Alyssa Chang is a neuroscience health coach and the creator of The Regulation Method, a framework designed to help people rewire the patterns behind chronic stress, anxiety, pain, and fatigue. Her work integrates applied neuroscience with a trauma-informed lens, shifting the focus from fixing symptoms to creating safety in the body. A former athlete who personally struggled with chronic fatigue, vertigo, and brain fog after extreme training, Alyssa now helps others move beyond temporary relief towards sustainable, nervous-system-driven results.

In this episode, Bethany Lewis interviews neuroscience coach Alyssa Chang about the critical link between the nervous system and concussion recovery. Alyssa shares her personal journey from competitive athletics and chronic illness to becoming a brain-based practitioner. They discuss why "foundational" elements like nutrition and hydration are essential for neuroplasticity, how to interpret symptoms (like pain and brain fog) as the brain’s attempt to protect you, and why setbacks are not failures but data points. Alyssa also offers practical, at-home strategies for regulating the nervous system and provides specific advice for loved ones and caregivers on how to offer support without increasing the patient's "threat bucket."

Resources Mentioned

• The Regulation Method: Alyssa’s framework for rewiring chronic patterns.

• Adrenal Mocktail Recipe: A combination of orange juice, cream of tartar, sea salt, coconut milk, and collagen/bone broth powder for hydration and blood sugar stabilization. https://open.substack.com/pub/coachalyssa/p/the-adrenal-mocktail?r=54h223&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

• Z-Health Education: The neuroscience-based training system Alyssa studied.

• Pinhole Glasses: A tool used to reduce light input and downshift a stressed nervous system.

• Palming Technique: Rubbing hands together and covering eyes to reduce visual stimulation.

• Podcast Episode about Grief: https://youtu.be/WydQqgU1mlU

• Books by Norman Doidge: The Brain That Changes Itself and The Brain's Way of Healing (recommended for understanding neuroplasticity).

• Spoon Theory / Threat Bucket Theory: Metaphors for understanding energy capacity and nervous system load.

Guest Contact & Resources

• Website: www.coachalyssachang.com

• Instagram: @coachalyssachang

• Free Masterclass: "Heal Stubborn Pain With Your Brain"

• • Link: https://www.coachalyssachang.com/masterclassoptin

Connect with Bethany:

• Website: https://theconcussioncoach.com/

• Free Guide: "5 Best Ways to Support Your Loved One Dealing with a Concussion" on the website

Good Mood Method is a nervous system therapy program designed for individuals recovering from physical and emotional trauma. The approach combines music, movement, and meaning to help clients rebuild biological safety in their nervous system and feel like themselves again after traumatic experiences.

Founded by Gilad Miller, a Polyvagal and Logotherapy Practitioner, Foundation Training Specialist, and Trauma-Informed Somatic Coach who recovered from a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), Good Mood Method leverages clinically-proven somatic practices to create sustainable healing. By emphasizing recovery at home between appointments, the program helps the nervous system anchor itself in safety and presence—the foundation for a meaningful recovery.

Summary of the Episode

In this episode, host Bethany Lewis (The Concussion Coach) speaks with Gilad Miller about his journey of recovery from a moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained in a skateboarding accident. Gilad shares his experience of being discharged from the hospital and later being told he was “medically fine,” despite battling debilitating symptoms like insomnia, sensory overload, and depression.

The conversation explores the critical gap between physical recovery and holistic healing, emphasizing the need to treat the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Gilad introduces his integrative approach, the Good Mood Method, which is built on three pillars:

1. Music: Using the Safe and Sound Protocol (a Polyvagal Theory-based listening therapy) to retune the nervous system and reduce sensory sensitivity.

2. Movement: Utilizing a trauma-informed version of Foundation Training to restore the body’s structural integrity and teach the nervous system that it is safe.

3. Meaning: Employing Logotherapy (inspired by Viktor Frankl) to help individuals define what “getting better” truly means to them and anchor their recovery in a sense of purpose.

