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Post-Trauma Life
Home Archive by Category "Post-Trauma Life"

Category: Post-Trauma Life

Explore stories, strategies, and resources for navigating life after a traumatic event. This category focuses on healing, resilience, and finding purpose, offering guidance for survivors and their families as they rebuild, adapt, and move forward with hope.
Well With Abigail
Health and HealingPost-Trauma LifeResource Conversations
October 14, 2026

Adaptive Yoga

Listening to Your Body, and Rebuilding Trust with Abigail Atkinson

After a motor vehicle incident or other traumatic experience, reconnecting with your body can be complicated. Your body may feel different. Your energy may be unpredictable. Movement that once felt automatic can suddenly require planning, effort, or assistance. Sometimes, learning to listen to your body becomes just as important as learning how to move it again.
In this Resource Conversation, Sandal Blue Foundation spoke with Abigail Atkinson of Well With Abigail about adaptive yoga, rebuilding trust in your body, and finding ways to move forward at your own pace.

Abigail’s Story

Abigail has been teaching yoga full time for 14 years, but her relationship with yoga changed dramatically in 2012 when she experienced a massive stroke.
At the time, she had just started teaching yoga while also working a corporate job. She was actually leading a yoga session for her coworkers during her lunch break when she had the stroke.
Afterward, Abigail was highly motivated to return to her yoga practice. She worked hard through physical and occupational therapy and spent a year on disability. But something else had changed. Her perspective on life had completely shifted, and she no longer wanted to return to her corporate career. Her experience had changed what she considered important, and yoga became part of the path forward.
Today, Abigail specializes in adaptive yoga for people living with a wide range of abilities and conditions, including people who use wheelchairs, walkers, or canes, as well as people recovering from injuries, traumatic brain injuries, strokes, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological conditions.
Adaptive yoga isn’t about forcing your body to do something it can’t do. It’s about discovering what your body can do and creating a relationship with it from there.

Cognitive Fatigue Is More Than Being Tired

One of the important topics Abigail discussed was cognitive fatigue. Cognitive fatigue isn’t simply feeling tired after a busy day. It can affect many areas of daily life, and because you can’t necessarily see it from the outside, it can be difficult for other people to understand.
For someone recovering from trauma or a neurological injury, an activity that looks simple to someone else may require significant energy. Learning to recognize and respect that reality can be an important part of recovery.

“Microdose” Your Discomfort

One of Abigail’s most practical ideas was microdosing activity and discomfort.
During her own recovery, Abigail needed an assistive walking device for a long time. Rather than pushing herself until she was completely depleted, she began experimenting with smaller amounts of activity followed by rest.
She described it as microeffort, rest, repeat.
Instead of doing everything at once and then being unable to do anything else until the next day, she began taking small “doses” of activity throughout the day. She might do a little movement, rest, and then come back to it.
She found that when she got the “dosage” right, she was able to repeat the activity more frequently, and her recovery began to progress. Within about three weeks, she no longer needed the walker.
Abigail encourages people to think about this concept beyond exercise. You can have a yoga snack, a physical therapy snack, or a movement snack. A few minutes of activity followed by enough rest to allow your body and brain to recover can sometimes be more sustainable than pushing until you’re completely depleted.
The goal isn’t to prove how much you can push through. It’s to find the amount your body can tolerate and repeat.

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Abigail also talked openly about one of the harder parts of recovery: accepting that she needed help.
“I had to accept the reality that I was going to need help and I wasn’t going to be able to do it on my own.”
That required humility and vulnerability. Recovery can be uncomfortable no matter what, and learning to accept support doesn’t make that experience easy. But it can help you navigate it with more resources around you.
Sometimes, listening to your body also means being willing to speak up, even when someone else believes you should do something differently.
Abigail shared an experience with an EMT that challenged her to trust what she was experiencing in her own body. One statement stayed with her: “I’m willing to be wrong for you, Abigail.”
That experience reinforced something important for her: medical professionals bring valuable knowledge and expertise, but you also have valuable information about your own body. Learning to listen to both can be part of rebuilding self-trust.

It’s Okay to Try Something New

Eight years after her stroke, Abigail participated in a six-month neuro vision therapy program. It was difficult, but she was willing to try something new because she thought it might help. That experience gave her another significant boost in her recovery.
Her message is simple: you don’t have to do everything at once. You can take baby steps. You can try something and reassess. You can listen to your body’s response. You can change the dosage. You can rest.
Little by little, those experiences can help you rebuild trust in yourself and your body.

Your Brain Is Trying to Protect You

Abigail explained that the brain’s primary job is to keep you safe. When you try something new, your brain may respond with signals such as weakness, pain, dizziness, or fatigue as it tries to protect you.
That doesn’t mean those sensations should simply be ignored or pushed through. Instead, Abigail encourages people to pay attention, take a break, go at their own pace, and try a smaller amount when they’re ready.
Over time, you can learn what your body is telling you and begin to feel less afraid of those messages. You get to determine the dosage.

Try Microdosing Your Movement

If your body and brain are sending you signals that something feels like too much, you don’t necessarily have to stop completely or push through. Instead, consider microdosing your movement: try a small amount of an activity, take a break, and then return to it when you’re ready.
A few minutes of movement, followed by rest, may allow you to repeat the activity more often throughout the day rather than doing too much at once and needing an entire day to recover. As Abigail described it, microeffort, rest, repeat.
The goal is to find your body’s “dosage” and gradually build from there. Recovery doesn’t have to happen in big leaps. Sometimes, small and consistent efforts are what help you build confidence, capacity, and trust in your body.

A Simple Seated Yoga Practice

During our conversation, Abigail demonstrated several movements that can be adapted for a seated practice. One option begins by pressing your body gently into the chair and placing your feet wide, with your hands resting on your thighs. Notice the feeling of being grounded and supported.
From there, you can explore gentle movements such as drawing circles with your ribs, bringing your right forearm toward your right thigh while reaching your left arm up and overhead, and imagining you’re holding a paintbrush and “painting” a figure eight in the air.
You can also turn to the side with one leg supported on the chair and the other on the ground, holding the chair like a steering wheel as you gently twist toward it. Then repeat the movements on the opposite side.
These movements aren’t about getting the “perfect” yoga pose. They’re an opportunity to notice your body, move within your own range, and practice listening. If you’re trying new movement after an injury or medical condition, work within the guidance of your healthcare and rehabilitation team and adapt movements to your individual needs.

Start Where You Are

 
You don’t need a studio, special clothing, or a traditional yoga setup to begin exploring adaptive yoga. Abigail has resources available through her Well With Abigail YouTube channel, where you can practice from your own home and explore movement at your own pace.
For those in Utah, Wasatch Adaptive Sports also offers virtual adaptive yoga. The weekly class is offered Thursdays at 4 p.m. Mountain Time through Zoom. You can participate from home, and you don’t have to turn your camera on if that feels more comfortable for you.
Learn more and sign up for Wasatch Adaptive Sports:
Wasatch Adaptive Sports
 
Watch Abigail’s YouTube channel:
Well With Abigail on YouTube
Chair Yoga Playlist
 

Your Body Is Worth Getting to Know

One of the most meaningful ideas Abigail shared was, “Your body is the most important environment you’ll ever inhabit.”
Yoga can be one way to nourish that environment. It can be a way to move, breathe, notice, rest, and develop a different relationship with your body.
You don’t have to have the body you had before. You don’t have to move the way someone else moves. And you don’t have to earn the right to care for yourself.
You can begin with what your body can do today. A little movement, a little rest, and a little curiosity can become a way to begin rebuilding trust in your body, one small step at a time.
Microeffort. Rest. Repeat.

