Lessons learned from living with all these injuries to the brain:

Whatever I'm feeling at any given time will change for better or worse at the drop of a hat. I'm used to this.

I have the power to make my overall quality of life better, even when I feel like crud.

When new symptoms sneak in, it is not "all in my head". Because I'm so accustomed to the multiple odd sensations that go with TBI, I must not assume that these new symptoms are just my brain playing tricks. Case in point: Newly discovered vitamin deficiencies mimic and exacerbate my TBI symptoms. Other medical issues are under examination as well.

A solid primary care physician is one of my biggest assets. I finally have one on my case, and he has saved me from much confusion with his expertise.

Fatigue, confusion and memory disorders are the most persistent symptoms I experience. When I need rest, I take it. When I'm beset by confusion, I get myself into an environment where the risk of sensory overload is minimised, and then find one good focal point (usually breathing) and stay with that. Short-term memory challenges are a constant. If I don't write it down, it's gonna slip away. Abbreviated notes work best for me.

Isolationism is the enemy. I'm not alone in this, even when I feel like I am. I am a unique person, as is everyone...but I'm not that unique. Therefore I must stay in touch with a variety of people and keep talking.

New ways of doing things are always worthy of investigation. It's all too easy to slip into the familiar ways of minimising and/or hiding from these challenges that these injuries have presented.

Whatever I set out to do, I must always allow lots of extra time. I'll need that time to process sensory input without rushing myself. When I cram the schedule and get in a lather over time, I run myself down real quick. The risk of injury is much higher, too.

This is a start of my list of ways to be "living with it". Thanks for listening, and if any of my methods are helpful to you, it's purely a delightful coincidence.

Soon I aim to chronicle my history in another thread. This thread is the beginning of the latest process of me opening up and getting off too many years of hiding in a cave of my making.

Good health to us all!

Jeff

I loved your thread! I have come to a lot of those same conclusions myself! It is very heartening to hear how other people have learned to cope with a head injury!

Sounds like you are doing a great job managing this and if there are more specific issues to solve feel free to jot them down and if I have had any expereince or suggestions I would be happy to share back!

Jeff

You are so right and I too have to follow many of these same things.

Its one of the things I wish doctors would tell their patients.

That its not a cure all to just get better that there will probably be days
that we have to regroup and stop and smell the roses.

Its not good to sit and be alone and then the depression of what you have
lost sits in.

Thanks for the post.

Donna