Brain Injury Awareness Month

Relearning Day to Day Living after a TBI

1. How to function in your Day to Day life living and working in your new ‘reality’ at this time and how to move forward as you heal. 

2.  Understanding why systems and organization in your environment will assist you in doing what you need to do and enjoy what you want to do, all the while preserving your energy to heal and move forward. 

3.  Work with your professional team and your support around you to assist you in simplifying your life. 

June 13, 2012 – I was hit by a van on my bicycle, he turned into me, I was thrown onto the van and thrown back and hit the pavement.   God was with me and sent angels. In seconds there was a volunteer firefighter who yelled “don’t move” and seconds later a nurse stopped.   After an ambulance ride to Exeter Hospital, many tests and x-rays I was on my way home to my bed to recover. 

Following a brain injury one of the most difficult hurdles is teaching friends and  family how your life is changed. Most people can relate and understand the limitations when you receive a physical injury, for example, a broken leg.  With that physical injury, your will experience some short term inconveniences.  Day to day tasks will take longer to reach and slower to accomplish. This seemly minor inconvenience will lead to feelings of inadequacy and frustration.  When the cast is removed you are taught exercises to get your strength back and told to walk on it as much as you can.  While at the end of the day you might be tired and sore — Can you sit and read a book, get caught up on paperwork or have a visit with your family? — Of course you can.   Now think about having a TBI, you have started to heal and do a bit more but it is midday and you are mentally exhausted so you are also physically exhausted.  Your eyes and head hurt and you can not think, your brain has literally shut off. —but to the average person you look fine  —- to those that know you well they can see the eyes tiring, the slowness in responding and the overall fatigue  — What can you do?   REST — close your eyes – sleep.  

Are you ready today if something was to take you out of your normal today? 

When someone has a TBI, understanding and accepting the new reality today is so important.  Knowing this may not be your new ‘normal’ but it is today’s new normal.  Understanding that simplifications, systems and having organization to assist you and your people around you will conserve the energy you need to heal.   And finally knowing that your team of physical and mental health providers around you are your team members.

Get help to get systems in place are so important.