About Abigail Atkinson

Abigail Atkinson is a full-time yoga educator and the Yoga Program Director for Wasatch Adaptive Sports. After surviving a massive stroke in 2012, she turned to yoga to rebuild trust in her body and now shares that same sense of hope through her Adaptive Yoga work.
She has taught hundreds of adaptive yoga classes for people living with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and neurological conditions and continues to make yoga more inclusive for every body.
Learn more about Abigail: Well With Abigail
Instagram: @wellwithabigail | @abigailadaptiveyoga
By Seantae Jackson
Parent to Parent – Financial Resources
Parent to ParentPost-Trauma LifeSupport and Caregiving
October 8, 2026

Financial Resources for Utah Families After a Child’s Traumatic Brain Injury

Parent-to-parent. 
Parent to Parent is a series of honest encouragement from one parent who’s been there to another. These are the reminders, lessons, and practical tips we wish someone had shared with us while navigating our child’s recovery after our motor vehicle incident. 
When your child has a serious traumatic brain injury, there is so much to think about.
There are appointments. Medications. Therapy. Equipment. School. Transportation. Follow-up surgeries. Figuring out how much care your child will need at home.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that, the financial questions start coming.
How are we going to pay for all of this?
Maybe you’re worried about the cost of ongoing physical, occupational, or speech therapy. Maybe one parent has had to miss work or reduce their hours to care for your child. Maybe you’re facing equipment costs, transportation expenses, medical bills, or a long recovery that you simply weren’t prepared for.
If that’s where you are right now, I want you to know something: you don’t have to figure all of this out on your own.
There are resources in Utah that may be able to help families caring for a child after a traumatic brain injury. Not every family will qualify for every program, but these are places worth asking about. And you don’t need to know exactly what you qualify for before you call.
Start here.

1. Utah Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Fund

This is one of the first places I would contact.
Utah has a Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Fund that can provide support to people with brain and spinal cord injuries. Depending on eligibility and available funding, support can include rehabilitation therapy, neuropsychological testing, and resource facilitation.
The resource facilitation piece can be especially valuable. You don’t necessarily have to walk in knowing exactly what you need. The goal is to help connect individuals and families with resources and services that support recovery and life after brain injury.
The fund is a payer of last resort, meaning other available funding sources are considered first. But that does not mean you shouldn’t call.
Ask about what your child may qualify for and what documentation you will need.
Ask about:
  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Speech therapy
  • Neuropsychological testing
  • Equipment and other needs related to the brain injury
  • Resource facilitation and other available supports
Learn more about Utah’s Traumatic Brain Injury resources

2. Brain Injury Alliance of Utah

The Brain Injury Alliance of Utah is another place I would put on your list.
They have resource facilitators who work with individuals and families affected by brain injury. Their goal is to help people with brain injuries find the resources and support they need to move forward.
You don’t need to have the perfect list of questions. You can simply say, “My child has a traumatic brain injury, and we’re trying to figure out what resources are available to our family.”
Tell them what your child needs now and what you’re worried about. They can help you start figuring out what comes next.
Brain Injury Alliance of Utah
Phone: 801-709-1420
Email: jodi@biau.org
Visit Brain Injury Alliance of Utah

3. Utah Medicaid and Children’s Medicaid

Don’t automatically assume your family won’t qualify.
When your child has a significant medical injury, it is worth asking about every Medicaid pathway that may apply, even if your child already has private health insurance.
Utah has different Medicaid programs and eligibility pathways for children. There is also a Child Medically Needy program for some children who don’t qualify through the standard Medicaid income limits but have significant medical needs.
For children who qualify for Medicaid, medically necessary services may also be available through the EPSDT benefit.
Your family’s insurance and financial situation will determine what applies, so this is a good place to ask the hospital’s financial counselor or social worker for help.
Ask:

“Can you screen my child for all Utah Medicaid programs and medically necessary services available to children under 21?”

Learn more about Utah Medicaid

4. Medically Complex Children’s Waiver

If your child’s injuries have resulted in significant, ongoing medical and caregiving needs, ask about Utah’s Medically Complex Children’s Waiver (MCCW).
This program is designed to support children with disabilities and complex medical conditions and can provide access to Medicaid services and supports for caregivers.
Depending on eligibility, services can include RN case management, skilled nursing respite care, routine respite care, personal attendant services, financial management services, and traditional Medicaid benefits.
There are specific medical eligibility requirements. The program looks at the child’s medical complexity, specialty care, functional limitations, and ongoing medical needs. Not every child with a TBI will qualify, but if your child has significant ongoing needs, it is worth asking to be screened.
Utah currently accepts applications on an ongoing basis, and qualifying applicants may be placed on a waitlist when funded spots aren’t available.
Medically Complex Children’s Waiver
Phone: 801-538-6155, option 5
Toll-free: 800-662-9651, option 5
Email: mccw@utah.gov
Learn more about the Medically Complex Children’s Waiver

Before Your Child Leaves the Hospital

If your child is still in the hospital, ask to speak with the social worker, case manager, and financial counselor before discharge.
You can say:

“My child has a severe traumatic brain injury and will need ongoing care and rehabilitation after discharge. We need help identifying every financial resource and program we may qualify for, including Medicaid, waivers, rehabilitation funding, equipment assistance, and hospital financial assistance.”

 

You don’t have to know the names of the programs or understand how all of them work. You don’t have to know exactly what questions to ask. Just tell them what your child needs and what you’re worried about.
If your child has already come home, it’s not too late. Start with the Utah TBI resources and the Brain Injury Alliance of Utah and ask them to help you identify your next steps.

And Please Remember This

There is so much pressure on parents to keep everything together after a child’s injury. You’re expected to understand the medical terminology, remember every appointment, advocate at the hospital, help your child recover, figure out school, and somehow manage everything happening at home, too. Adding the financial side of all of that can feel overwhelming.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, that doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. It means you’re navigating something you never expected to face.
Asking about financial assistance isn’t taking something away from another family. Using a resource that exists for families like yours isn’t failing. And asking for help does not mean you’re not doing a good job taking care of your child. It means you’re taking care of your child.
You don’t have to figure out the entire road ahead today. Start with one phone call, one question, or one resource. Then take the next step when you’re ready.
You and your child deserve support along the way.
 

A Note About These Resources

Programs, eligibility requirements, funding, waitlists, and contact information can change. Not every family will qualify for every resource listed here. This information is intended to help Utah families know what questions to ask and where to begin. It is not medical, legal, or financial advice.

If you know another Utah family navigating life after a child’s brain injury, share this resource with them. Sometimes knowing where to start is the biggest help we can give.

By Seantae Jackson
Families For Safe Streets
Grief and LossPost-Trauma LifeResource ConversationsYou Are Not Alone
October 6, 2026

Finding Support and Community After a Motor Vehicle Incident

A Conversation with Families for Safe Streets

After a motor vehicle incident, it can be difficult to know where to turn.
You may be dealing with physical injuries, grief, trauma, changes to your everyday life, complicated systems, or simply the feeling that no one around you really understands what you have been through.
And sometimes, you are not just trying to recover. You also want to make sure what happened to you does not happen to someone else.
That is where community can make an enormous difference.
In this Resource Conversation, Sandal Blue Foundation spoke with Aly Geller from Families for Safe Streets about the support available to people who have survived a crash, lost a loved one, or are caring for someone affected by a crash.

You Are Not Alone

Families for Safe Streets is a growing national organization with approximately 2,000 members and chapters across the country. The organization supports people whose lives have been affected by motor vehicle incidents while also working toward preventing future deaths and injuries.
Aly coordinates support services for the national organization. Her role includes helping new community members find the support, resources, and opportunities that fit where they are right now.
That last part is important.
There is no single “right” place to be after a traumatic event.
Maybe you are ready to connect with someone who understands. Maybe you need practical information about navigating what comes next. Maybe you want to talk with other survivors or people who have experienced a loss. Or maybe you are ready to use your experience to advocate for safer roads.
Families for Safe Streets has resources for all of those places.
As Aly shared, their team is ready to ask, “Where are you today?” and then help you find what you need right now.

