Sam,

I am so sorry. This is really unfair, I know it. I know you want and deserve to have a normal life.

I know you need to be a normal high school (I'm assuming) student, you need your peers to respect you. You are smart and competent and deserve respect, and your injury does not affect that. However, other people are shallow and make uneducated judgments, as you know, and that can't change the decisions you make for your own well being.

Something I imagine you are worrying about: not finishing the year. Okay. Pretty bad, yes. You have to talk to your parents and teachers about this worry. There are options. But just pushing through may not take you there, and more importantly, you will not have healed, meaning that in the fall you will not be in a position to handle a full time year.

I am so, so sorry that Mark is correct and there is not going to be a medication that will cover for you and 'bridge' you until you recover.

Someone might have ideas about the numbness - I don't. But what I can tell you is that this is a very painful process of acceptance, at all ages. You will feel like you are losing parts of your life - but you will get them back. It is really, really hard and most of us have gone through it. No one here underestimates how difficult it is - and we are here for you.

Also: Try to find a support group nearby, especially one with young people. There should be one. Contact biausa.org of your state. Social difficulties happen for many of us after our brain injuries, but rough snap judgments especially happen a lot in adolescence and young adulthood - we older people forget because we survived (as will you) but as a result we aren't always as sympathetic as we should be. Other kids with injuries will get that.

Warmly,
Julie

Hi Sam,

Sorry to hear about your injury and struggles. Amazing how life can change in an instant. We share the light sensitivity and numbness symptoms.

It has been about 6 months since my accident and I also tried to push through working full time up until March. It doesn't work!

I wanted to share the analogy that my vestibular therapist gave me yesterday. Non-injured people are able to subconsciously filter out the
irritating noise, lights, etc. that are so bothersome to us, and they don't need to make an effort to do so. Likewise with vision, balance, and
just thinking clearly.

Post-injury often we no longer are capable of those 'automatic' processes, and they now require a huge portion of our mental 'fuel tank'.
Any tasks, etc take longer than they used to, and that's before even factoring in the cognitive strain.

So as everyone has suggested, you need a plan to allow yourself to heal without draining the fuel tank on a daily basis.
Been there, done that!

Try to think of the big picture-- high school kids that don't understand the situation are only a temporary presence and way less important than
the rest of your life!

Obviously you are smart since you are capable of A's and you are seeking help here. It will get better and you have youth on your side.
Being well-rested may also help with the depression.

Take care,
Grace

SamG11,

It gets better, but only with time and rest. After my concussion it took 10 months before I felt like myself again. Rest is the name of the game.

Try to wear sunglasses as much as possible, even indoors, to deal with the light sensitivity. If you have sensitivity to loud noises try earplugs at night or when you need to concentrate.

What helped me is listening to podcasts. There are a million podcasts out there for every subject and pretty much every possible thing. Get an ipod and listen to those. I suggest comedy podcasts. It might lighten your mood.

Another thing I suggest is to go see a counselor that specializes in people that have had injuries such as yours. When you talk it out, it makes things feel much better. You may have to go see a few different ones until you find the right guy that can help.

Remember. It will get better. It just takes time. When you're 15 everything feels like it takes so much longer. Good Luck

First off I'd like to thank everyone for all the support and the advice you have been giving me it truly means a lot.

And so sorry I didint reply for a week or so!


Things have still been the same at school sadly, but I've been discussing medications with my doctor and i have been less depressed. My parents and I are trying to figure out what I'm going to do for my last 2 months of school, but I'll try to make sure to let you all know what we end up doing.

Hi Sam,

I was waiting to pick my kids up from school and got hit in the head with a basketball. I'm 2 months in to my concussion. I get how you feel. I was so active in my life and so busy and got really depressed after this happened feeling like I would never get better. I couldn't work or go to my kids soccer games or do anything. I walked around with my head in a fog most of the time. And I felt like no one understood what I was going through. My doctor still doesn't get it. He keeps telling me I should be better by now. Even friends would see me and think I should be better.

I'm no expert. I'm still having issues. All I can write about is what has helped me with my depression.

1 - Telling everyone what I am going through. They call this the invisible injury because no one can see your broken brain. It's like when I broke my ankle and had crutches and a cast and everyone was like " yeah that must be hard to get around" and I could explain how I couldn't take out the garbage etc. But with a brain injury no one gets it. There is nothing to 'see'. No way for people to understand just by looking at you. So I post on Facebook how I am feeling and doing. So people know. I get a lot of understanding and support this way. Because people see me and think I'm fine. But I'm not. So I write about my daily experiences. What it's like to have foggy brain. Or how frustrating it is to get a headache after talking to someone. Or how last week if I titled my head in the shower I got sick but this week it's ok. I want people to know what I'm going through so they get it.

2 - I focus on small goals. Things that I can do and things that will make me happy. A friend coming over for a small visit, painting a picture, re-organizing my room. Whatever small thing. Because I need things to look forward to. I was so social and active before so now I have to re-frame what that is. Before I was getting so consumed with what I couldn't do so now I find positive things to focus on. Things I can do. Things however small that will make me happy.

3 - Have hope. I just have hope. I just have to. I was so consumed and depressed thinking about how sucky my life was and all the things I couldn't do. So one day I just said no more. I just have to believe I will get better. So I focus on any small thing that I can do this week that I couldn't last week. My husband is great for pointing stuff out since I often don't notice. Even though I seem to be getting over one symptom and then developing a new one, I still focus on the one that's gone. I just chose to believe my future will be bright. It may not be exactly what it was, but it will be awesome. Maybe even better

4 - I've stopped pushing myself. I had a really busy job and when this first happened I was crazy stressed trying to get people to cover for me and stressed thinking the job couldn't be done without me. I know you are younger and in school but maybe it's the same. I finally accepted that now is not the time to be working - it's the time for healing. And that means resting and doing whatever I need to do get better. So for me, work is not an option. Not now. Not until I'm better. But I do try and do small things every day. I get out of the house for short periods of time. And when I'm home I try to find things that bring me joy. Anything to keep my mind healthy.

Anyway. I just wanted to say Hi. I get it. You aren't alone. I hope you find a way to not have a foggy head every day. I hope you find a way to find people who understand. I hope you find a way to bring joy to your days. I hope you find hope

shaymm,

Glad to hear you found the "This is the way I am and I am going to rejoice in small victories rather that what I can't do." That is the best way to move forward. Research has proven it.

Many have found that this new perspective can actually improve their life as they learn to let go and just live day to day.

So, be sure to cherish your small goals but try to remember that improvements are best followed over a longer term, two weeks or even more. Those short term improvements tend to just be up parts of the roller coaster ride. Over time, the roller coaster will slowly start to flatten out.

If you need help explaining your condition/limitations, there are ssome simple concepts that can be helpful.

The most common issue is called filtering. The concussed brain often has lost a great amount of its ability to filter out excessive stimuli. Background sounds, voices, lights, images and such that used to be ignored are now competing for attention against the things you need to pay attention to.

Multi-step processing is another. In the past, you may have been able to connect steps of a multistep task without even thinking about it. Now, those steps do not get linked together as easily as we expect.

It can help to use lists for multistep tasks.

Keep moving forward and please let us help you understand your symptoms and frustrations. Properly understood, it is easier to find ways to work around our limitations.

btw, SamG has not been on NT since March.

My best to you.