Seis años , todos los días sin falta

Six years - who could have imagined? So much has happened in that time. I'm still here, and hope Blip is...

Instead of eulogising about the wonders of this site, thanking my "followers" etc, all done before, I'd like to share part of an article on brain injury, a subject close to my heart and, er, brain, Feel free to skip it if you wish; it's a reference for me when I need to explain things to people, but also it may help in some way for those not affected to understand a little better something which cannot be fully appreciated without walking that mile in another person's shoes. Here goes:



Lost & Found: What Brain Injury Survivors Want You to Know

Barbara J. Webster, Lash & Associates

I need a lot more rest than I used to. I’m not being lazy. I get physical fatigue as well as a “brain fatigue.” It is very difficult and tiring for my brain to think, process, and organize.
Fatigue makes it even harder to think.

My stamina fluctuates, even though I may look good or “all better” on the outside. Cognition is a
fragile function for a brain injury survivor. Some days are better than others. Pushing too hard
usually leads to setbacks, sometimes to illness.

Brain injury rehabilitation takes a very long time; it is usually measured in years. It continues
long after formal rehabilitation has ended. Please resist expecting me to be who I was, even though
I look better.

I am not being difficult if I resist social situations. Crowds, confusion, and loud sounds quickly
overload my brain, it doesn’t filter sounds as well as it used to. Limiting my exposure is a coping
strategy, not a behavioural problem.

If there is more than one person talking, I may seem uninterested in the conversation. That is
because I have trouble following all the different “lines” of discussion. It is exhausting to keep
trying to piece it all together. I’m not dumb or rude; my brain is getting overloaded!

If we are talking and I tell you that I need to stop, I need to stop NOW! And it is not because I’m
avoiding the subject, it’s just that I need time to process our discussion and “take a break” from
all the thinking. Later I will be able to rejoin the conversation and really be present for the
subject and for you.

Try to notice the circumstances if a behaviour problem arises. “Behaviour problems” are often an
indication of my inability to cope with a specific situation and not a mental health issue. I may
be frustrated, in pain, overtired or there may be too much confusion or noise for my brain to
filter.

Patience is the best gift you can give me. It allows me to work deliberately and at my own pace,
allowing me to rebuild pathways in my brain. Rushing and multi-tasking inhibit cognition.
Please listen to me with patience. Try not to interrupt. Allow me to find my words and follow my
thoughts. It will help me rebuild my language skills.

Please have patience with my memory. Know that not remembering does not mean that I don’t care.

Please don’t be condescending or talk to me like I am a child. I’m not stupid, my brain is injured
and it doesn’t work as well as it used to. Try to think of me as if my brain were in a cast.

If I seem “rigid,” needing to do tasks the same way all the time; it is because I am retraining my
brain. It’s like learning main roads before you can learn the shortcuts. Repeating tasks in the
same sequence is a rehabilitation strategy.

If I seem “stuck,” my brain may be stuck in the processing of information. Coaching me, suggesting
other options or asking what you can do to help may help me figure it out. Taking over and doing it
for me will not be constructive and it will make me feel inadequate. (It may also be an indication
that I need to take a break.)

You may not be able to help me do something if helping requires me to frequently interrupt what I
am doing to give you directives. I work best on my own, one step at a time and at my own pace.

If I repeat actions, like checking to see if the doors are locked or the stove is turned off, it
may seem like I have OCD — obsessive-compulsive disorder — but I may not. It may be that I am
having trouble registering what I am doing in my brain. Repetitions enhance memory. (It can also be
a cue that I need to stop and rest.)

If I seem sensitive, it could be emotional lability as a result of the injury or it may be a
reflection of the extraordinary effort it takes to do things now. Tasks that used to feel
“automatic” and take minimal effort, now take much longer, require the implementation of numerous strategies and are huge accomplishments for me.

We need cheerleaders now, as we start over, just like children do when they are growing up. Please
help me and encourage all efforts. Please don’t be negative or critical. I am doing the best I can.