In life, we often encounter challenges that are not immediately visible to the naked eye. Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI) are more-often-than-not exactly that. It’s remarkably strange to think of being physically disabled as not being the worst, but unlike the majority of people who suffered an ABI I’m visibly-disabled. However, the fact that I’m visibly-disabled also means that that’s what people see, and the fact that my ABI was the most significant injury that I suffered, is invisible. If I make a mistake that’s caused by my ABI I’m immediately forgiven, because I’m disabled, and people would think that that’s the cause.
Living with a brain injury is a journey filled with twists and turns, triumphs, and setbacks. It’s navigating through a maze where the path is not always clear, and the destination is ever-changing. While I’ve come to terms with my own journey, I’ve realized that there’s still so much that others might not grasp about what it means to live with a brain injury.
That’s where you come in. I want to bridge the gap between my experiences and your understanding by inviting you to ask me anything. What do you want to know about my brain injury? Is it how it happened, how it affects my daily life, or even how I’ve learned to cope with its challenges? No question is too big or too small. Your curiosity is the key to unlocking a deeper understanding of this often invisible aspect of my life.
Perhaps you’re wondering about the symptoms I experience on a daily basis. From memory problems to difficulty concentrating, living with a brain injury can manifest in a variety of ways that aren’t always immediately obvious. By sharing my experiences, I hope to shed light on the nuances of these symptoms and how they impact my day-to-day life.
Or maybe you’re curious about the emotional journey of living with a brain injury. The frustration, the moments of triumph, the fear of the unknown – these are all emotions that I’ve grappled with along the way. By opening up about my own emotional experiences, I hope to provide insight into the complex landscape of emotions that accompany life with a brain injury.
And then there’s the practical side of things. How do I navigate everyday tasks with a brain injury? From work to social interactions, there are unique challenges that I face on a daily basis. By sharing my strategies for managing these challenges, I hope to offer practical tips and insights that may resonate with others who are navigating similar journeys.
Ultimately, my goal in opening up about my brain injury is to foster understanding and empathy. By sharing my experiences and answering your questions, I hope to break down the barriers that often surround invisible disabilities. I believe that through open and honest dialogue, we can create a more inclusive and supportive community for everyone, regardless of the challenges they may face.
So, I invite you to join me on this journey of exploration and understanding. Ask me anything, and together, let’s shine a light on the unseen world of living with a brain injury.
Great read. My question to you is learning new tasks challenging for you?
What I do is approach a new skill with the understanding of my challenges, and part of the learning is how to overcome them. With what I’d done by changing my perspective is that learning a new skill is actually like it was pre-crash, because I simply change how I see myself doing it. I’m able to do nearly everything that I did before, but in a different way (physical impossibility notwithstanding), and with that I’m usually ok with new skills!