Kelly on Traumatic Brain Injury, Neurofatigue, and the Fight to Feel ‘Normal’ Again

After a car crash left her with a traumatic brain injury, Kelly spent months believing she was “fine” — until neurofatigue, memory lapses, and frightening moments behind the wheel told a different story. In this emotional and eye-opening episode, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Kelly to talk about the invisible aftermath of TBI, the terror of feeling unlike yourself, and the long, patient fight to find your way back.

Kicking off this powerful conversation, Kelly shares how she hid her brain injury for years, what neurofatigue actually feels like, and how therapy, mindfulness, and sheer determination helped her rebuild a life she thought she had lost. If you’ve ever felt “not yourself,” overwhelmed, or misunderstood in your healing process, this episode brings clarity, compassion, and hope.

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health) and 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast) with over 2 million downloads and counting.

We Have Been Nominated

We are thrilled to share that Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads has been nominated in the Podcast Tonight Awards for Best Mental Health Podcast. This is a listener-driven award, which means your vote genuinely matters.

Vote here: https://www.podcasttonightawards.com/voteheads
Important Dates:
• Voting ends December 25, 2025
• Judging begins in January
• Shortlist announced January 26
• Winners revealed February 28

Your support has carried us this far, and we are grateful beyond words.

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Mental Health Quote

“You’re not ‘crazy’ — your brain is hurt, and hurt things need care before they can function again.” — Kelly Tuttle

Episode Description

When Kelly’s car accident in 2015 left her concussed, she did what so many of us do — she tried to push through it. What she didn’t know was that she was living with a traumatic brain injury that would slowly dismantle her energy, her clarity, and her sense of self. Months later, after falling asleep at the wheel, mixing up words, and feeling wildly unlike herself, Kelly finally learned the truth: her brain was fighting for its life, and she needed help.

In this powerful episode, Kelly joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to talk about neurofatigue, the fear of feeling “broken,” and the devastating impact of invisible injuries. She shares how she hid her disability for years, the therapies that actually helped, and the moment she realized she needed to tell her story so other survivors wouldn’t feel alone.

From martial arts to mindfulness, from toast-and-coffee mishaps to rebuilding her identity one baby step at a time, Kelly’s journey is a reminder that recovery isn’t linear — and it isn’t fast. But it is possible.

Whether you’re healing from a brain injury, dealing with cognitive overwhelm, or trying to understand a loved one’s struggles, this episode brings clarity, compassion, and hope to a conversation that desperately needs it.

Keywords: traumatic brain injury, neurofatigue, concussion recovery, brain health, TBI survivor, cognitive fatigue, mindfulness for healing, speech therapy, brain injury support, invisible disabilities, Kelly Tuttle, mental health recovery, neuro rehabilitation, post-concussion symptoms

Meet Our Guest — Kelly Tuttle

Kelly Tuttle is a neurology nurse practitioner, TBI survivor, and author dedicated to helping people navigate the hidden challenges of life after brain injury. Through her book After the Crash and her online community, she offers practical tools, hope, and validation to those struggling to return to work, school, and daily routines. Kelly also brings decades of martial arts experience, a wicked sense of humor, and a deep passion for brain-loving habits to her advocacy.

Website: https://kellytuttle.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brain_np_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-tuttle-72589810/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084306369863
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainlovingnp

Key Takeaways

• Neurofatigue is real, disabling, and often misunderstood — and it can shut the brain down without warning.
• You’re not “fine” just because you look functional; invisible injuries still deserve care.
• A brain injury can change your identity, but it can also uncover deeper compassion and clarity.
• Recovery takes years, not weeks — and every tiny step forward counts.
• You cannot heal alone. The right people, tools, and structure make a world of difference.

Actionable Items

• Treat your energy like currency—budget it intentionally and stop before you run out.
• Use external supports like timers, journaling, and visual cues to reduce cognitive load.
• Advocate for yourself: accommodations aren’t a weakness; they’re a matter of survival and sustainability.

References Mentioned

• After the Crash by Kelly Tuttle
• Neurotherapy and speech therapy for cognitive rehabilitation
• Behavioral optometry for vision-related TBI symptoms
• Mindfulness and adult coloring as grounding practices

Important Chapters

• 00:01:17 – The crash that changed everything
• 00:02:58 – Falling asleep at the wheel: the wake-up call
• 00:06:00 – What neurofatigue really feels like
• 00:11:17 – Losing martial arts skills and realizing “I’m not okay.”
• 00:13:43 – How her family carried her through the darkest moments
• 00:16:02 – Sound sensitivity, vision issues, and therapies that helped
• 00:18:34 – Meeting the “new me” after brain injury
• 00:23:30 – Writing After the Crash to help other survivors
• 00:24:35 – Finding joy again through small, intentional moments
• 00:38:45 – From forgetting toast to writing a book
• 00:41:48 – Kelly’s best advice: “Don’t do it alone.”
• 00:42:33 – Theme songs, favorite words, and the power of humor

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#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch
#TraumaticBrainInjury #Neurofatigue #BrainInjurySurvivor #ConcussionRecovery
#InvisibleDisability #BrainHealth #HealingJourney #NeuroRehab #MindfulnessPractice
#CognitiveFatigue #BrainInjurySupport #KellyTuttle #AfterTheCrash

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