Episode 71: B.I.N.D. with Jeff Holliday

Jeff remembers being sad at the age of eight. He started drinking at 14. He then added some drugs to the mix. Depression was something he dealt with for many years and suicidal thoughts were always there. At 21, he had a brain tumor removed and had five additional surgeries thereafter. Jeff has done deep brain stimulation. This involves implanting electrodes within certain areas of your brain. These electrodes produce electrical impulses that regulate abnormal impulses. The amount of stimulation is controlled by a pacemaker-like device placed under the skin in your upper chest. A wire that travels under your skin connects this device to the electrodes in your brain.

Jeff is a member of BIND (Brain Injury Network of Dallas). BIND provides tools and a bridge of support to adult brain injury survivors so they can reconnect into life, the community and workplace. Jeff's a good guy and has a great sense of humor. He said something really profound after the podcast was over. There are five stages of grief. Anyone who has lost anything goes through these stages. The last stage of grief for him is giving back.