Undiagnosed TBI: Why Brain Injuries Are Often Missed and Misunderstood

Traumatic brain injuries are incredibly common, yet many mild TBIs and concussions go unrecognized. And when the symptoms of a brain injury overlap with the effects of complex trauma, it can become difficult to understand what is actually driving changes in cognition, emotional regulation, behavior, energy, and capacity.

In this episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristof are joined by Amanda Smith, certified brain injury specialist, applied neurology pain and performance coach, NSI educator, and founder of Amanda's Way, to explore the intersection of traumatic brain injury and complex trauma.

Amanda shares her own experience recovering from concussion and whiplash and explains why symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, irritability, emotional reactivity, poor concentration, sleep disruption, sensory sensitivity, and reduced capacity can easily be attributed to trauma, anxiety, depression, or stress when an underlying brain injury may also be contributing.

Together, they explore how TBI can change the brain's ability to process visual, vestibular, sensory, and cognitive information; why everyday inputs can require significantly more resources after injury; and how reduced fuel and capacity can affect everything from relationships and work to emotional regulation and rehabilitation.

The conversation also examines why practitioners working with trauma and the nervous system need a foundational understanding of concussion and TBI—and why those working with brain injury populations benefit from understanding the effects of complex trauma, chronic stress, and nervous system patterns.

Rather than pushing through symptoms, recovery begins with understanding what the nervous system is actually experiencing, assessing capacity, working with the minimum effective dose, and recognizing when additional rehabilitation, referral, or collaborative care may be needed.

In This Episode

• What traumatic brain injury and mild TBI can look like

• Why many concussions and mild TBIs go undiagnosed

• The overlap between TBI, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and complex trauma symptoms

• How brain injury can affect emotional regulation, cognition, memory, vision, and behavior

• Why irritability, withdrawal, overwhelm, and reduced capacity may emerge after concussion

• The relationship between complex trauma and persistent post-concussion symptoms

• Why women and other vulnerable populations may experience additional barriers to recovery

• How TBI can increase the energetic demands placed on the brain

• Visual, vestibular, sensory, and cognitive processing after brain injury

• Why pushing through symptoms can create diminishing returns

• Fuel, capacity, assessment, reassessment, and the minimum effective dose

• How Neurosomatic Intelligence can support individualized nervous system work

• Why practitioners need to recognize when referral or collaborative care is appropriate

• Beginning with simple awareness of breath, energy expenditure, restoration, and capacity

• The importance of compassion for ourselves and others when we cannot see what another nervous system has experienced

Featured in This Episode

BECOMING TBI & CONCUSSION INFORMED — LIVE WORKSHOP

If you work with the nervous system, understanding concussion and traumatic brain injury is essential. Post-concussion symptoms can present as fatigue, overwhelm, emotional reactivity, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to sound or light, inconsistent progress, or reduced capacity for stress.

Join Amanda Smith on September 17 for Becoming TBI and Concussion Informed, a live workshop designed to help practitioners understand how a history of concussion, mild TBI, or head and neck trauma may be affecting what they observe in their clients.

Learn to ask better questions, adapt your approach, recognize when referral or collaboration is needed, and work with greater clarity and confidence.

neurosomatic.com/concussion

Amanda Smith is a certified brain injury specialist, applied neurology pain and performance coach, founder of Amanda's Way, and educator in the Neurosomatic Intelligence Coaching Certification. Her work integrates applied neurology, nervous system education, and rehabilitation to support people navigating traumatic brain injury and persistent post-concussion symptoms.

 

Offerings & Resources

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Learn to work with the nervous system through an integrative framework combining applied neurology, somatics, trauma-informed education, and nervous system assessment.

neurosomaticintelligence.com

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Trauma Rewired podcast  is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear. 

We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.  If someone's life is in danger, immediately call 911. 

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We  invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don't verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization.

We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs. 

We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional.

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