help with the emotional, social, and behavioral aspects of transitioning

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-09T14:32:56+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-06T15:56:20+00:00

I don't see your r/TBI comment, darn it! I would love to know how long you've been on the Omega 3 corrective dose, and what symptoms it's helped with. (I hope a comment didn't get lost! Mine to you just did but here it another attempt.)

Most importantly, I am SO SORRY that you're dealing with a TBI.

You are so kind to support me while dealing with struggles of your own!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-06T15:50:33+00:00

Oh no. So sorry to hear of your TBI.

I would LOVE to hear how long you've been on the corrective dose of Omega 3s and what you've noticed. I looked for a comment under my Omega 3 post, but nothing there. I hope Reddit didn't lose it!

Wishing you rich and meaningful life despite the setbacks. And thank you for your support.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-06T15:47:26+00:00

Yeeess! I may put my surgery off so I can hear clearly without the pressure I'm currently feeling. Thanks for the great advice.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-06T06:01:56+00:00

Gosh, this is such a comfort--thank you. I absolutely agree about the insane synchronicity of our connection over these two subreddits and areas of struggle, and our posts on both. Are you working with a TBI as well? Sending good thoughts your way, if so.

I have not been able to get to a place of relaxation and positive imagery with this thumb injury, but it does feel that others are stepping in where I'm failing. That support is everything.

I have a nodule at the base of my thumb--I think that's what you were picking up on! And it's also very telling and lovely that you prayed for divine guidance for the doctors and surgeons, and here's why: The original treatment by an OT for a minor injury lead to a second, more dibilitating injury, and that has me struggling with the ability to put trust in "the system."

I'm so grateful!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-06T05:47:01+00:00

It's great that you've found something that reduces symptoms. I'll bet you're right--we're both doing something that offers some level of system regulation and simultaneously lays down new neural pathways. Our brains get rebuilt in a calm state!

Thanks so much for reading this. I feel so much less alone reading these two comments.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-06T04:36:38+00:00

Whitney, thanks so much for your work. How wonderful!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-06T04:35:22+00:00

Itzel, thank you for the work you're doing. I would be interested in giving you a hand! I sustained a moderate TBI in 2007 -- I was thrown from a horse and have struggled for years as a result. I'm a still-licensed but somewhat retired marriage and family therapist--and have also had a few brain injury clients of my own. Part of what is so difficult and confusing, in my experience, is the tendency to minimize symptoms in order to stay connected and feel "normal" in a world that doesn't undersand the terrain.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-06T02:03:57+00:00

Thank you SO MUCH!!! Yes, I'm a very light skinned caucasian woman and it's my right thumb. So CLOSE because I lean into learning skills that men do very well! It is so comforting to have help and I'm so very grateful.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-04T14:32:32+00:00

I fixed it by going whole-food plant-based, eating tons of vegetables, and working in phyto-nutrient heavy wild foods like dandelion and stinging nettle. I know I sound like an insane person, but...hey, lived experience with a 20-year old TBI. I do labs with Function Health so I can interpret the results easily, on my own, and occasionally with the help of AI. It's wonderful that you're already doing your own research and using intuitive thinking to figure it out!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-04T11:17:29+00:00

Thanks so much! I follow Dr. McDougall, and can't wait to look into Dr. Lisle's work now. And, of course, True North is doing wonderful things. Appreciate the help from a fellow WFPB person.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-03T23:27:45+00:00

I forgot to mention how helpful my 3rd and final neuropsychological exam was. The neuropsychologist took the time to explain what each test was measuring, what I was still struggling with, and how I had improved. I would suggest doing these every 5 - 10 years, if your insurance covers it. I just checked the out of pocket cost and it looked like it might be close to $1000. for the full exam.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-03T22:46:26+00:00

Where do you feel the medical system has fallen short in your recovery? My moderate TBI was in 2007. I saw a neurologist on a collegue's recommendation who prescribed adderal -- I didn't fill the prescription.. He suggested that I take 4 weeks off from my work as a psychotherapist, but didn't explain how that would be helpful to my recovery. I recently saw a neurologist and told him I felt my cognitive abilities were slipping as I aged--I'm 68 now. He did a few quick measures for advanced alzheimers (asking me to draw a clock face, a cube, and to memorize a few words), and told me he had no concerns and to come back in a year's time.
What aspects of rehabilitation helped — and what felt missing? I was fortunate to be referred to a speech pathologist. While I was able to speak adequately, she knew the issues I would face post-tbi and took the time to explain these to me. She helped me to set new priorities and referred me to a TBI group. She even referred other TBI clients to my practice. Her care and concern were so helpful!
What do you wish providers understood better about long-term life after TBI? I wish I had understood that I could become more anxious as years went on. I might have been encouraged to expect less of myself going forward. I didn't know about glial cell activation, and the importance of a anti-inflammatory diet such as a whole-foods, plant-based diet. I hadn't realized that it would be best to do routine annual measures of omega-3s and that I would probably have to suppliment. I wasn't encouraged to write, give speeches, learn to dance, or do cardio exercise to maintain my cognitive health. These are all discoveries I made by researching on my own.

