Getting Better with Ann Beal

What happens when you are born without the main bridge connecting the left and right sides of your brain? In this powerful episode of the Getting Better Show, 16-year-old, Belle Brigman joins us to share her incredible journey living with a rare neurological condition known as Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC).
But she isn’t embarking on this conversation alone. We are also joined by her mom, Rachel, who shares the raw, moving perspective of a parent navigating a rare diagnosis, and her counselor, Kristine Rufi, who provides professional insight into the emotional resilience, coping strategies, and mental health support that helps Belle thrive.
From understanding how a brain beautifully rewires itself to coping with the daily social and physical realities of being a teenager with ACC, this episode is a masterclass in hope, family strength, and healing. Listen in to hear how this incredible family is moving forward and getting better together.
📌 What We Discuss:

• What is ACC? An easy-to-understand breakdown of Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum.
• The Teen Perspective: [Teen's Name] opens up about her daily life, school, and identity.
• A Mother’s Heart: The challenges and triumphs of raising a child with a rare neurological condition.
• The Power of Therapy: How counseling plays a vital role in processing a life-changing diagnosis and building a support network.
• Finding Hope: Moving past a medical label to focus on healing, growth, and the future.

Belle also shares how she wants to join the Air Force and to get this message to the President of the United States to have a special day for all who struggle with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum,


Be sure to follow, like and subscribe to Ann Beal's social media pages.
https://www.facebook.com/annbealgettingbetter/
https://www.facebook.com/livingwellwithannbeal/
https://twitter.com/ablivingwell
https://www.instagram.com/annbeal/
https://www.youtube.com/annbeal

Visit Ann Beal's websites at:
https://www.gettingbettershow.com/
https://www.lifesolutionscoachingandcounseling.com/

Honor her for all her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. 
                                                                                                                                Proverbs 31:31 NIV
Blythe Daniel and Helen Mcintosh on their new book "I Love You Mom"

This book helps you express love, encouragement, exhortation, and kindness to the one who loved you first. This mother-daughter duo have written a beautiful book to help us express exactly what makes our mama’s so special. Each page of ‘I Love You, Mom’ glows with their wisdom and grace, adorned with Scripture and bright illustrations. Also would make a great gift for a new mother as the selected Scriptures will lift her up at every stage. I was delighted to give a copy to my mama, and encourage you to do the same!”

BLYTHE DANIEL has co-authored Mended: Restoring the Hearts of Mothers and Daughters with her mother, Dr. HELEN MCINTOSH, EdD, who has a doctorate in Counseling Psychology and enjoys volunteer counseling with families in her community. They both work together to give moms and daughters ways to restore or nurture their relationship. They have also written on the topic of affirming the roles of moms and dads in I Love You, Mom! and I Love You, Dad! (also co-authored by William Daniel) to make sure family members know just how important they are! Blythe loves words, loves to invest in relationships with people she meets for the first time and people close to her. She likes to write about ways to bring help and hope to individuals! She is wife to Art and mom to three teens. Go to their website, https://connectingheartsandconversations.com, to learn more about them and all they do.
GettingBetterShow.com 



Be sure to follow, like and subscribe to Ann Beal's social media pages.
https://www.facebook.com/annbealgettingbetter/
https://www.facebook.com/livingwellwithannbeal/
https://twitter.com/ablivingwell
https://www.instagram.com/annbeal/
https://www.youtube.com/annbeal

Visit Ann Beal's websites at:
https://www.gettingbettershow.com/
https://www.lifesolutionscoachingandcounseling.com/

Today I want to talk about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Not as a historical figure frozen in textbooks. Not only as a civil rights leader But as a teacher of the human spirit. When most people hear Dr. King’s name, they think about marches, speeches, and laws. But what often gets overlooked is this: Dr. King was deeply focused on how a person lives from the inside out. He spoke constantly about courage, fear, self respect, purpose, perseverance, and love not as vague ideals, but as daily practices.  

