Tag: #headinjury

Therapy: Make Time for Yourself

Therapy is a healthy part of your life. The world is crazy and personal life doesn’t take a break. It’s beneficial to have someone to talk to

Therapy tends to get a bad rap. When people hear that someone is going to therapy, they immediately go to something is wrong with them.

The world is a crazy, unpredictable place. It can feel overwhelming. On top of what is happening in the public world, things are going on in your personal life.

No Shame in going to Therapy

There is no shame in needing extra help to navigate what is going on in life. I always turn to my friends and family, but there are also times when I want someone’s opinion who is completely removed.

It can be beneficial to hear an opinion from someone who has no relation to what is happening in life. Therapy can offer a different and new perspective.

The therapist could provide a piece to the puzzle you have been missing.
I felt at the time that therapy is a nuisance. “I have so much to do, and I don’t have time to sit and talk about my feelings to someone.” It is okay to feel. I am sure everyone could have these thoughts at times.

Choosing Yourself

I have found that when I have those thoughts, that is probably when I need it the most. It requires discipline. Discipline when you need it the most can be the most difficult.

It is worth it. I view taking the time to go to therapy as choosing yourself. When you choose yourself, you will be happier in life.

We all have feelings, and some of the feelings take time to process. We are all just trying to live the best life we can live. If for you that means going to therapy, do it!

Even when life is good, keep going. If you keep going to therapy even when you feel like you don’t need it, when something does come up, you already have an appointment. You can process things as they come up, and you don’t have to wait for the next available appointment.

Therapy is suitable for everyone. There is no shame in talking to someone; it is a healthy choice. Choose yourself.

Follow me on Social Media to stay up to date with this blog! If you are new here, please read My Story.

Trusting Doctor’s Opinions in an Unknown World

The ability to trust a doctor is crucial. They are the ones we turn to when things are wrong. We need to trust that they advocate for us.

Having a doctor you trust is vital. When there is something wrong with your body, doctors are who we turn to. They are considered the experts.

I used just to accept that my doctor knew everything and would listen to my concerns. While I have always been heard, my recently received responses are disheartening.

I have gained some weight and developed a sharp pain in my stomach. I felt dismissed when I went to my first doctor to discuss my symptoms. They told me to lose weight, and everything will return to normal.

I accepted this because they were the doctor, and they knew best. I began my journey to lose weight. A few months in, something didn’t feel right. I trusted my doctor and started the program he wanted me to do.

Turning Point

When I began my first full-time job, I changed my health insurance provider, which meant switching doctors. After a year of my pain getting worse, I went to my new doctor.

At this appointment, I had probably gained more weight or didn’t lose any. The doctor listened to my story and referred me to a gastroenterologist. The suggestion was that I get an endoscopy and colonoscopy.

I felt excited that someone had listened to me and accepted that there might be more than just my weight. While these aren’t pleasant tests, they did turn up conditions. I was diagnosed with gastritis and esophagitis.

They also found a precancerous polyp in my colon. That is when it hit me; if I hadn’t changed my doctor, that polyp would have probably turned into cancer.

Finding Trust

The diagnosis also meant that I could start healing and living my life. I felt great until a month before my colonoscopy and endoscopy. Fast-forward to now, I still have my diagnosis.

The good news is that I have amazing doctors that I completely trust. I now have faith that I will be heard and worked with when I have an issue.

I have started a blog about my journey in healing gastritis. If you are curious about my journey, please check it out.

As always, you can follow me on social media. Here is the page that provides all the information.

Regrets: Life is Full of Them

Regrets are a part of decision-making. They happen. They are also a consequence of taking risks. Some risks flop, but taking risks allows forward movement.

When making decisions, regrets may happen. There are times when you make one choice and then realize it is not something you want to do.

I was recently in a situation where I regretted saying yet to something. I decided to quit my job, which I stand by. However, during my last two weeks, I was asked if I wanted to go part-time. At the time, I said yes. Days later, when I was still stressing about it, I realized that I regretted this decision.

I finished working last Friday. After a stressful afternoon, I told my boss that I decided that working part-time would not work for me. I ended up just quitting. While it is not the easiest to quit a job without a plan, sometimes you have to do it.

This job was not good for my mental health, and it was time for me to find something that I could call a career. I have excellent support around me and understanding people.

I believe that regrets are part of life. When you regret a decision, there are things you have to remember and steps you can take to correct it.

How to Handle Regrets

The first thing to remember is that most decisions are never final. If you make one choice, you can choose to change the choice or make a different decision to change what you picked.

Next is that you should feel no shame in changing your mind. It is difficult to tell someone you will do something and then backtrack on what you said. While this is difficult, you need to remember it is your life, and you have to feel good about what you do with it.

When you choose your happiness over pleasing people, life will be enjoyable. It is okay to have regrets. The key is to know how to fix it to feel good about your life.

If you are new here, welcome. Please read My Story to learn more about me.

Giving Thanks: Making the most of life

Thanksgiving is a time to remind us that we need to take time to give thanks. It is always important to give thanks.