The Power of Being Seen and Heard

One of the most meaningful parts of support after a motor vehicle incident can be talking with someone who truly understands.
There is something powerful about having a witness to your grief, physical pain, fear, frustration, or changing identity.
It can sound deceptively simple: being seen and heard.
But connecting with someone who has been through something similar can help reduce the isolation that often follows a traumatic experience.
Families for Safe Streets offers a peer mentor program that connects community members with trained mentors who have their own experience with crash loss or injury. Mentors receive training in how to have supportive conversations, and whenever possible, people can be connected with someone whose experience is similar to their own.
Sometimes it also helps to meet someone who is a little farther down the road.
When you are in the middle of something incredibly difficult, seeing someone who has found a way forward can offer something important: a glimpse of possibility.
There can be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Support Does Not Have to Be One-on-One

Not everyone wants individual support, and sometimes it helps to be part of a larger community.
Families for Safe Streets offers virtual support gatherings where people affected by crashes can come together, connect, and participate in facilitated conversations.
The organization also hosts special events, including book clubs and guest speakers, giving members opportunities to learn, connect, and build relationships with others who understand.
There is also a National Story Map, an online space created to honor and memorialize people who have been killed in crashes.
The Story Map gives families and survivors a place to be seen and heard. It also allows decision-makers and the broader community to see the human beings behind crash statistics.
Because these are not just numbers.
They are people.
They are parents, children, spouses, siblings, friends, coworkers, and neighbors whose lives have been changed.

Practical Resources for the Road Ahead

Support after a motor vehicle incident is not only emotional.
Sometimes you need to know what to do next.
Families for Safe Streets has a Post-Crash Resource Guide designed to help people navigate some of the systems and situations that can come after a crash, including interacting with law enforcement, navigating the legal system, and responding if the media reaches out.
They also have a member-generated Resource Guide with resources related to grief, trauma, and other needs that can arise after a crash.
These resources are designed to be something you can return to when you are ready.
You do not have to figure everything out at once.

Turning Experience Into Change

For many people affected by crashes, there eventually comes a point when they want to do something to prevent others from experiencing what they have experienced.
Families for Safe Streets creates opportunities for people to do exactly that.
The organization focuses on upstream solutions: evidence-based approaches that address the conditions that contribute to crashes before someone is injured or killed.
Their advocacy work includes safer roads, safer speeds, and safer vehicles.
One current campaign is Stop Super Speeders, which advocates for legislation requiring intelligent speed assistance devices for repeat speeding offenders. The campaign has passed in nine states or jurisdictions and continues to grow.
Families for Safe Streets also has an Ambassador program that provides training for people who want to become involved in advocacy and learn how to help advance this type of legislation in their own state.
You can explore the Stop Super Speeders campaign, see where legislation has passed or is pending, and learn how to get involved.

Why Stories Matter

Story sharing is at the heart of much of Families for Safe Streets’ advocacy work.
Research shows that stories can make information more memorable and can influence decision-makers. But Aly also recognizes something equally important:
Sharing your story can be empowering, and it can also be incredibly difficult.
That is why Families for Safe Streets does not simply ask people to tell their stories and send them on their way.
They work to create a foundation of support around the process.
Aly provides one-on-one guidance from the time someone joins the organization and throughout their involvement. The organization also provides training and support to help people understand how to share their experiences in ways that feel appropriate for them.
You get to decide what you share, when you share it, and how you participate.

You Can Start Wherever You Are

If you are interested in connecting with Families for Safe Streets, you do not have to know exactly what you need before you reach out.
One of the easiest places to start is by becoming a member.
Once you join, you can be connected with a local chapter when one is available in your area. Chapters are supported by sponsor organizations and provide opportunities for community gatherings, programs, advocacy, and connection.
You can also:
And if you do not see exactly what you need, you can reach out directly. Their team can help you figure out what might be a good next step.

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

Families for Safe Streets is also a co-planner of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in the United States, a national event taking place in communities across the country on the third Sunday in November.
The event provides an opportunity to remember those who have been killed or injured in road traffic incidents and to call attention to the need for safer roads and transportation systems.
The World Day of Remembrance website includes resources for people who want to attend an event or organize one in their own community.

You Can Be Supported While You Make Change

One of the things that stood out in our conversation with Aly is that support and advocacy do not have to be separate.
You can be grieving and still want change.
You can be healing and still want to help others.
You can be overwhelmed and still take one small step.
And you do not have to do any of it alone.
Families for Safe Streets exists to walk alongside people affected by crashes, whether that means helping you find a peer mentor, connecting you with resources, giving you a place to share your story, or helping you find a way to turn your experience into action.
As Aly shared, you are not alone.
It may feel that way sometimes, but there is a powerful community of people who understand and are ready to hold and guide you.
Watch the full Resource Conversation to learn more about Families for Safe Streets.
By Seantae Jackson
Just Breathe Adaptive
Post-Trauma LifeResource ConversationsYou Are Not Alone
September 30, 2026

Finding Possibility Underwater

Adaptive Scuba with Just Breathe Adaptive

What if the thing you think you can’t do is something you simply haven’t had the right support to try?

For Robin Knight and the team at Just Breathe Adaptive, that’s one of the questions at the heart of their work.

Just Breathe Adaptive is a Utah-based nonprofit that helps individuals with a broad range of disabilities experience adaptive scuba diving. Their participants have disabilities ranging from physical to cognitive, and the program is designed around one simple idea:

Adapt the experience to the person, not the other way around.

What Makes Adaptive Scuba Different?

In traditional open-water scuba, divers are taught skills they need to perform independently.

Adaptive scuba takes a different approach.

At Just Breathe Adaptive, divers learn as part of a team. Every skill in the standard scuba certification process is evaluated to determine what the participant can do independently and where they may need additional support.

For example, if a diver doesn’t have the arm mobility needed to manipulate their equipment, their buddy can assist them.

The goal isn’t to eliminate the challenge. It’s to figure out what support makes participation possible.

That support might look different for every person.

And that’s okay.

Come Try It

Scuba diving might sound intimidating, especially if you’ve never been in the water before.

Just Breathe Adaptive’s answer is simple:

Come try it.

Participants can come experience adaptive scuba for free, with no expectations and no commitment.

The first experience starts in shallow water, often around four or five feet deep, with a team around the participant to help keep them safe and supported.

Because sometimes you don’t know whether something is possible for you until you actually try.

And you might discover something you never expected.

Finding Independence in the Water

One of the most meaningful things Robin sees in participants is empowerment.

On land, a person’s disability may limit their mobility or ability to participate in certain activities.

Underwater, things can be different.

With the right adaptations and support, participants can experience a sense of mobility, independence, and participation that may not be available to them on land.

They can take part in an activity alongside other people.

They can learn new skills.

They can make decisions and communicate what they need.

And they can discover that their disability doesn’t have to prevent them from experiencing something new.

For many participants, that feeling of empowerment extends beyond the water.

Building Community Along the Way

The experience isn’t just about scuba diving.

Participants go through the certification process together, creating opportunities to build relationships and community along the way.

They learn how to communicate with their team.

They practice advocating for their needs.

They talk openly about challenges and figure out what works for them.

And those relationships can continue beyond the certification process.

Just Breathe Adaptive takes participants on diving trips, including trips within the United States and internationally. Participants may travel with people they’ve trained and built friendships with, creating an opportunity to experience something new together.

The organization also recognizes that accessibility doesn’t end when you leave the water.

Their network of participants has built up a wealth of knowledge about accessible travel, adaptive equipment, and navigating different destinations. When someone has a question the team doesn’t have an immediate answer to, there’s often someone in their community who can help find it.

It’s About More Than the Dive

One of the goals that makes Just Breathe Adaptive unique is creating opportunities for participants to share these experiences with the people they care about.

