The Exasperated Brain Child with a Brain Injury

The Exasperated Brain ChildThe Exasperated Brain Childwith a brain injury! Seeing people grow and learn with a brain injury is always a joy.

 And it is with great pleasure I introduce you to one success: Jusmee (SE)… the Exasperated Brain Child with Brain Injury! (Glamorous, Fun-loving, grateful, and Light-hearted; I am Jusmee.)

Anyway…The Exasperated Brain Child

I was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury after collapsing on a stress-filled day on the job some time ago. (crashing the back of my head on a carpeted concrete floor.)

Although it took months for my injury to show itself, I had strange experiences. For instance, I was trying to get the car out of the garage.

…my judgment was off, which led to ripping the right passenger mirror off.

 Then, once making it safely to the train station… I could not park in between two vehicles; I had forgotten how to do it. So, to not damage anyone’s car, I chose to park in places where fewer people would park.

I parked so that I could drive forward instead of backing out. Why? So, I could see what was coming. Mostly, it was a matter of caution for me.

A moment later…I would have a meltdown… what the hell is wrong with me? I was bewildered and didn’t have a clue what was happening to me!

Of course, I had no clue what was going on, and not to mention, my memory was shattered.

Shortly after that…

Fortunately for me, I had a keen desire to go into therapy…Fantasy seldom correlates with reality.” 

I wasn’t in denial as The Exasperated Brain Child.

 So…off I went into therapeutic sessions every three days for 18 months. Have you ever heard of the terminology “losing yourself?”

When a brainchild with a brain injury loses themselves to the world around them, what happens? As you stare into an unfamiliar place and time, you wonder how to regain the part of yourself you have lost.

Here’s the deal: life gets in the way, and it isn’t very easy. 

I daresay, days turn into weeks which turn into months, until one day the therapist asks if you are still here…and do you even remember where you are in the first place? What happened to your dreams? Where did they go?” 

Hell. I didn’t know who I was at that point. I was the same person when I looked in the mirror. However, I had trouble with my memory, concentration, attention, slurred speech, and thinking.

That is just a little of it in a nutshell for The Exasperated Brain Child.

Today, I hope to share my experiences and my long road to regaining myself partially. And how people who have suffered a brain injury and how their brains make it hard for them to do things as everyone else does. 

A severe brain injury can affect all aspects of people’s lives, including relationships with family and friends and their ability to work or remain employed, do household chores, drive, and do other normal daily activities.

Simply put, it isn’t easy being different, especially when your differences don’t even feel like something done on purpose by yourself! 

But now, 

I’m trying my best to love myself as is– because sometimes it takes time before our flaws can become perfections in disguise.

 At any rate, I hope this post will help shed some light on the struggles these people go through every day of their lives so that maybe someday, there will be a better understanding of what a traumatic brain injury does to a person.

In Conclusion…

I think it’s safe to say being different is hard. But, having a traumatic brain injury can make things even more difficult because you have something that makes your differences more pronounced and amplified than they would be otherwise. 

The list of challenges for those with TBI keeps growing! 

From not knowing how to communicate effectively to trouble controlling emotions or sensory input, there are many obstacles on the road back from this type of injury – one which often people don’t fully understand until they experience it themselves. 

The best way we know how to show our support is by sharing these tips (and maybe some jokes) about what life is like after sustaining this severe condition; so please follow me if you want updates on my journey

https://youtu.be/tjlUcXm-Tho

What are common symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI)?

TBI symptoms vary depending on:

  • The type of injury
  • How severe the injury is
  • What area of the brain is injured

TBI injuries can be both local (the exact place on the brain where the injury occurred) and include the surrounding tissues, which can also be affected by the damage to the initial site. 

This means that some symptoms appear right away, while others may appear several days or even weeks later and evolve over time. 

A person with TBI may or may not lose consciousness. Loss of consciousness, sometimes called a blackout, does not necessarily mean the TBI is severe, especially if the blackout lasts for only a short time. Learn about treatments for TBI.

Symptoms of Mild TBI

A person with a mild TBI may experience any of the following:

  • Headache
  • Confusion
  • Lightheadedness
  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision
  • Ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus
  • Tiredness or sleepiness
  • A bad taste in the mouth
  • A change in sleep habits
  • Behavior or mood changes
  • Trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking
  • Loss of consciousness lasting a few seconds to minutes1
  • Sensitivity to light or sound
  • Nausea or vomiting2

Symptoms of Moderate or Severe TBI

A person with moderate or severe TBI may have some of the symptoms listed for mild TBI. In addition, the person may experience any of the following:

  • Headache that gets worse or will not go away
  • Loss of vision in one or both eyes
  • Repeated vomiting or continued nausea
  • Slurred speech
  • Convulsions or seizures
  • An inability to wake up from sleep
  • Enlargement of the pupil (dark center) of one or both eyes
  • Numbness or tingling of arms or legs
  • Uncoordinated or “clumsy” movements
  • Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation
  • Loss of consciousness lasting a few minutes to hours

To concludeRead more

Sources:

https://www.biausa.org/public-affairs/public-awareness/brain-injury-awareness

https://soarworks.samhsa.gov/article/soar-infographics

Heads Up | HEADS UP | CDC Injury Center

Citations

  1. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2019). Traumatic brain injury (TBI) information page. Retrieved March 20, 2020, from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Traumatic-Brain-Injury-Information-Page
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). TBI: Symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Retrieved March 20, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/symptoms.html
  3. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2020). Traumatic brain injury: Hope through research. Retrieved March 20, 2020, from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Hope-Through-Research/Traumatic-Brain-Injury-Hope-Through
  4. American Academy of Family Physicians. (2018). Traumatic brain injury: Symptoms. Retrieved March 20, 2020, from https://familydoctor.org/condition/traumatic-brain-injury/ 

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