When someone recovering from a brain injury starts speaking more clearly or appears to be doing better, family and friends may assume that recovery is almost complete. But what happens when the improvements people notice don’t reflect the challenges that are still happening behind the scenes?
In this conversation, Adeline Arjad and Alex Lombardi discuss the hidden difficulties of brain injury recovery, the importance of sharing personal experiences, and the possibility of setting meaningful goals even when everyday activities remain challenging.
🧠 Looking Better Doesn’t Mean Feeling Better
Adeline explains that some members of her family believe she is doing better because she can speak more clearly now.
She shares an example of a recent phone call with her father, who lives in England. He told her how happy he was that she sounded great and seemed to be getting better.
But Adeline explains that there is much more to her recovery than what people hear over the phone.
She can currently manage only about an hour of activity before needing to stop. She keeps her blinds closed because of light sensitivity and still experiences emotional difficulties that can feel overwhelming.
She also describes herself as being very early in her brain injury recovery.
Her experience highlights an important reality: improvements in one area do not necessarily mean that all the other challenges have disappeared.
A person may sound better while still struggling with fatigue, sensory sensitivities, emotional regulation, and everyday activities.
💗 Sharing Experiences to Help Others
Adeline explains that participating in podcasts is not only a way for her to learn more about her own recovery. She also sees it as a form of mentorship.
She recognizes that she has made progress in certain areas and is discovering valuable information along the way. By sharing what she learns, she hopes to help other people who are navigating brain injuries.
Although she describes her audience as currently small, she also volunteers her time to mentor some brain injury survivors through one-on-one phone conversations.
Her goal is simple: to help others feel hopeful and remind them that they are not alone.
Sometimes, sharing what we are learning during our own journey can make a meaningful difference in someone else’s life.
🌱 Setting Goals After a Brain Injury
One surprising idea Adeline brings up is the possibility of building a million-dollar business after experiencing a brain injury.
Before her injury, she had owned multiple companies and worked as a commercial banker and contractor. She also mentions her experience as a professional poker player.
She was familiar with setting goals and had even designed her own goal-setting program about 20 years earlier.
Her system included different time frames:
🌠 Someday Goals
🏆 Five-Year Goals
🎯 One-Year Goals
🗓️ Quarterly Goals
📅 Monthly Goals
📆 Weekly Goals
☀️ Daily Goals
However, after her brain injury, she found herself no longer using the program she had created.
She explains that the difficulty of everyday tasks made her question the point of setting goals. Even reading one chapter of a book could leave her experiencing neurofatigue and needing a four-hour break.
This is an honest look at how brain injury can affect not only what someone is physically able to do, but also their confidence in planning for the future.
🎯 The Power of Focusing on One Thing
Alex responds by sharing that she has personally used the concept of focusing on one thing.
During the conversation, she begins referring to a book about this idea and explains that she also discusses it in her own book.
Although the transcript ends before Alex fully explains her approach, the discussion introduces an interesting question: How can someone continue working toward meaningful goals when their energy, concentration, and abilities have changed?
For Adeline, this is especially important because she already understands goal-setting but is now learning how to approach it in the context of brain injury recovery.
💗 Love Love Brain Thoughts
Brain injury can change the way we approach everyday life, work, and even our dreams for the future.
It can be difficult when other people judge recovery by what they can see or hear. Speaking more clearly does not mean someone is no longer dealing with fatigue, light sensitivity, emotional challenges, or other invisible symptoms.
Adeline’s honesty reminds us that recovery is not always visible and that survivors should not feel pressured to meet other people’s expectations.
Her conversation with Alex also opens the door to thinking about goals differently. Having limitations today does not mean that we must give up on having dreams for tomorrow.
Sometimes, moving forward begins with recognizing our current abilities, allowing ourselves to adjust, and finding a manageable next step.
💬 We’d Love to Hear From You
Have people ever assumed you were fully recovered because you looked or sounded better, even though you were still struggling with invisible symptoms?
Have you had to change the way you approach your personal or professional goals after a brain injury?
Share your experience in the comments. Your story may help someone else feel understood and less alone. 💗
🎥 Watch the interview
Watch Adeline Arjad and Alex Lombardi discuss invisible challenges, neurofatigue, mentorship, and the possibility of setting meaningful goals after a brain injury.
📚 Learn More About Alex Lombardi
Alex’s Book Title:
What You Build From Here
Alex’s Website:
Alex Lombardi Official
Alex’s Instagram:
@alexlombardiofficial
Alex’s Facebook:
Alex Marie Lombardi
Alex’s Podcast:
Explore Enriched with Alex Lombardi on Apple Podcasts.
Book Review:
What You Build From Here
Get the Book on Amazon:
What You Build From Here
Visit Alex’s website to learn more about her work, speaking opportunities, and The Brain Edit™.
If you enjoyed this interview, consider exploring Alex’s book and following her work for more ideas on intentional living, personal development, building sustainable habits, and creating a life aligned with your goals.
Affiliate disclosure: Love Love Brain may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through the Amazon affiliate link, at no additional cost to you.
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Note: Every brain injury is different. This content is for education and support, not medical advice. The experiences shared in this interview are personal, and strategies that help one person may not be appropriate for everyone.
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