The goal isn’t simply to get someone certified and send them off on their own.

It’s about creating opportunities to dive with friends and family, build relationships around a shared activity, and experience new places together.

Just Breathe Adaptive works to identify and vet locations for accessibility so participants can focus on the experience rather than having to figure out every accessibility question on their own.

For many divers, the ultimate goal is to experience the ocean.

But the team works with each individual to determine what environment makes sense for their abilities and needs.

For some, that may mean warmer water because thermoregulation is a concern. For others, there may be depth or cognitive considerations that make a controlled environment a better fit.

The question isn’t, “Can you do it exactly the way everyone else does?”

The question is:

“How can we make this possible for you?”

A Safe Place to Push Your Limits

Just Breathe Adaptive believes in pushing participants a little outside their comfort zones, while being thoughtful about safety and individual needs.

Scuba diving is already an activity that asks people to do something unfamiliar.

Sometimes participants discover they are capable of much more than they thought.

Those opportunities for growth don’t only happen during a dive. They can happen between participants, too, as people encourage one another, share what they’ve learned, and watch each other take on challenges.

The goal isn’t to push someone beyond what is safe.

It’s to create an environment where they can safely discover what is possible.

What Does the Process Look Like?

Getting started is intentionally simple.

First, reach out to Just Breathe Adaptive through their website, email, or phone. The team will provide information and answer questions so you can decide whether the program feels like a good fit.

If you’re interested, you’ll schedule a free experience.

If you decide you’d like to continue, you’ll begin the certification process.

That includes academic learning through an online program adapted to the participant’s ability level, along with hands-on pool training.

Participants learn the same fundamental skills required for open-water scuba certification, but the team adapts individual skills as needed.

There is no need to rush through the process.

Participants spend the time they need in the pool to develop their skills, often working in one-hour sessions that allow the team to be mindful of the participant’s individual needs.

As they progress, divers may train at the Homestead Crater in Midway, Utah. The crater provides a unique year-round training environment with warm water and depths reaching approximately 65 feet, allowing divers to practice taking their skills into deeper water.

Once participants are comfortable communicating with their team and advocating for what they need, the conversation can turn toward travel.

Just Breathe Adaptive organizes diving trips and also maintains connections with other organizations that may provide additional opportunities when their own trips don’t fit someone’s schedule.

And when participants travel, they have buddies on location to help support them in the water.

You Don’t Have to Know If You Can Do It Yet

You don’t have to know whether adaptive scuba will work for you before you reach out.

You don’t have to be confident.

You don’t have to know what adaptations you’ll need.

You don’t even have to know whether you’ll like it.

Come try.

Robin’s message is simple: whatever you’re struggling with, Just Breathe Adaptive may not be the thing that helps.

But it might be.

There may be physiological benefits to being in the water, and participants may also experience benefits related to anxiety, confidence, connection, and symptoms associated with trauma.

You won’t know until you try.

And trying doesn’t mean committing.

It can simply mean asking a question, getting some information, and deciding what feels right for you.

For survivors and caregivers who are looking for a new experience, a new community, or a reminder that there may still be things worth discovering, that first step can be as simple as reaching out.

You never know what might become possible until you try.

Watch this Resource Conversation to learn more about Just Breathe Adaptive.

Learn More About Just Breathe Adaptive

Just Breathe Adaptive provides adaptive scuba experiences, training, certification, travel opportunities, and community for individuals with disabilities.Learn more and connect with the team at: justbreatheadaptive.org

By Seantae Jackson
Crash Support Network Resource Conversation (1)
Post-Trauma LifeResource ConversationsSupport and CaregivingYou Are Not Alone
September 24, 2026

You Are Not Stuck Forever: Finding Support After a Motor Vehicle Incident

After a motor vehicle incident, it can feel like the rest of the world is moving forward while you are standing still.

There are appointments to manage. Symptoms to understand. Insurance questions. Medical decisions. Financial concerns. Legal questions. And on top of all of that, you are trying to figure out who you are now and what recovery is going to look like.

For Dawne McKay, founder of the Crash Support Network and author of Talk Crash to Me: What to Expect After Surviving a Motor Vehicle Collision and How to Manage Your Recovery, that feeling lasted for years.

Dawne was rear-ended at a high rate of speed by a distracted driver. Her recovery became a long and complicated road, and 14 years later, she understands firsthand how overwhelming the process can be.

One of the things she wanted most during those early years was simple: someone who understood.

She searched for other people who had been through something similar and was surprised by how little she could find.

So she created what she needed.

Dawne started a private Facebook group for crash survivors. Within 10 minutes, a man reached out to her. Having someone who could relate to what she was experiencing made a difference.

That small group eventually grew into the Crash Support Network, a resource dedicated to helping crash survivors feel less alone and providing information throughout the many stages of recovery.

You Are Not Going to Be Stuck Forever

One of the most important messages Dawne wants survivors to hear is this:

You won’t be stuck forever.

That doesn’t mean recovery is quick or predictable.

Healing is not a straight line.

There may be times when it feels like you are making progress and other times when you feel like you have taken several steps backward. There can be so many moving pieces that it is difficult to see what the path forward even looks like.

Dawne describes recovery as requiring strength, motivation, patience, and support.

And sometimes, people around you may not realize how much you are carrying.

You may look like you are doing okay from the outside while managing pain, appointments, symptoms, financial stress, emotional challenges, or other things that no one else can see.

That doesn’t mean you aren’t working hard.

Recovery takes a tremendous amount of strength.

Over time, with the right people and teams supporting you, the path can become clearer.

Listen to Your Body and Become Your Own Advocate

So where do you start?

Dawne encourages survivors to listen to their bodies and become their own advocates.

If something doesn’t feel right, ask questions.

If you don’t feel heard, keep looking for answers.

If you aren’t comfortable with an explanation or recommendation, you can seek another opinion from a medical professional.

It can be discouraging when someone tells you that nothing is wrong because you “look fine.” But looking okay does not tell someone everything about what you are experiencing.

Dawne encourages survivors to stay curious.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, explore resources, learn about your options, and continue to voice what you need.

You know your body and your experience. Being an advocate for yourself is an important part of recovery.

Keep Everything

One of Dawne’s most practical recommendations is also one of the simplest:

Keep everything.

Discharge papers. Medical records. Prescription receipts. Emails. Business cards. Contact information for doctors, social workers, and other professionals. Anything related to your motor vehicle incident.

Her recommendation?

Put it all in a box.

It doesn’t have to be perfectly organized. Just have one place where you can keep the documents and information you may need later.

Dawne also recommends keeping an electronic folder for emails and other digital records.

And if you have legal representation, don’t assume that means you don’t need your own copies.

Having your own records can help you stay informed and advocate for yourself throughout the process.

Consider Getting Legal Advice

Dawne also encourages survivors to consider talking with a personal injury attorney.

Many personal injury attorneys offer free consultations, so having an initial conversation doesn’t necessarily mean you are committing to hiring someone.

And if making that call feels overwhelming, ask a trusted family member to help.

The sooner you explore your options, the better, because legal matters can involve deadlines.

A conversation with an attorney can also help you understand what options and resources may be available to you so you can make an informed decision about what comes next.

Dawne also encourages survivors to ask other survivors about their experiences with legal representation.

Legal and insurance processes can take time. Sometimes a very long time. Just like medical recovery, they can require patience.

Having someone help navigate those pieces can allow you to focus more of your energy on your own recovery.

And remember: you can advocate for yourself not only when it comes to your health, but also when it comes to your finances.

A Resource Created Because Dawne Needed It Herself

Dawne eventually took the information she had gathered through years of blogging and supporting survivors and turned it into a book.

Talk Crash to Me: What to Expect After Surviving a Motor Vehicle Collision and How to Manage Your Recovery was created to be the guide she wished someone had handed her after her own crash.

