This illness can make one feel trapped inside one’s own body. It can be crippling. It can be devastating. Statistically, people who suffer a TBI are more likely to have suicidal tendencies.** I believe it is due to the brain feeling trapped and unable to function normally (now don’t you be that statistic!). You can do this… there are ways to survive. U R NOT Alone!
It can also be devastating because this concussion stuff has ‘rocked our world’ to the point where we are no longer recognizable. I often describe my life as it having taken a 180 degree turn when the injury occurred. All that I must now be as a person is the exact opposite of what I had known me to be for 44 years, pre-injury.
So, when I have a day when I cannot recognize me… and I cannot accept my circumstances… yet I cannot change a thing… and everyone is talking too fast or too loud… and I can’t find my other shoe… and the dogs need to go out but I just need to go to bed… and I started something, was it laundry? No… was it an email? No…
When I just need to STOP but don’t want to ‘give up’, I have a little trick that helps me to know that I existed for a reason today… but I do need to STOP everything. Everything… and ‘hibernate’ until this ‘brain spell’ subsides. After these four accomplishments below, I find that I can safely let go of the day and just cater to my injury… not feel like a failure… leave the laundry… eat a snack bar instead of a meal…. go barefoot…
…so before I crash… I give this a go to give me some purpose to the day. Please try it and believe that the LORD has a purpose for each of your days:
- Read & write any Bible verse on a piece of paper… keep it near… keep rereading it.
- Do one easy task for someone else.
- Do one easy task for myself.
- Let go… be done with my goals for the day… crash… rest ….sleep.
A fellow concussion survivor shares a FUN, survivor-community-building, long-term solution… get your phone ready to download her free APP!
- TBI survivor
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13
**References
[Note that I have only cited a small amount of research on this topic… there is a lot more out there!]
- Brenner, Lisa A. PhD, ABPP; Ignacio, Rosalinda V. MS; Blow, Frederic C. PhD. “Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation.” July/August 2011 – Volume 26 – Issue 4 – p 257–264 Suicide and Traumatic Brain Injury Among Individuals Seeking Veterans Health Administration Services. http://journals.lww.com/headtraumarehab/Abstract/2011/07000/Suicide_and_Traumatic_Brain_Injury_Among.3.aspx (accessed May 16, 2017).
- Fralick, Michael MD BScH, Thiruchelvam, Deva MSc, Tien, Homer C. MD MSc, Redelmeier, Donald A. MD MS(HSR). “Canadian Medical Association Journal.” Risk of suicide after a concussion. Feb. 8, 2016. http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2016/02/08/cmaj.150790.full.pdf+html (accessed May 16, 2017).
listening link https://soundcloud.com/cmajpodcasts/150790-res - Simpson, Grahame K. PhD; Brenner, Lisa A. PhD. “Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation.” July/August 2011 – Volume 26 – Issue 4 – p 241–243 Perspectives on Suicide and Traumatic Brain Injury. http://journals.lww.com/headtraumarehab/Fulltext/2011/07000/Perspectives_on_Suicide_and_Traumatic_Brain_Injury.1.aspx (accessed May 16, 2017).
tripping UP the DOWN escalator 