Gilad and Bethany discuss the importance of social connection for co-regulation, how to build a compassionate relationship with one’s own body, and the necessity of moving at a pace that feels safe to the nervous system.

Resources Mentioned

• Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP): A five-hour listening therapy based on Polyvagal Theory designed to reduce sound sensitivities and improve social engagement.

• Foundation Training: A bodyweight movement practice focused on restoring the posterior chain (spine, hips, and head carriage) to build structural stability.

• Logotherapy: A therapeutic approach developed by Viktor Frankl focused on finding meaning in all forms of existence, even suffering.

• Viktor Frankl’s Book: Man’s Search for Meaning

Guest Contact Information

• Website: http://goodmoodmethod.ca

• Social Media: @goodmoodmethod (Instagram)

• Free Class: https://www.goodmoodmethod.ca/no-cost-class

Connect with Bethany:

• Website: www.theconcussioncoach.com

• Free Guide: "5 Best Ways to Support Your Loved One Dealing with a Concussion" on the website

Don Watenpaugh, PhD, D, ABSM, is a scientist, sleep consultant, and data artist. He earned his PhD in Physiology at UC Davis and is board-certified in sleep medicine by the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM). He directed a large urban sleep clinic for 13 years and currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Physiology and Anatomy at the University of North Texas Health Science Center and in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington.

In this episode, Bethany Lewis welcomes back her uncle, Dr. Don Watenpaugh, for a third deep dive into the science of concussion recovery. The conversation focuses heavily on the physiological underpinnings of common post-concussion symptoms. Dr. Watenpaugh explains the role of the vestibular system (specifically the "rocks in your head" called otoliths) in causing dizziness and vertigo, and how this relates to Dysautonomia (autonomic nervous system imbalance). He also explores cutting-edge therapies for sleep disruption, including neurofeedback and transcranial stimulation. The episode concludes with a critical discussion on the under-recognized risks of concussion in the elderly population and a valuable "internet hack" for finding reliable, peer-reviewed research.

Key Topics & Resources Mentioned

1. Vestibular System & BPPV

• Concept: The otoliths (calcium carbonate crystals) in the inner ear help the body sense gravity and movement. A concussion can dislodge these "rocks," leading to Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) , dizziness, and disorientation.

• Impact: Increases fall risk (leading to re-injury), causes sensitivity to movement (e.g., elevators, bending down), and can disrupt sleep by altering spatial awareness.

• Treatment: Specialized vestibular physical therapists use specific maneuvers (like the Epley maneuver) to reposition the crystals and "re-educate" the system.

2. Dysautonomia (Autonomic Nervous System Imbalance)

• Concept: The concussion can cause an "adrenergic storm," leading to a dominance of the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight). This makes it difficult for the body to switch to the parasympathetic state (rest and digest), which is necessary for healing.

• Symptoms: Random heart rate spikes while resting, profuse sweating, feeling faint upon standing (POTS-like symptoms), and digestive or hormonal issues.

• Treatment: Sub-threshold exercise (exercising up to the point of symptom onset and then stopping) and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) can help retrain the nervous system's resilience. Listen to The Concussion Coach Podcast episode 37 for more information on how to implement effective HIIT training: 37. Post Concussion Syndrome, Dysautonomia, & Intervals: An Interview with Dr. Mark Allen, PhD

3. Sleep & Advanced Therapies

• Concept of Brain Fog: Delta waves (slow waves associated with deep sleep) appearing during wakefulness, which is counterproductive to cognitive function.

• Therapies Discussed:

• • Neurofeedback: Training the brain to reduce inappropriate delta waves during the day to improve wakefulness and potentially improve sleep drive at night.

  • Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): A non-invasive therapy that uses small electrical currents applied to the scalp during sleep to encourage Delta (slow wave) sleep.

  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): Using magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to treat post-concussion depression and headaches, which indirectly improves sleep.

  • Near-Infrared Light (Red Light Therapy): A therapy mentioned for overall brain recovery (also listen to a previous episode on the Neuronic device: Episode 120: https://youtu.be/Juoz5SApHUg).