It brings together practical information and resources in an easy-to-read format, with the hope that survivors will feel less alone while navigating recovery.

Dawne also offers complimentary copies of the book to some survivors. You can reach her at info@crashsupportnetwork.com to ask about receiving a copy.

You are not alone.

And Dawne wants caregivers to hear that message, too.

While you’re supporting someone through recovery, you are carrying a lot yourself. You deserve support, information, and space to care for yourself, too.

Connect with Crash Support Network

The Crash Support Network provides survivor-focused resources, peer support, educational information, a confidential helpline, survivor stories, and a monthly Crash Connections group.

Visit www.crashsupportnetwork.com to explore the available resources and connect with the Crash Support Network or call the Crash Support Hotline at 905-674-1445 or toll-free at 1-866-473-0794.

Watch this Resource Conversation to learn more about Dawne and her work with Crash Support Network. 

By Seantae Jackson
Talk Therapy
Grief and LossPost-Trauma LifeResource ConversationsSupport and Caregiving
August 12, 2026

How Talk Therapy Can Support Healing After a Motor Vehicle Incident

After a motor vehicle incident, it’s common to feel like your mind and emotions are working against you. You may replay the crash over and over, feel disconnected from yourself, or wonder if what you’re experiencing is “normal.”

For this Resource Conversation, we sat down with Ben Rhinesmith, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist from Desert Oasis Therapy, to talk about what therapy actually looks like, why it can be so helpful after trauma, and some practical ways to navigate the healing process.

Here are some of the biggest takeaways from our conversation.

Talk therapy is much more than talking to a friend

Many people hesitate to try therapy because they think it’s simply sitting in a room and talking about their problems. While conversation is certainly part of it, therapy is much more intentional.

Therapists use evidence-based approaches to help people understand their experiences, develop healthier emotional and relational habits, and make meaningful changes in their lives.

Ben explained that he often looks at people through several different therapeutic lenses, including:

  • Systems theory, which explores how the relationships and environments around us influence healing.
  • Narrative therapy, which helps people examine the stories they’ve developed about themselves and discover ways to rewrite those stories.
  • Solution-focused therapy, which builds on a person’s existing strengths instead of only focusing on what’s wrong.

The goal isn’t simply to talk about what happened – it’s to help you move toward the life you want.

Therapy doesn’t have to feel heavy all the time

Many people assume therapy is emotionally exhausting every single session.

Ben challenged that idea.

While difficult conversations certainly happen, therapy can also be empowering, encouraging, and even enjoyable. Celebrating progress, recognizing strengths, and finding hope are just as important as processing pain.

Healing isn’t only about surviving difficult moments—it’s also about learning how to experience joy again.

“Is what I’m feeling normal?”

One of the most common questions survivors ask is whether their reactions after a traumatic event are normal.

Ben introduced the idea of common humanity – the understanding that many of the emotional responses following trauma are shared experiences.

After a motor vehicle incident, your entire perception of the world may change. Things that once felt safe may suddenly feel threatening.

Rather than expecting yourself to immediately “get over it,” Ben encourages people to remember that healing comes in waves.

There will be good days. There will be hard days.

The overall direction can still be forward.

Be patient with yourself. Be compassionate with yourself. Healing is rarely a straight line.

Your thoughts are not always the truth

Trauma often brings an overwhelming number of thoughts.

Some are helpful. Some are frightening. Some simply aren’t true.

Ben encourages people not to label thoughts as “good” or “bad.” Having a thought doesn’t mean it’s a fact. If you misspeak, it doesn’t mean you’re unintelligent. If you feel afraid, it doesn’t mean you’re unsafe. Sometimes it simply means your brain is processing something incredibly difficult.

He shared a helpful way to think about it.

Our brains have a fast pathway designed for survival. Imagine seeing a tiger at a watering hole. Your brain immediately says, “Run!” But then a slower pathway kicks in. You realize you’re actually watching the tiger from inside a jeep. The danger wasn’t what it first appeared to be.

After trauma, our first thoughts are often protective – not necessarily accurate.

Sometimes we need to wait for the second, third, or fourth thought before we arrive at the one that truly reflects reality.

When grief feels like it takes over everything

One of Ben’s favorite ways to explain grief is through the image of a jar.

At first, grief feels like it fills your entire life.

Every thought. Every conversation. Every moment.

Over time, something beautiful happens.

The grief doesn’t necessarily get smaller—but your life gets bigger.

Imagine your grief as a marble inside a jar. The marble stays the same size. But the jar continues to grow. As your life expands, there becomes room for friendships, laughter, purpose, hobbies, hope, and new experiences alongside the grief.

The grief is still there. And you are still growing.

Both can exist together.

Look for glimmers, not just triggers

Many survivors become familiar with the idea of triggers – places, sounds, or situations that bring difficult emotions back to the surface.

Ben encourages people to also begin looking for glimmers.

Glimmers are small moments that remind your nervous system that life can still contain goodness.

Watching a sunset. Playing a board game. Going to a movie. Laughing with someone you love. Enjoying a favorite meal. These moments don’t erase the pain. They don’t disrespect what happened.

Instead, they remind us that hope still exists.

Healing isn’t choosing between hard moments and beautiful moments. It’s learning to hold space for both.

Every family member heals differently

When an entire family experiences a traumatic event, everyone creates their own story about what happened.

Each person processes grief differently.

Each person moves through emotions differently.

Each person heals on their own timeline.

No stage is better than another.

No timeline is “correct.”

Giving yourself – and your loved ones – the freedom to heal differently can reduce frustration and increase compassion within the family.

 

Grief is more than the loss of life

We often associate grief with death, but grief is the loss of anything meaningful.

After a motor vehicle incident, people may grieve:

  • Their health
  • Their independence
  • Their sense of safety
  • Their identity
  • Their routines
  • Their future plans

Recognizing these losses helps us understand why healing takes time.

Keep looking until you find the right support

Ben ended our conversation with an encouraging reminder.

You were never meant to go through trauma alone.

Finding the right therapist – or even the right type of therapy – sometimes takes time.

If one therapist isn’t the right fit, don’t give up. If one approach doesn’t connect with you, keep looking. There are people who want to help. There are therapists who care deeply about your healing.

Keep reaching out until you find the support that feels right for you.

Watch the full conversation

Remember: healing isn’t about leaving your trauma behind. It’s about growing a life that’s big enough to hold both the hard and the beautiful.

By Seantae Jackson
EMDR
Post-Trauma LifeResource ConversationsSupport and Caregiving
July 28, 2026

Understanding EMDR: Helping Your Brain Heal After Trauma

After a traumatic experience, many survivors tell us the same thing:

“I know I’m safe… so why does my body still react like I’m not?”

Maybe your heart races when you hear sirens. Maybe being a passenger makes your stomach tighten. Maybe driving past the intersection where everything changed feels impossible. You may understand logically that the danger has passed, but your nervous system hasn’t fully caught up.

In this Resource Conversation, we sat down with Shelley Freeman, a certified EMDR therapist, to talk about one of the most researched trauma therapies available: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).

Whether you’re a motor vehicle incident survivor, a caregiver, or someone supporting a loved one through recovery, this conversation offers insight into how trauma affects the brain—and how healing is possible.

What is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.

Rather than simply talking about what happened, EMDR helps your brain process experiences that became “stuck” because they overwhelmed your ability to cope at the time.

During EMDR, a therapist uses bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements, alternating taps, or alternating sounds—to engage both sides of the brain while you gently notice thoughts, emotions, body sensations, and memories connected to the traumatic experience.

Shelley explains it as having “one foot in the present and one foot in the memory.”

You’re not being pulled back into the trauma. Instead, you’re staying grounded in the safety of today while allowing your brain to process what happened then.

Trauma Isn’t Just What Happened

One of the most helpful parts of our conversation was Shelley’s reminder that trauma isn’t defined only by the event itself.

