From Impact to Insight: The Hidden Gift in Healing
Healing My Brain, Rebuilding My Life
There are moments dividing our life into “before” and “after.” Mine came with the crunch of metal, the blur of chaos, and the eerie moments of stillness that followed. I was in a car accident that changed everything and ended up with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), which took years to fully understand, let alone recover from. And here’s the part I never imagined saying back then: I am healed. I am whole. I am better than ever. And I am grateful.
Deeply. Unapologetically. Soul-level grateful. Because healing my brain meant I had to learn how to live again, I got to learn how to think differently, even to the point of what I thought about who I was. I got to learn to rest and not resist it. I learned how to allow support, not just be the one who offers it all the time. And along the way, I uncovered a kind of power I didn’t know existed inside me.
The Crash Shifted Everything
In 2014, one moment of impact left me with a TBI, rerouting my entire life. I had a near-death experience, which isn’t something I take lightly. I got to come back. But the accident left me with brain fog, dizziness, memory glitches, and a nervous system acting like it had a “mind” of its own.
I couldn’t do simple tasks. My emotional regulation was unpredictable. I would cry at the drop of a hat or go from 0 to 60 in anger. I couldn’t process input like sound or light the same way. It felt like my brain was a computer stuck in buffering mode. Sometimes it felt filled with sand, and other times it was on fire.
And the worst part? People couldn’t see the injury. I looked “fine,” which made the internal battle feel even lonelier.
Recovery Wasn’t Linear—It Was a Spiral
Healing wasn’t a straight line for me; it was a series of spirals, setbacks, and stubborn wins. I had to learn how to intentionally pause (called “brain breaks”). How to befriend the rest. How to allow myself to grieve the version of me that could “go, go, go” without burning out.
I was also diagnosed with anxiety, PTSD, depression, panic, adrenal “abnormality,” and oh, this was a doozy—ADHD Type 2, which added a layer of complexity (and clarity). My brain was wired for intense memory, intelligence, deep processing, sensitivity, and emotional intensity. And now it had been injured. Cue me being overwhelmed.
The Support That Saved Me
Let’s be real: I didn’t heal alone.
I had the support of extraordinary people in my world: healers, doctors, therapists, brain specialists, and friends who held space for the parts of me who couldn’t hold themselves yet. I had people who reminded me who I really was when I forgot. I had colleagues who covered for me when my brain fog rolled in mid-sentence.
People who loved me. No performance required.
I also had something else: my own toolkit. All those years I’d spent learning about neuroscience, mindset, martial arts, boundaries, energy, and emotional intelligence suddenly became my lifeline.
What Helped Me Heal:
Movement: Gentle martial arts, walking meditations, and body scans. I had to be kind to myself and not put my “I used to be able to …” mantra on myself.
Nervous System + Somatics: I rewired my nervous system through calming techniques, feeling my feelings, guiding what I said to myself, and learning to work with my new, intense emotions.
Neuroplasticity practices: I retrained my brain using mental fitness, cognitive retraining, and daily practices and rituals. The ones I WANTED.
Boundaries: I fiercely protected my energy; I had to, and being able to find solace in my space was my saving grace.
Connection: I stopped hiding the struggle. Asking for help became an integral part of the healing process.
Who I Became
I’m not the same woman I was before the injury; in fact, I say I’m Theresa 3.0. I’m stronger not because I “pushed through” the pain, but because I learned how to partner with it. I used it to become more.
I don’t ignore my limits now; in fact, I let them guide me! I listen to them. I no longer chase a hustle; I seek alignment. And I no longer live in fear of the brain fog or memory loss returning. I trust I know how to bring myself back. I have the tools!
That’s what InPower® means to me now. It’s not about being invincible; it’s about knowing how to come back to yourself, again and again. Over and over. No matter what.
From Survival to Serving
Today, I teach others how to reclaim their energy and inner power. Whether they’re recovering from trauma, their inner bully, burnout, chronic stress, or even brain injury, my work is rooted in the belief that healing is possible. And you don’t have to do it alone.
I didn’t lose my spark. But I couldn’t feel it for a few years. In all honesty, I was afraid it was gone, but then I realized it was just being rebuilt. My spark got reset neuron by neuron, boundary by boundary, breath by breath. Every day I was healing, I just didn’t always see my progress.
To anyone in the depths of recovery: hold on. You are not broken. You’re in the process of remembering your brilliance. And when you rise, you’ll do it with wisdom you didn’t know you were learning.
“Healing is never linear; it’s a spiral. No matter where you are on the path, keep going. Little by little, day by day, you will get better.” – Theresa Byrne
In Case No One Told You Today:
- You’re not too much.
- You’re not behind.
- And you’re definitely not broken.
Retriggering is a sign you’re human. And healing. If you need support, I offer sessions to help calm your nervous system.
So the next time an old (unwanted) pattern rears its gnarly head? Smile. Nod. And remind yourself, “I see you. We’ve met before. But I don’t hang out here anymore.” It’s handled with care. If you’re an empath, know you don’t have to suffer under the weight of the world. You can learn to hold space for others without losing yourself in the process. And that’s true empowerment.
BOOK YOUR ACTIVATION SESSION TODAY.
AND RELEASE SOMETHING THAT HOLDS YOU BACK!
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