In many ways, Dr. King was doing self-help work before that term ever existed. His message was simple but demanding: Change begins internally, but it must not stay there.

Today, we’re going to explore how Dr. King’s philosophy can help us: 

• Stay grounded in difficult times
• * Find meaning beyond comfort
• * Respond to injustice without becoming bitter
• * And live a life aligned with our values This is not about politics. 

This is about personal integrity and moral courage.

Be sure to follow, like and subscribe to Ann Beal's social media pages.
https://www.facebook.com/annbealgettingbetter/
https://www.facebook.com/livingwellwithannbeal/
https://twitter.com/ablivingwell
https://www.instagram.com/annbeal/
https://www.youtube.com/annbeal

Visit Ann Beal's websites at:
https://www.gettingbettershow.com/
https://www.lifesolutionscoachingandcounseling.com/

Ann invites Grief Counseling Specialist, Kristine Rufi, to share how to cope with grief and loss especially during the holidays when the emotions are harder to cope with.  Kristine not only shares about her loss of one of her teenage children, but also shares how she learned to cope to survive through that pain and go on to live a thriving, wonderful life.  Her tips for the holiday season and other special days are especially helpful to help you navigate those days in ways that allows you to survive through those special times in the healthiest ways to keep yourself well as you grieve. Ann and Kristine are also joined by Stress Specialist, Dr. Jim Slaughter.

Some suggestions from Kristine:

~BE FLEXIBLE
You can put some traditions on hold or try something new. For example, you could take a walk instead of going to a party, or visit a neighbor or relative.

~ALLOW YOURSELF TO GRIEVE
It's okay to cry, feel sad, or want to be alone. But don't stay alone too long. Remember, you can also talk about your grief with others.

~TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
You might feel more tired or have mood swings, so it's important to be patient with yourself. You can try taking a bath, reading a book, or going for a walk.

~HONOR THE MEMORY OF YOUR LOVED ONE
You can honor their memory by making a new tradition, or doing something to remember them. Listen in for many suggestions.

~BE KIND TO YOURSELF
Don't feel guilty if you have moments of enjoyment. You've survived harder days before, and you'll get through this one too. Your body numbs you and only lets waves of deep emotion come for a short time and then your body numbs you again. This protects the organs and allows careful processing of very hard emotions. Take advantage of those in-between moments to do some healthy pleasures for yourself.  By doing this, it allows your body to be healthier to endure the grieving emotions when the waves come.  For now, there’s an element of damage control. What can I do to make a painful experience somewhat less painful? What can I give myself to look forward to? The holidays come even for the brokenhearted.There undoubtedly will be tears, but you will get through it to the other side.

 




Be sure to follow, like and subscribe to Ann Beal's social media pages.
https://www.facebook.com/annbealgettingbetter/
https://www.facebook.com/livingwellwithannbeal/
https://twitter.com/ablivingwell
https://www.instagram.com/annbeal/
https://www.youtube.com/annbeal

Visit Ann Beal's websites at:
https://www.gettingbettershow.com/
https://www.lifesolutionscoachingandcounseling.com/

I’m thrilled to be here with you as we explore how something as simple as giving can lead to a healthier, happier life. We’ll be diving into the ancient Irish tradition of generosity, the wisdom of St. Patrick’s Day, and how these timeless ideas tie into our physical and emotional health.Now, I know we all hear the saying, “It's better to give than to receive,” but have you ever thought about why that is? Today, we’ll explore how the act of giving can not only lift the spirits of others, but can also improve your own health in ways you might not expect.

Be sure to follow, like and subscribe to Ann Beal's social media pages.
https://www.facebook.com/annbealgettingbetter/
https://www.facebook.com/livingwellwithannbeal/
https://twitter.com/ablivingwell
https://www.instagram.com/annbeal/
https://www.youtube.com/annbeal

Visit Ann Beal's websites at:
https://www.gettingbettershow.com/
https://www.lifesolutionscoachingandcounseling.com/