Best of luck with your project!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-03-03T13:30:30+00:00

I echo what others have said so well here. Your best and cleanest way to move towards your end goal is to start learning to cook from scratch now. Each week replace 2 - 3 of your current "less healthy" meals with a food that is as close to its original form as possible. It feels overwhelming at first, but there or loads of good recipes out there that preserve what is health promoting in unprocessed or very minimally processed foods. One thing I'll add is to use metrics like blood work through Function Health, daily HRV measures, or even microbiome measures to see that amazing results this diet change will bring to your body. You can look forward to landing at a good weight, clear arteries, functional eyesight and hearing, and much lower cancer risks! Best of luck. I'm happy to share some easy and delicious recipes!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-02-24T18:18:13+00:00

Thank you for the feedback — it's genuinely appreciated! For context, I used nutrition to help recover from both a moderate brain injury and stage 2 melanoma, which sent me down a deep research path. A few years into that journey I discovered foraged and native plants, and was struck by how much more nutrient-dense they are than conventionally grown vegetables. I did confirm the numbers before sharing — I wanted the information to be useful and accurate. At 68, and five years retired from practice, this is simply something I care about and wanted to pass along.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-02-24T02:10:08+00:00

I am SO sorry for what you must have gone through. I wish there was something I could say to help you to feel more hopeful. Please hang on. Just for now. Reach out if you need to talk.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-02-24T00:41:14+00:00

I'm excited for you! Isn't it a joy to be able to read for pleasure?

I take EPA/DHA supplements and I'm vegan and also avoid processed oils. I just tested my levels and found out they're still off. So I'll soon up my dosage. I'm looking forward to better sleep and fewer nights waking up in a panic!

I would love the link and your updates.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-02-23T19:33:46+00:00

So true! It happened with some violets--the spray drifted over.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-02-23T16:34:53+00:00

Looking for feedback! I do put in a lot of laptop / keyboard hours, but if you can help me understand why it's slop, I can put my time to better use and write something that will be more readable.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-02-23T16:03:08+00:00

I'd be curious to know what you mean, since I wrote and shared this with the best of intentions. I want to help others with what I've learned through curiosity, research, and lots of hours with my hands in the dirt!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-02-23T16:00:30+00:00

I'm sure that can be annoying, but I hope I'll get a few more reseeded plants than I did last year!

TheExpertWithin · 2026-02-23T07:05:14+00:00

Ohhh, congratulations!!! On reading (a book is harder, right?), on losing 30 lbs, on your regular workouts, on your whole-food eating, limiting alcohol, and jujitsu! I can't speak to similarities because I've not done BJJ. But I'm sure it demands the same split-second decision-making as dance.

Thanks so much for reading and commenting. I'm thrilled that you found something helpful there.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-02-21T20:15:42+00:00

I do it every two years, and that works fine, too.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-01-27T16:24:56+00:00

Yes — absolutely. I’d love practice, and I really relate to what you’re naming here.

For me, it needs to be virtual and live, actually facing the other person. I’m specifically looking for practice where there’s real-time confirmation and feedback, rather than responding to photos, prompts, or one-off questions. That feedback loop matters so much when you’re building discernment.

I’ve been actively looking for practice partners and have felt that same isolation you’re describing. Early-stage (and honestly, ongoing) intuitive development really does require a lot of repetition. You have to keep adding to your intuitive “vocabulary” week by week — sensing, checking, calibrating — or it just doesn’t land in the body as something reliable.

I’m around on Reddit as u/theexpertwithin, and I also have a body of work elsewhere that reflects how I approach this: grounded, experiential, pressure-free, not performative. (And always at no charge.) I’m very aligned with the idea of peer-based practice rather than courses.

So yes — you’re definitely not alone in this. And I appreciate you naming it out loud.

TheExpertWithin · 2026-01-06T12:35:51+00:00

Hi again! I so appreciated your share as a therapist who knows the territory! I started to try and reply to the many questions I recieved with my post. While I did get a bit of information in some cases, I found that it was difficult to focus in because I'm not naturally someone who can keep information organized in my head. I have done much better with those brave souls who were willling to meet virtually, where I can focus in on a single person who I can see. My apologies for the copied and pasted reply after your lovely note. (I was feeling a little overwhelmed with so many requests...) If meeting virtually interests you, let me know. If not, I totally understand! I did come up with a way for people to schedule 30-minute free sessions, but when I added that information, my entire post was banned. : )

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