Thursday is Thanksgiving in the United States. Sometimes after an injury, it can be challenging to find what you are grateful for. There is always something to give thanks about.

I believe that life will be happier if one can find at least something good in life. I think I have said it before, and I will repeat it, you are here reading this right now. That means you are alive and breathing. That is something to be thankful for.

There are times when you feel as though there is nothing to be thankful for, but I promise there is always something. Being grateful can improve mood and outlook on life.

Life can be difficult. There are plenty of times when nothing seems to be going your way. This can be especially true after suffering a brain injury.

The importance of appreciating when you have can help you get through the day. Long, hard days are rough and finding even one thing to be thankful for can turn your outlook on the day around.

Things to give thanks for

I am thankful for my family. They never gave up on me and stuck with me when I needed them the most. They are the reason I can do everything I can today.

I am grateful that I was able to finish school. It took a lot of work and persistence, but I never gave up and worked as hard as possible to be successful.

I am thrilled that I have gained my independence to do things I want to do. There was a question when I was born as to what I would be able to do.

As crazy as it sounds, I am thankful for my brain injury. It is the reason I am who I am and work as hard as I do to succeed in what I want.

This week, I challenge you to keep track of things you are thankful for. You don’t even have to celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday to participate in this challenge. Let me know what you come up with.

If you are new here, welcome. Please read more about me.

Helmets: They save lives

Helmets are an important piece of equipment. Just like knee pads, they can help protect a vital organ that allows you to function.

Thankfully, my dad wears helmets. A little over a month ago, there was a severe accident in my family. My dad was on his usual bike ride when he had his accident. There was no foul play involved. We have minimal information as to what happened.

He was unable to remember anything for more than five seconds. After scans and tests, his doctors concluded that he was suffering from a slight brain bleed. After 24 hours in the hospital, he improved enough to come home.

A brain bleed is just what it sounds, but for my dad, the bleed wasn’t entirely in the brain; it was in the layers between the skull and the brain. It was a minimal bleed.

Once he was home, he slept a lot and had to take things slow. Now, he is almost entirely back to normal. That is a result of a concussion. It is a slow process, but every day he continues to improve.

Normal means that he is able to work all day without the need for a nap. His recovery is impressive. There were some estimates that the healing process would take more than three months.

He has not fully healed, but he is now expected to make a full recovery. This prognosis is thanks to the fact that he was wearing his helmet.

Helmets provide protection

A helmet will not stop every injury, but it can save your life. Some people choose not to wear helmets because the helmets are not fashionable.

Our culture needs to normalize wearing a helmet. The helmet needs to be worn for safety and protection.

I tell you this story to ask you to wear a helmet when you participate in sports requiring one.

If you haven’t done so yet, please follow this blog on Social Media. If you are new here, welcome, and please read My Story to get an idea of who I am.

Overwhelmed at work: Stay Calm

When your job is overwhelming, it can prove difficult to get work done. There are ways to stay calm and able to complete the work.

Work can be an overwhelming process. There are jobs to get done, people asking questions and phones ringing off the hook. When in an office, there is so much going on.

It is easy to become overwhelmed with everything that needs to get done and the happenings around you. To survive in this kind of workplace, you need to have various ways to calm down.

Make a List

The first thing I decide to do is make a list of things I have to do. Seeing my list makes me feel calmer and less overwhelmed. When one lays out the tasks, they are no longer floating around in my head.

When I make a list, my head is calmer. I am able to focus my energy on what I need to do. When I spend less time lamenting over what I must do; I am able to spend more time doing the tasks.

A list will provide you a place where you can cross off what you have done. This is a visible representation of what you have accomplished.

Take a deep breath

There are times when making a list will not help. It can aid in feeling calm is taking a deep breath. This can help the mind calm down when it starts spinning out of control.

If you need to take a deep breath, it can help to close your eyes while you do it. When your eyes are closed, imagine you are somewhere that makes you feel relaxed.

Overwhelmed: Go for a walk

If taking a deep breath did not do the trick, take a break. Walk away from your desk. If it is a nice day, take a walk and get some fresh air.

Fresh air can clear your mind and when you go back inside to get work done. A quiet place outside for even two minutes is relaxing.

If you are interested in reading more, please read my story.

Introverts: Interacting with Extroverts

Introverts and extroverts are opposites but sometime the people closest to you are the opposite. It is vital to figure out how to make the relationship work

Introverts are quiet and reserved. Social activities tend to drain their energy. When they need to recharge, they need to be alone.

Extroverts are outgoing and overtly expressive. They gain energy from social activities. They are able to recharge with people around them.

I am an introvert. I need to be alone to recharge, and I feel drained after constant social activities. After a social event lasting hours, I need to recharge for at least the rest of the day.

I have people in my life that are especially important who happen to be extroverts. This presents a unique challenge in our relationship.

I am sure we all know people who are the opposite of us. We have to figure out how to coexist with them or love them.

Both of you need to meet in the middle. Both of you need to understand what the other needs. This allows you to come to an agreement that allows your relationship to grow strong.

