When I am in the middle of a “brain spell”…aka…dizzy, imbalanced, confused easily, nauseated, etc, etc, etc after exhausting etc, I try to do the following:
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- Regroup – I get in a quiet place. I get comfortable and warm, and regroup.
- Rethink – What do I absolutely have to do today? Then I cancel or postpone anything that didn’t make the list. (If I’m honest with myself, my list just got SUPER short).
- Rest – Just stop. I’ve freed up enough time now. I can just stop.
- Remember – My Savior is with me always. He will never leave me nor forsake me.
- Reach out – I try to do one thing for someone other than myself. Depending on what I am capable of… it might be a quick encouragement through a text, or a card in the mail, or a phone call… or it may simply be a prayer for that person.
When the symptoms are more severe I lie down in the darkest place possible (or wear an eye mask); I eliminate all sound (ear plugs) and rest. If my thoughts are swirling I try to think of one person at a time… I picture him or her …I focus on her. I pray for whatever she may be needing, or whatever hurts she may have, and I am grateful that God has brought me to this quiet place where I can do something for him that wasn’t on my list …. I can pray for him … I am learning that is often the best thing I can do. I’ve found that this sincere focus on God and others takes my thoughts away from myself and my situation. I find peace and comfort there. I find rest. I sleep.
A Time for Everything
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”
– Ecclesiastes 3:1
I pray God’s peace for you, in this season.
Other TBI sufferers share their stories:
- Click on the “U R NOT alone!” tab and see its subheadings
- Keith Primeau ~ Philadelphia Flyers
- You look fine!
- Middle-aged man ~ John
- Young adult ~ Hockeygirl9
- Young adult & brain injury speaker ~Christabelle Braden
- Surviving Traumatic Brain Injury
- Realistic Hope
- Dancing Upside Down
- Hope After Head Injury
Resources:
- America’s national TBI hub http://www.biausa.org/
- Canada’s national TBI hub http://www.sbia.ca/
- Brain analysis of damage to different lobes
- Family Caregiver Alliance
- TBI Guide
- TBI Model Systems Fact Sheets
- Learn Net
- What is flooding?
- Project BrainSafe
- https://www.braininjurymn.org/aboutUs/index.php
- Clinical Neurologist who published a very practical guide: http://www.tbiguide.com/
- Neurological testing…to better understand your exact needs
- OT, PT and Speech Therapy as needed
tripping UP the DOWN escalator 