Trauma happens when something overwhelms our ability to cope in that moment.

For many motor vehicle incident survivors, that might look like:

  • Feeling anxious before driving.
  • Becoming startled by sirens or screeching brakes.
  • Experiencing panic as a passenger.
  • Feeling tension in your stomach or chest without knowing why.
  • Avoiding certain roads or intersections.
  • Feeling disconnected or “checked out.”

These reactions aren’t signs that you’re weak.

They’re signs that your brain is still trying to protect you.

How is EMDR Different From Traditional Talk Therapy?

Traditional talk therapy often focuses on understanding your thoughts and experiences through conversation.

EMDR includes talking, but it also pays close attention to what your body is experiencing.

Shelley explained that trauma affects multiple parts of the brain:

  • The prefrontal cortex, responsible for reasoning and logical thinking.
  • The limbic system, where emotions are processed.
  • The brainstem, which controls many automatic survival responses.

During a traumatic event, the brain’s logical center often becomes less active while the survival systems take over.

Through bilateral stimulation, EMDR helps these systems begin communicating again so the brain can finally process—or “digest”—what happened instead of remaining stuck in survival mode.

Do You Have to Relive the Trauma?

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about EMDR.

The answer is no.

Shelley emphasized that EMDR is intended to be a gentle process.

Clients remain connected to the present while noticing memories, thoughts, emotions, or body sensations that arise. The therapist helps maintain that sense of safety throughout the session.

The goal isn’t to force yourself to relive the worst moment.

The goal is to help your brain process it so it no longer carries the same emotional charge.

It’s Normal to Feel “Stuck”

Many trauma survivors wonder if they’re doing something wrong because they can’t seem to move forward.

Shelley offered an encouraging reminder:

Our brains naturally move toward healing.

During EMDR, therapists don’t force the process. Instead, they help clients notice whatever comes up without judgment.

Sometimes memories unfold gradually—like gently unraveling a ball of yarn. As the brain processes the experience, new insights, emotions, or healthier beliefs often begin to emerge naturally.

When someone reaches a place where processing feels stuck, therapists have additional techniques—called interweaves—to help the brain continue moving forward in a safe, manageable way.

Healing Isn’t Just for Survivors

One message we especially appreciated was that caregivers need support too.

Watching someone you love experience trauma can be traumatic in itself.

Parents, spouses, family members, and close friends may develop their own fears, anxiety, or overwhelming emotions after witnessing or living through someone else’s medical crisis.

Your experience matters.

Taking care of your own mental health isn’t selfish—it’s an important part of healing for everyone involved.

A Grounding Exercise You Can Practice Today

While EMDR should be done with a trained therapist, Shelley shared a simple mindfulness exercise that anyone can practice.

Start by taking a slow breath in.

Then let your exhale be just a little longer than your inhale.

Return to a comfortable breathing rhythm.

Next, gently notice your five senses:

  • What can you see?
  • What can you hear?
  • What can you feel?
  • What can you smell?
  • What can you taste?

There’s nothing to fix.

Nothing to judge.

Simply notice what is true at this moment.

Grounding exercises like this help remind your nervous system that you are here, now, and safe.

Helping Your Brain Notice the Good

Our brains naturally pay attention to danger—that’s how we’re wired for survival.

Shelley encourages intentionally helping your brain notice moments of safety and joy, too.

One simple practice involves slow butterfly taps (alternating taps across each side of your body) while thinking about something that brings you comfort or happiness—a favorite place, someone you love, a meaningful memory, or even something as simple as your favorite dessert.

As you tap slowly, notice what happens in your body.

Do your shoulders soften?

Does your breathing change?

Does your stomach relax?

You can also practice this during everyday moments.

Someone lets you merge in traffic.

You make it through a drive that once felt impossible.

You hear laughter.

You feel the sun on your face.

Pause.

Notice it.

Let your brain experience that moment of safety.

The more we practice recognizing these moments, the more our nervous systems learn that they exist.

Healing Starts with the Basics

Before we ended our conversation, Shelley offered a simple reminder that many of us need to hear.

Healing doesn’t always begin with something complicated.

Sometimes it begins by asking ourselves:

  • Am I getting enough rest?
  • Am I drinking enough water?
  • Am I nourishing my body?
  • Am I allowing myself moments of joy?
  • Am I making space for play, connection, or movement?

These foundational habits won’t erase trauma, but they create a stronger foundation for healing.

Final Thoughts

Healing after trauma isn’t about pretending the hard things didn’t happen.

It’s about helping your brain and body recognize that while the experience was real, it doesn’t have to define every moment that follows.

If you’ve been feeling stuck after a motor vehicle incident—or if you’re supporting someone who is—know that there are effective, evidence-based therapies available.

You don’t have to navigate healing alone.

At Sandal Blue Foundation, we’re committed to connecting survivors and caregivers with trusted professionals, practical tools, and hope for the road ahead. We hope this conversation is one more resource that helps you move forward—one step at a time.

By Seantae Jackson
Brea – Get Support Together
Post-Trauma LifeResource ConversationsSupport and CaregivingYou Are Not Alone
July 8, 2026

Finding the Right Support When You Don’t Know Where to Start

A Resource Conversation with Brea Berman-Black, Founder of Get Support Together

After a motor vehicle incident, it’s common to know that you need help—but have no idea where to begin.

Maybe you’re looking for a counselor who understands trauma. Maybe your loved one is struggling emotionally after the crash. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by the medical system, insurance, appointments, and trying to hold everything together.

When you’re in survival mode, even knowing what questions to ask can feel impossible.

In this Resource Conversation, we sat down with Brea Berman-Black, founder of Get Support Together, to talk about why finding the right support is often one of the hardest parts of recovery—and how she’s working to change that.

Why Get Support Together Was Created

Before surviving a life-threatening motor vehicle incident herself, Brea spent years advocating for one of her children who was experiencing severe mental health challenges.

Throughout that journey, she encountered countless professionals who genuinely wanted to help—hospital staff, school counselors, law enforcement officers, and healthcare providers.

The problem wasn’t a lack of compassion.

The problem was that many of those trusted professionals simply didn’t know what resources existed outside of their own area of expertise.

“They wanted to help,” Brea shared. “They just didn’t know where to send us.”

After spending years navigating a fragmented system, she realized that families needed something different: one place where they could understand the full continuum of available support.

Then, in 2024, Brea survived her own serious motor vehicle incident and spent more than a year recovering from multiple surgeries and a traumatic brain injury.

That experience reinforced what she already knew.

Whether you’re facing physical recovery, emotional healing, or caring for someone you love, finding the right support shouldn’t be another obstacle.

“You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know.”

One of the most powerful moments in our conversation came when Brea described what crisis actually feels like.

“You don’t know what you don’t know. I’ve never been here before.”

Those words resonate deeply with many motor vehicle incident survivors.

Most people have never had to navigate traumatic injuries, post-traumatic stress, brain injuries, caregiver burnout, or complicated recovery.

When everything feels overwhelming, even highly educated, capable people can freeze.

Family members freeze.

Professionals freeze.

Caregivers freeze.

The challenge isn’t intelligence.

It’s that trauma changes how we process information.

During crisis, reading pages of website text, comparing dozens of providers, or trying to understand unfamiliar treatment options can feel impossible.

What Is Get Support Together?

Get Support Together is building a free mental health access platform designed to help people find the right support based on their unique situation.

Rather than sending people down endless internet searches, the goal is to simplify the process.

Instead of wondering where to start, users will be able to search for resources that fit what they actually need.

That includes:

  • Support groups
  • Therapists and counselors
  • Intensive outpatient programs
  • Crisis resources
  • Community organizations
  • Holistic and wellness services
  • Nature programs
  • Sensory-friendly events
  • Recovery-focused organizations
  • And much more

The platform recognizes that healing isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Sometimes someone needs a support group.

