 — Self-advocacy in healthcare appointments41:26 — What Sarah would tell her 2014 self46:01 — Being brave enough to try48:23 — A message for clinicians49:23 — Resources, where to find Sarah & closingThis episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host(s).