Introverts: Make Agreements

Some of these agreements will not be ideal for you, but others will not be ideal for the other person. It is vital to make sure you both are okay with these agreements.

You can agree that one of you will call once a week. This way, you always know when this will happen. You can decide once in a while to go to the movies, so there is less pressure to talk.

You can take a class together, have a meal with each other or go for a walk. Make sure there is time for some talking, but also there are times where no one has to be talking.

The important thing to save the relationship is to communicate. If you are the introvert, your extrovert friend may not even be aware that you are feeling drained from social interactions.

If you were inspired by what you read or want to know more about me, read my story and let me know if you have any questions.

Large job: Breaking it into small tasks

A large task can be daunting. It proves difficult to motivate to do a job that has many components. It needs to be broken down into small tasks.

It can be challenging to stay motivated when you are faced with an enormous job at hand or even a long to-do list. It will allow you to feel better and start the process of accomplishing the task.

A task that you are dreading on doing can be put off for a long time. It will be less daunting if the tremendous job is scaring you away.

Large Job: How to

I would suggest trying to break the task up. If you need to clean the house, take on each room at a time. In that room, dust everything, then vacuum and then organize but, each room needs different tasks, but if you focus on one task, it will get completed.

I like to start with a task that will take less than 20 minutes, do it first and this method gets me in the mindset of performing the job and shows progress in a short amount of time.

After these shorter tasks are done, decide on a job that will take longer but can be easily paused if you get interrupted.

How this helps

Breaking a task into smaller tasks can help keep one motivated. You will see progress towards completing the desired objective.

Through performing these smaller tasks, you will feel a sense of accomplishment. If you are trying to achieve an enormous job, it is difficult to feel like you have made progress when the task is not finished.

Smaller tasks will not overwhelm yourself. It is easy to delay a job or not do it at all when you are overwhelmed with what needs to get done.

The smaller individual tasks allow the significant responsibility to be more manageable. If things are viewed as more manageable, they are more likely to be done.

It is not always simple to break a task down; if you feel overwhelmed, reach out to someone and ask for their help. The ability to get advice from someone is vital to success.

If you are new here, welcome. If you want in learning more about me please read my story.

De-stress and Relax during this tough time

With everything going on in the world right now, it is easy to have fear and be stressed. It is important to de-stress and stay healthy.

In this crazy time we are living in, it is essential to find ways to relax and de-stress. The world’s situation is changing every day. There are fear and worry in the world.

I have experienced various symptoms that are closely related to being stressed.

In a time where it is vital to stay healthy, one way to stay healthy is not to stress or be tense. This is not an easy task.

De-stress ideas

One primary way I have found to de-stress is to take time for me. I have been quarantining with my family. This means being in close quarters with others.

What you do with your time is entirely up to you. One option is to read a fiction book. Fiction books can allow you to escape to a different world.

For just part of the day, you can be in a world without the stressors of your current world.

I have also found that writing has helped me. It is better to get your feelings out and not keep them bottled up. If you are unable to talk to your loved ones about it, write it down. No one has to see it, but this will allow you to get your feelings out of your mind.

Do something creative. Drawing or coloring is quite relaxing. You can put music on or watch a show while you do it. If you are doing this activity as a relaxing activity, make sure others know not to disturb you.

Get outside. The fresh air will be good. The sunshine will provide you with natural vitamin D. Just remember to distance yourself from others and be safe.

My final suggestion is to not look at the news all the time. I have gotten into the habit of looking at the news in the morning and evening. This allows me to know what is going on in the world but not get overwhelmed or stressed about the state of the world.

If you feel inspired by what you read, please check out my story.

Patience: No need to get frustrated

After a brain injury, your life changes. The process of relearning everything requires patience. It is important to not be frustrated with yourself.

It can be tough to be patient with yourself when it takes longer to complete a task. This can especially be true after sustaining a brain injury.

If you sustained an injury in the middle of your life, you probably remember how easy something was to do. From what you remember, reading a book only took you a few days, but now it takes you weeks.

That is okay. Since you sustained an injury, your life is going to be different. The joy of the brain is that it can be rewired to relearn what you used to know.

The thing about the rewiring of the brain is that it takes time. It can be and will be frustrating. I have found that it can help if you break up your big goal into small feat.

If your goal is to be able to walk again, start with a simple goal; maybe it is standing or being able to take a step. Something small that progresses to your goal.

A small goal will help you see progress. It will hopefully keep your spirits up and make you know that you are making progress.

Patience: Injury before memory

If you sustained your brain injury before you have memories of before, you need a different kind of patience. The thing I have found is that my patience has come into play because people around me get things faster than I do.

It is not easy seeing your friend or little brother understand math or read a chapter book before you. For me, it was extremely frustrating.

Not matter what age you are, seeing someone close to you succeed in what you want to achieve in can
be demoralizing.

In an earlier post, I discussed how we are all on our own timelines. This stands true for life events or learning how to do a task.

Make sure you break what you want to succeed in, into breaking it up into small accomplishments. This will help you be patient with the more significant task. Patience is a virtue.

If you new here, please click here to read my story.