Sometimes they need a therapist.

Sometimes they need immediate crisis intervention.

Sometimes they simply need to know they’re not alone.

Meeting Survivors Where They Are

One thing that makes Get Support Together unique is that it recognizes people don’t search the way professionals think.

People search using the words they’re actually thinking during crisis.

The platform is being built around those real-life experiences.

Eventually, users will be able to search by things like:

  • ZIP code
  • Insurance accepted
  • Free services
  • Treatment approach
  • Faith or religion
  • Pronouns
  • Languages spoken
  • Provider specialties
  • Life circumstances
  • Mental health conditions
  • Treatment modalities

Rather than forcing people to figure out the “correct” clinical language, Get Support Together aims to meet people exactly where they are.

More Than Just a Search Engine

Brea explained that many excellent resources already exist online.

The problem is that when you’re overwhelmed, it’s difficult to process all of that information.

Instead of requiring people to decode complicated websites, Get Support Together provides what she calls the “Cliff Notes.”

The goal isn’t simply to list resources.

It’s to help people quickly understand:

  • What does this provider actually do?
  • Is this treatment right for me?
  • What should I expect?
  • Who is this designed to help?

For someone recovering from a motor vehicle incident—or caring for someone who is—having that clarity can make all the difference.

Finding Someone You Connect With

Healing is deeply personal.

Sometimes the right provider isn’t simply the closest one.

It’s someone whose approach feels safe.

Someone you connect with.

Get Support Together allows providers and organizations to share much more than basic contact information.

Many will be able to include:

  • Introduction videos
  • Photos of their office or treatment space
  • Their treatment philosophy
  • Why they entered this work
  • Areas of specialty
  • Modalities they offer
  • Personal values that influence their care

For example, someone interested in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)—a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain and is often used for conditions like depression—will be able to search specifically for providers offering that service.

Others may prefer outdoor therapy, faith-based counseling, peer support groups, or holistic approaches.

The goal is simple:

Find the support that feels right for you.

Building the Continuum of Care

Rather than organizing information only by provider type, Get Support Together is also building “journeys” around specific life experiences and mental health conditions.

For example, someone experiencing a first episode of psychosis could see the full continuum of care—from early intervention and education to treatment programs, support groups, and ongoing recovery resources.

Over time, these pathways will continue expanding to include additional conditions and life circumstances, helping people better understand their options without having to piece everything together themselves.

A National Vision

While the current rollout is focused primarily on Texas, the vision is much bigger.

Get Support Together is building national partnerships and developing what Brea believes will become the country’s only comprehensive national crisis resource directory—a single place where people can quickly find crisis hotlines and urgent support resources.

Because when someone needs help, they shouldn’t have to spend hours searching for it.

A Message for Survivors

One message from Brea stood out above everything else.

We need you here.

There are people who want to help.

There are resources available.

There is hope.

Whether you’re recovering physically, emotionally, or both, you deserve support that fits your needs.

And you deserve to find it without having to navigate the journey alone.

Learn More

Get Support Together is currently in its launch phase, with new providers, organizations, and resources being added regularly. The platform is expected to become fully searchable as it continues expanding throughout 2026.

Searching the website is completely free, and visitors are encouraged to provide feedback so the platform can continue evolving to better meet the needs of survivors, caregivers, and families.

Learn more at GetSupportTogether.org.

Watch the Full Resource Conversation

To hear Brea’s story and learn more about Get Support Together, watch the full Resource Conversation here and on the Sandal Blue Foundation YouTube channel.

By Seantae Jackson
Trauma Survivors Network
Post-Trauma LifeResource ConversationsSupport and CaregivingYou Are Not Alone
June 10, 2026

Finding Support After Traumatic Injury

You Don’t Have to Recover Alone

One of the biggest misconceptions about traumatic injury is that once someone leaves the hospital, they are “back to normal.”

For many survivors and their loved ones, discharge is not the end of the journey—it’s the beginning.

The physical healing process often comes with appointments, rehabilitation plans, and follow-up care. But the emotional and mental recovery that follows an injury can be much harder to navigate. Survivors may feel isolated, overwhelmed, anxious, frustrated, or unsure how to adapt to a life that suddenly looks different than it did before.

Family members and caregivers often face their own challenges as they support someone they love while processing their own trauma and stress.

The good news is that no one has to walk that journey alone.

The Importance of Connection After Trauma

The American Trauma Society (ATS) works to improve trauma care at every level—from first responders and healthcare professionals to survivors and families. One of the ways they do this is through the Trauma Survivors Network (TSN), a program designed to provide support, community, education, and connection for people impacted by serious physical injuries.

Traumatic injuries can leave people feeling like no one truly understands what they are experiencing. While friends and family may want to help, they may not know what to say or how to provide support.

Connecting with others who have experienced similar challenges can make a significant difference.

Sometimes the most powerful thing a survivor can hear is:

“I’ve been where you are, and there is life after this.”

Seeing someone who has adapted, rebuilt, and found a new path forward can offer hope during a difficult season.

Adapting to a New Reality

Recovery often involves more than healing physically. It may require adapting to changes in mobility, routines, relationships, work, hobbies, or expectations.

Many survivors describe this process as learning how to navigate a “new normal.”

That adaptation can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to figure it out on your own. Connecting with other survivors and caregivers allows people to learn from those who have already faced similar challenges and discovered ways to move forward.

The goal is not to return to who you were before the injury.

The goal is to learn how to live well within your current reality.

The Power of Peer Support

One of the foundations of trauma recovery support is peer connection.

Many trauma centers throughout the Trauma Survivors Network offer peer visitation programs where trained volunteers—often survivors themselves or caregivers who have walked a similar path—visit patients during their hospital stay.

These visits provide more than information.

They provide hope.

When someone sees a survivor who has faced a similar injury and is now living a meaningful life, it can create a powerful mindset shift. It reminds them that recovery is possible and that their story is still being written.

Support Groups for Survivors and Families

Support groups offer another opportunity to connect with people who understand.

The Trauma Survivors Network hosts several virtual support groups each month and also maintains a directory of local support groups throughout its network. Groups are available for a variety of populations, including:

  • Adult survivors
  • Caregivers and family members
  • Teens and young adults
  • Pediatric injury families

Every support group is a little different, but they all share a common purpose: creating a safe space where people can listen, share, ask questions, and learn from one another.

Participation is flexible. Some people feel ready to share their experiences. Others may prefer to simply listen and learn.

Both are welcome.

The important thing is knowing that support is available when you’re ready.

Finding Resources in Your Community

The Trauma Survivors Network includes more than 300 trauma centers across the United States, Canada, and Australia and provides resources to individuals seeking support from anywhere in the world.

One of the most valuable features available through the network is the ability to search for support close to home.

Visitors can use the TSN website’s map or search function to find participating trauma centers, support groups, educational programs, and local resources available in their area.

Joining a local TSN center can help survivors and families stay informed about support opportunities, educational events, and recovery resources available within their own community.

Resources Beyond Support Groups

In addition to support groups and peer mentoring, the Trauma Survivors Network offers a variety of educational resources designed to help survivors and caregivers navigate recovery.

Resources include:

  • Survivor stories and recovery journeys
  • Educational guides and resource directories
  • The TSN Notebook, a collection of tools and information for recovery
  • Community-led resources developed by survivors for survivors

The network also maintains active social media communities that provide ongoing encouragement, education, and opportunities for engagement.

Programs include:

  • Toolkit Tuesdays, featuring questions and solutions shared by the community
  • Family Fridays, focused on caregiver support and resources
  • Monthly Injury Insights, where survivors answer anonymously submitted questions about recovery

These initiatives help create ongoing opportunities for connection and learning long after someone leaves the hospital.

