In this motivational monologue, David Brimacombe shares his personal experience recovering from post‑concussion syndrome (PCS) after repeatedly being dismissed by medical professionals because PCS is a functional injury that does not appear on imaging. He describes the moment he realized he had to become his own advocate, the creation of self‑directed recovery protocols, and the importance of finding a personal “why” to sustain motivation. Brimacombe emphasizes starting with small, manageable steps—such as breathwork, sleep hygiene, and journaling—and gradually layering additional practices. He underscores belief in neuroplasticity, visualizing a future self, and maintaining a positive mindset as essential components of recovery. The video concludes with a call to viewers to trust their own agency, seek appropriate protocols, and remember that their brain is not broken, only dysregulated.
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If you've ever been told your scans look normal, your symptoms are likely just anxiety, you know the crushing feeling of doctors dismissing your PCOS. I know that feeling, and it nearly broke me. In this video, I'm going to show you how to become your own advocate even when the medical system dismisses everything that you're feeling, because we all know that PCOS is real. And that recovery is possible. I'll share with you the exact turning point when I realized that no doctor was going to come and save me. I had to save myself. But first, I want to talk about why you're feeling this way. The problem with PCS and any kind of post-concussion related symptoms is that it is a functional injury. It is not a structural injury. So your scans are going to look normal. Okay, all those symptoms are going to be manifesting in your body, but that doctor is going to look at those scans and say, I don't see anything. Could it be anxiety? Could it be depression? Could it be something underlying that you're not thinking about? You know deep down that it's related to concussions, that it is related to your PCS symptoms, but no one is believing you. The biggest problem is that PCS is a functional injury, not a structural injury. So it's not going to show up on your scans. So when you have a neurologist or a physician look at the scans and say everything looks fine, you think to yourself, everything looks fine? I feel terrible. Can't you see I have brain fog, irritability? I can't eat anything. I can't sleep. But all they see are the scans. Okay? You end up walking out of that clinic like an invisible patient. And you feel invisible to the medical system. This is exactly how I felt. I felt like no one was going to look out for me. I felt like getting into my car at that last visit, that there was nothing out there that was going to save me except me. That is when I doubled down. I created protocols. I watched videos, read books as much as I physically could with my symptoms, but I learned for myself. I became My biggest advocate. When someone would ask a question, why are you wearing sunglasses inside or wearing earplugs at school? I would tell them, these are my symptoms. This is what I'm dealing with on a day-to-day basis. I learned to advocate for me because I knew no one else was going to. Now, I'm not here to disparage the medical system. What I'm here to tell you is that this is an unfortunate reality. Okay, sometimes the medical system hasn't caught up with science. Science tells us a lot of things about post-concussion syndrome. Unfortunately, all those thoughts aren't necessarily shared or learned by those in the medical system. So after that moment, getting in the car, driving home, I realized something. I realized that I needed to find a reason, a motivator. To get me up and going every day. If I was gonna be the one that was gonna make the changes, okay, what was my motivation? What was my why? Why was I gonna get up earlier? Why was I going to get rid of all the foods that were causing me harm? Why was I gonna go to sleep on time? What was my why? Video up above explains why you need a why. But you— I needed a why because I needed a reason. I needed a motivator. I needed— A catalyst to get me going on those dark days. Now understand this, when life is easy, when things are good, your symptoms have downregulated, it is easy— it is easier to do the things you know you need to do, to do the right protocols, to take the right steps. What about those days when you feel like you can't get out of bed? You feel like every symptom you've ever had is flaring. How are you going to get up then? What is your why? Your why drives your recovery. Here's the biggest part: you don't need to be perfect. You don't need to know everything. What you do need to do is you need to start. Start where you're at. If all you know is that you're constantly dysregulated, then maybe add some breathwork. If all you know is that you can't sleep at night. Maybe add a brain dump where you're going to write out all those things that are ruminating in your mind before you lay down for sleep. But start there. It doesn't have to be perfect. What you do need though is you need some steps that you can layer and add with time. You need a belief that this is possible, that there is a reason for doing this. And lastly, you need a why. Why am I doing this? Okay. Why am I getting out of bed? And trying to do something that seems impossible, to revert myself back to the person I was before my injuries, or even better, become a better version of myself. And again, it might seem, what are you talking about, David? You're not going to become a better person. I'm going to tell you this unequivocally. I feel better today than I did before my first concussion because I did not have the belief in myself before that first concussion. I have the belief now, but it took time. It took practice. But it is possible. Just to recap, doctors are missing your PCS, not because they don't believe you, not because they don't think it exists, because they can't see it. It's not on your scans. Okay, but understand this, I see you. I understand the trials and tribulations of being in that recovery. I understand. I've walked that path. I was in that same position twice going through PCS. And it sucks. But you know what sucks even more is lingering in a life that doesn't feel like you. You know what sucks even more is seeing yourself in a way that doesn't represent who you really are. You know what sucks even more than having to start recovery is wasting away the life that you know you can do better with. Now, this might be jarring for some people. And I'm sorry if it is, but it takes that understanding that you are not the cause of your problems, but you are the one who needs to solve them. You are the one who makes it— needs to take the steps and be the advocate. Okay? It doesn't matter who else believes in you that this is going to be recoverable, that you actually have PCOS. If you believe in you, if you take those steps, you will be healed. Okay, I believe in neuroplasticity. I believe in the mind's ability to help us focus, to help us create that path, and so that we can walk down that and see ourselves. Now, I'm going to leave you with this statement. I want you to remember the future. I want you to think about a future person that is— that you're working towards. That might be part of your why, that you're going to walk towards that person. So remember the future. Think about who you want to become. Rehearse that in your mind so that you have a reason, a motivation to get to that place. If you're enjoying this content, please watch my full video on my recovery journey, what it took to get me from where I was to where I am today. I really appreciate you. I appreciate you staying to the end. Remember this, your brain is not broken. You just need to find the right protocols. And the belief. Until next time, have yourself a great day. Stay happy. Stay safe. Thank you.
