Nightnurse you make a wonderful nurse! Kenjee I too had a frontal injury. I too get very angry and I find myself avoiding alot of situations. I don't want to do s
omething id regret.

The effects on me 'as a person' have been almost entirely positive. I have been forced to develop greater willpower, self-discipline and control over my emotions/stress, I have a better idea of what is important in life, a better idea of who my true friends are and a closer relationship with them, and I think, a closer relationship with my wife.

I am now living a much healthier, more focussed life and I have plans for the future to really make the most of what I now realise is a pretty precarious state of good health, instead of sort of drifting through life a bit as I previously was. Now just to get rid of these remaining symptoms and I think I will go on to achieve much more than I otherwise would have, whilst also keeping time for friendship, relaxation and other things which I previously underappreciated.

On top of this, before my injury my wife and I had had very firm plans to move to another continent, which we had already put a lot of money and work into visas etc. We also wanted to have a baby, but the time it would take to move, find jobs, and then for her to have been in a job long enough to get paid maternity leave, and then to actually get pregnant after we started trying would have meant that it would have taken years, and we're not getting any younger.

After my injury we decided that all these changes would be too much for me and my PCS and we would stay and try for a baby where we are. It took us a little while, perhaps because of all the stress, but this morning she confirmed that she is pregnant

A baby yay. Congrads dad. Your positivity is so inspiring. You found the good in your injury. You inspire me. Thank you for that.

Thankyou! I'm glad it inspired you. Remember it's easy for me to be positive now that my symptoms are improving - the test comes when they are not. There were definitely periods when stress, anxiety and negativity got on top of me, and this held up my progress. It's so important to limit the amount of turmoil that these things bring to your brain.

I saw this thread and needed to really stop and think for a moment...how has my injury changed ME as a person? Well, I suppose whether it's postive or negative would be from one's own perception...

My very busy hectic life came to a screeching halt. No more working 12+ hour days, ironing and laundry at night...splitting household chores. No longer do I scoff down dinner as I'm trying to help my youngest with his homework for the quality hour I get to spend with him before he goes to bed...until the next evening when we have another quality hour...it makes me sick to write that....

Now, I have all day everyday to do laundry..and I could care less if it gets done. Sure, it does...but it doesn't feel "urgent" anymore. I would spend an entire Saturday and part of Sunday cleaning our home. Now, it gets down over the week...a little at a time...

I'm here every morning and every evening for my kids...I guess I look at that as the biggest "gift" my injury has given me..:')

I'm still not in a "great place", and I really don't WANT to be so negative...but the person I was...happy, go getter, please everyone before myself, Mother, Nurse, girlfriend, friend...not alot bothered me, and I was never one for confrontation...I let A LOT slide.

Me now? I love my kids. I still enjoy spending time with them. I'm not enjoying my life, I have no energy and am irritated by so much. I too had many "friends"...they are gone, and I know it's for the best..but for a few, it saddens me. I AM confrontative, I speak my mind and literallly will drive my point down your throat if I feel you're not understanding. I'm more assertive than I've ever been in my life (and I was pretty assertive before lol). I feel more passionately regarding basic human behaviors...i.e. respect, kindness, compassion etc. If I see that someone is being purposefully disrespectful, mean, rude...it's an arguement.

I feel very, very alone most of the time. But, I am hopeful, once I begin seeing a Neurologist and Psychologist...I can learn to use my voice in a more constructive positive manner...I'm depressed and anxious...these are very new feelings for me, and I'm not liking them...I would give anything to laugh and smile the way I used too....

Prior to my accident I was pretty reckless and a little too carefree. I used to go out every weekend and party all night. Often drink until the sun came up. Didn't care about anyone but myself really and certainly had no spiritual direction in life. Just a "lost" soul.

Through all of this I have become a much better person. This long nightmare has given me time to reflect on life and what is most important in it. Can't party anymore so I've had the time to discover God and start living by his will now. I've definitely done a 180 through all of this. More humble, kind, and considerate. Have the time now to pursue more self-fulfilling meaningful hobbies. Life is so much better without the Sunday morning hangover.

Also my MRI, discovered that I have a brain lesion on my temporal lobe. Do a google search on "brain lesion". Lots of brain cancer and MS results show up...far scarier than PCS. Praise the Lord that it turned out to be just a cyst that's not growing. Likely congenital. Waiting in fear 3 months to see if this thing was growing definitely had a lot to do with choosing my new life in Christ.

Great topic, Nick!

Here's what I got:

I never got anxious or easily angry before the injury. Anxiety is getting the better of me and couple this with anger makes for interesting behavior. It's not something I want and I'm looking for ways to deal with it. A lot of times, I know what's in my head and it's ready to blow - and mostly, it gets contained - it just takes more effort now to contain it.

There was a period where I was really depressed and I knew it wasn't "me" and only what my body is reacting to. I recognized it and detached myself from it so I know there's a way out. I'm no longer depressed.

I'm more outspoken and assertive, sometimes to the point where I forget to use my filter to shield others of my raw thoughts, so they get offended. There are times when I don't care and others where I have to profusely apologize for it. I used to talk only when necessary and only at key points where others haven't considered. I do this less now. But because of this assertiveness, I've also found some new respect (when my filter actually works). I'm learning more and more about how to do that.

Like others here, I too am going slower and creating times of quiet more often. These are times that I cherish because it helps my healing, so I seek more of it, even though there are times when I'm motivated to do more. It's a constant battle because being a competitive cyclist requires a lot of effort to keep in top fitness.

And like others, I too have more compassion about those who get injured during sports. Any time the head is involved, I get uber-serious about it. I read more articles about head injuries and try to get a perspective on what others feel afterwards. The death of Sarah Burke put everything into perspective - I was very lucky.

Spirituality is more important than ever - it's something that keeps me grounded and keep my mind at ease. I'm looking for more ways to achieve this. Tai Chi, Reiki, acupuncture, I need to do these frequently.

I try not to think of things good and bad - they just are, and I do my best to deal with each - one of the reasons why my brain overloads because the psycho-physiological aspects can be overwhelming, and to develop an enhanced coping mechanism to control it is very difficult. (That's my goal.) And I'm not there yet.

It's very encouraging to hear so many people say that they have become more compassionate and aware of others' suffering. There are not nearly enough people in the world who have these qualities--as so many of us have found out in the course of dealing with our injuries. I hope that these will be lasting changes that we will carry with us through the rest of our lives, even if we recover 100% some day and go back to working full time.

It's changed me a lot. I've stopped doing certain things that aren't exactly safe like: certain sports, skiing/snowboarding, and a few other things. I'm a lot more cautious (especially when driving), and before I'd always try to push myself to do more, but I've realized that pushing it never helps anyone because I'm always miserable the next day. I also write stuff down more then I used to as my memory isn't as good as it used to be.

I'm a lot more anxious and I have some fear about the future just because I feel like at times all I'm doing is holding.

Thank you. It makes such a difference knowing I'm not the only one going through this. And not having to blame myself for my crazy outbursts.