Recognizing Trauma Survivors

Each May, communities across the country observe National Trauma Awareness Month.

During this month, the Trauma Survivors Network also celebrates National Trauma Survivors Day on the third Wednesday of May.

Events held throughout the country honor survivors, caregivers, first responders, healthcare teams, therapists, home health professionals, and everyone involved in the recovery journey.

These celebrations help raise awareness about the realities of life after injury while recognizing the resilience of those who continue moving forward.

If You’re Struggling, You’re Not Alone

Sometimes people don’t immediately recognize that they need support.

Instead, they may notice they are more emotional than usual. More anxious. More withdrawn. More frustrated. Less interested in things they once enjoyed.

These changes can be signs that the emotional impact of an injury is still unfolding.

Recovery is not only physical.

It’s emotional, mental, social, and relational as well.

Whether you’re a survivor, caregiver, family member, or friend, support is available.

You don’t need to have all the answers before reaching out.

You don’t even need to share your story if you’re not ready.

You can simply listen, explore resources, and connect when the time feels right.

Because no one should have to navigate recovery alone.

Watch the Full Resource Conversation

Want to learn more about the resources, support programs, and survivor connections available through the Trauma Survivors Network?

Watch our full conversation with Abby Beerman, National Trauma Survivors Network Coordinator, as we discuss life after traumatic injury, the importance of peer support, resources for survivors and caregivers, and how to find help in your community.

Whether you’re a survivor, caregiver, family member, or healthcare professional, this conversation offers valuable insight into the recovery journey and the reminder that no one has to navigate it alone.

Learn More

To explore resources, find support groups, locate a Trauma Survivors Network center near you, or learn more about available programs, visit:

www.TraumaSurvivorsNetwork.org

The website offers a searchable directory of trauma centers, educational resources, survivor tools, and opportunities to connect with others who understand the journey of recovery after injury.

By Seantae Jackson
Window of Tolerance
Post-Trauma LifeResource Conversations
May 29, 2026

Understanding Your Window of Tolerance After Trauma

There are moments after trauma when it feels like you are not reacting like yourself.

You are more irritable than usual.
More emotional.
More disconnected.
More exhausted.
More overwhelmed by things that once felt manageable.

And sometimes, the opposite happens.

You stop reacting altogether.

You scroll your phone for hours.
You feel numb.
You disconnect from people.
You move through the day checked out and unfocused, content to let life pass by because engaging with it feels too hard.

According to Keri Jones-Fonnesbeck, Executive Director of Trauma-Informed Utah, both of these experiences are part of being human — especially after trauma.

And understanding them begins with something called the Window of Tolerance.

What Is the Window of Tolerance?

Keri describes the window of tolerance like looking through a clear window.

Inside the window, you are calm, connected, and present.

You can think clearly.
Regulate emotions.
Communicate effectively.
Engage in meaningful conversations.
Show up as your best self.

You have the clearest view of both yourself and the world around you.

But trauma impacts the brain and nervous system. It changes how we regulate emotions, connect with others, and respond to stress. Sometimes we get “kicked out” of that window.

And that is normal.

Not because you are failing.
Not because you are weak.
But because you are human.

Click here to learn more about the Window of Tolerance constructed by Dr. Dan Siegel in 1999.

Above the Window: Fight or Flight

Sometimes being outside the window looks loud.

Big emotions.
Frustration.
Anger.
Panic.
Overwhelm.

This is often the nervous system moving into fight or flight.

Sometimes it is triggered by something external — a loud noise, a stressful interaction, a smell, a memory, a feeling — something that reminds the brain of a time when we were not emotionally or physically safe.

Even when we consciously know we are okay, the body responds as though danger is present.

This is why self-awareness matters so much.

Recognizing:

  • What emotions feel biggest for me?
  • What situations tend to trigger them?
  • What signs show up in my body before things escalate?

These are not questions about judgment.

They are questions about awareness.

Below the Window: Freeze and Shutdown

Other times, being outside the window looks quiet.

You feel numb.
Disconnected.
Unfocused.
Emotionally flat.
Checked out.

Keri explains this as the freeze response, or hypoactivation.

This can look like:

  • Endless scrolling
  • Avoiding decisions
  • Feeling detached
  • Not paying attention
  • Losing motivation
  • Feeling like you “don’t care”

When this happens, the goal is not shame.

The goal is noticing.

Because once we notice, we can begin gently supporting ourselves back toward regulation.

Image Source: OC Psychotherapy Centre, “Window of Tolerance”

Your Window Can Shrink — and Expand

One of the most important reminders from Keri is that the window of tolerance is not fixed.

It is more like an accordion.

It can shrink during periods of stress, trauma, exhaustion, grief, illness, or overwhelm.

And it can expand with support, awareness, practice, and care.

The way we care for ourselves matters.

Have I eaten?
Hydrated?
Slept?
Moved my body?
Connected with someone safe?

How we show up for ourselves impacts how we show up for others.

Healthy people create healthy systems.

And trauma-informed care is about building that understanding into every system humans interact with — healthcare, schools, businesses, nonprofits, agencies, and communities.

Finding Your Way Back Into the Window

The goal is not to stay perfectly regulated all day.

None of us do.

We move in and out of our window constantly.

The key is learning:

  • How to notice it
  • How to respond
  • How to return

Keri emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

The most important thing is finding what works for you.

Often, our senses are the pathway back.

The same senses that can trigger us can also help ground us.

Maybe it is:

  • Ocean sounds
  • Essential oils
  • Deep breathing
  • A drink of cold water
  • Going on a walk
  • Looking at pictures of people you love
  • Calling someone safe
  • Moving your body
  • Squeezing your muscles to create blood flow

The goal is simple:
To remind your nervous system:

I am here.
I am safe.
I am well.
I am okay.

The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Exercise

One practical tool Keri shared is the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise.

When you notice yourself outside your window, pause and identify:

  • 5 things you can see
  • 4 things you can touch
  • 3 things you can hear
  • 2 things you can taste
  • 1 thing you can smell

Say them out loud if possible.

The purpose is not perfection.

It is presence.

It is bringing your awareness back into your body and into the current moment.

The “Take 5” Plan

Keri also encourages people to create a simple “Take 5” plan ahead of time.

Start with these questions:

  1. What emotions are most difficult for me?
  2. What situations tend to trigger those emotions?
  3. What signs tell me those emotions are starting to become too big?

Then create a list of five things you can do in five minutes that help calm and regulate your nervous system.

Examples might include:

  1. Looking at pictures of your kids
  2. Taking deep breaths
  3. Listening to ocean sounds
  4. Drinking a Diet Coke
  5. Calling someone you trust

Simple matters.

Small matters.

The point is not creating a perfect wellness plan.

The point is creating a realistic one.

Presence and Patience

Keri referenced the work of Kristen Neff and the idea that self-compassion requires action.

Not just acknowledging that things are hard.
But responding to yourself with care.

Asking:

  • What do I need right now?
  • What would help me feel supported?
  • What would help me feel present?

And then practicing those things consistently.

Not perfectly.
Just consistently.

Because healing is a practice.

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

One of the most powerful suggestions Keri shared was to involve another person.

Write down your answers.
Share your Take 5 plan with someone you trust.
Ask them to check in with you.

“This is something I’m trying for myself. Can you check in with me this week?”

Sometimes support looks incredibly simple.

And incredibly powerful.

A Reminder for Trauma Survivors

If you are struggling to stay regulated after trauma, it does not mean you are broken.

It means your nervous system has been through something significant.

Awareness matters.
Support matters.
Practice matters.

And so does patience with yourself.

As Keri shared during our conversation:

“You are a gift to you, and we’re so glad that you’re still here.”

Learn more about Trauma-Informed Utah at traumainformedutah.org.

Watch this incredible Resource Conversation with Keri Jones-Fonnesbeck from Trauma Informed Utah

By Seantae Jackson