Overcoming a Traumatic Head Injury: What Life Is Like & Can Be Like with a Traumatic Head Injury- Told from a Survivor’s Journey

Overcoming a Traumatic Head Injury: What Life Is Like & Can Be Like with a Traumatic Head Injury- Told from a Survivor’s Journey

Brain injury, major head injuries and concussions; one of the invisible illnesses/dis(abilities) that we cannot see, similarly to that of mental health and mental illness. Did you know that having a brain injury or a major head injury can increase your chances of struggling with mental health related challenges such as anxiety and depression?

 Often when we look at someone, we may first only notice their physical appearance. They may present “well” too, meaning they may be able to present  cognitively or mentally “in tact”, but we often don’t really and truly know what the person is battling on the inside.

Here’s a brief story of one person’s survival, journey and struggles as a survivor of significant head injury trauma.

My accident was 6 years ago. I am fortunate and somehow lucky to be alive. Somehow, I survived, from an accident on a ski hill. When the accident first happened, I think they first thought I was dead as I was not responsive. I really don’t remember much, almost 4 months of my life to be exact, following that day. I have no recollection, no memory, for about 4 months. Fortunately, I walked away physical intact; mentally and cognitively, that’s another story. The only parts I do remember after the accident is falling down the stairs multiple times because my brain couldn’t gage depth or perception, and I almost flooded because I couldn’t figure out how to turn of the taps. My brain just couldn’t and wouldn’t work like it normally would, or how it used to. My speech, it sounded like I was drunk, or my family would likely tell you so because I don’t remember much of this part either. My words would come out like word salad, all mixed up, and often I couldn’t get out what I wanted to say. Mentally and emotionally, there was A LOT of anger and frustration and emotional breakdowns. I was an emotional mess. Physically though, I may have looked fine and okay, but on the inside, I felt like I was no longer “me”. My face was still visually swollen and it took almost a year for the swelling to subside, and when I smiled, only half of my face would move or at least, I always took notice to it.

Fast forward to 6 years later, I look like a “normal” person when you meet me. I often present as high functioning, a “go getter” and unless I would have told you my story, you would never know that I escaped and almost near-death experience. I survived. Physically I look fine on the outside, but inside, in my brain, I still struggle with the aftermath and It’s a lifelong journey of healing. But here’s what they maybe don’t tell you about the daily life of healing from a traumatic heard or traumatic brain injury:

-When I’m really tired, over exhausted, haven’t slept well or under a lot of stress, my speech can once again sound like I am drunk or my words may get mixed  up or not come out right, or it takes me time to say what I need to.

 -Change: change is huge; it’s difficult to adjust to and my brain needs A LOT of time to process change. My brain does the best with patterns, structure, routines, otherwise it’s like trying to sort through a big ball of endless knots and my brain can’t make sese of things.

-Noise: especially loud sounds and noises, busyness; it can be a lot for my brain to try and process, similar to that of those who struggle with ADHD and being overstimulated. It can also be physically and mentally draining with lots of busyness and action

-Emotionally: I’ve always been more of an emotional person, but I definitely feel the frustration, anger and the lows more, especially during the times when my brain isn’t working how I need it to work; It is extremely frustrating.

 Unless you know my story or know about my accident, you’d likely never know I struggle with this still on a daily basis. Recovery is HARD. Recovery is a lifelong journey and a lifelong struggle and process filled with highs and lows. I somehow managed to complete high achievements since my injury, completed schooling and somehow managing to do what I love in this world, but it has not been without it’s challenges. My brain will always have to work that much harder and things will take that much longer to compete. Some days, the inside of my brain feels like a tetris game on steroids; trying to manage and organize everything to fall into place and make sense. But to say I’ve completely healed or made a full recovery or even am “back to normal”, would be an understatement and a lie. So, I write this in hopes of recognizing the healing journey, the wins, the triumphs of those who are living life daily as a head trauma/brain injury survivor, but also to shed light on life with an invisible dis(ability), an invisible illness, and as a reminder that everyone has their own journey of survival that which is not always visible to the naked eye. Everyone has their own story of overcoming. This is simply, my own story of life and the ongoing daily struggles with an invisible disability.

Be Kind for you never know what someone is experiencing on the inside

One small kind gesture or comment could save someone’s life

#don’tjudgeabookbyitscover

Note:  The author of this story & their name has been kept private due to maintain confidentiality but is told from their personal experience.