THH033 — Daniel Gospodarek: Traumatized to Triumphant
Welcome to "The Healthy Healer" podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Fred Moss. Through sustained conversations, we delve deep into the journeys of healers who've found their purpose after personal transformation. Many enter the healing profession with aspirations only to grapple with reality—endless training, unexpected responsibilities, and even disillusionment. But there are those who rise above, harnessing personal healing and rediscovering their passion. Our podcast features these inspiring souls who've returned to the healing profession, stronger and more aligned than ever. Join us for riveting conversations that shed light on the true essence of healing and the incredible individuals who've redefined their paths.
Here are some key takeaways from the podcast:
Daniel Gospodarek had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a car accident when he was 17 years old. He was in a coma for 3 days and had brain surgery, a collapsed lung, and a stroke.
Daniel found his calling to become a mental health therapist and advocate for people with TBI after his own experience recovering from his accident. He sees a strong correlation between TBI and mental illnesses.
TBI can result from external causes like blows to the head or internal causes like infections. The severity ranges from mild to severe based on the impact on functioning.
Assessing TBI involves neuropsychological testing by a neurologist. It's important to rule out TBI as a potential cause before diagnosing someone with a psychiatric illness.
Treating TBI involves helping patients process grief and loss in many areas of functioning, managing symptoms like impulse control and sleep issues, and teaching mindfulness and emotional regulation skills.
EMDR therapy can help reduce guilt, shame, and trauma associated with TBIs by reprocessing difficult memories. Other therapies like CBT and mindfulness are also used.
Recovery from TBI is possible without acute psychiatric care if the right therapies and coping skills are applied. Advocacy and reducing stigma around TBI is important.
Links:
Show Notes:
TBI recovery and mental health with Daniel Gospel. 0:07
Traumatic brain injury and its impact on mental health. 1:58
Traumatic brain injury diagnosis and treatment. 6:55
TBI diagnosis and treatment in outpatient and inpatient settings. 11:21
Near-death experience and brain injury recovery. 13:45
Traumatic brain injury and mental health treatment. 18:33
Traumatic brain injury and therapy with a licensed therapist. 23:09
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