
If you have any anoxic brain injury or another type of brain injury that affects your cognitive abilities, continue to challenge your brain. I continue to be amazed at the power of the brain to overcome obstacles. We’ve all heard that we have much more brain power than we choose to use – so why not tap into that available brain power? It seems like a perfect time to do that after a brain injury where part of the brain has been destroyed. I know my brain has found ways around some of the traditional ways of thinking.
First, I had to believe I could find a way around the losses I suffered after my acquired brain injury. It is considered an “acquired” brain injury because it was not something I was born with – but rather due to an injury I acquired due to lack of oxygen that resulted in the partial or complete loss of certain portions of my brain. After getting through the denial phase and realizing I was never getting the use of certain parts of my brain back, Larry and I put together a plan for compensatory strategies that worked for me to be able to live a more enjoyable and productive life. Many of these strategies are in Brain Injury Survivor’s Guide, Welcome to Our World.
Recently, I’ve been thing a lot about all the wasted brain power each of us has – not just those of us who have an acquired brain injury – but everyone. Larry and I bought software to begin learning a new language (French) – a late Christmas gift to ourselves. Even with a brain injury, I am amazed at how much I have learned in a little over a week. It will take me a while to become fluent, but I really believe I can. I think it’s pretty special to be able to say I have a brain injury, but I can speak and write French. That is something a lot of “normal” people can’t do. I already feel I’ve accomplished a lot and look forward to learning more.
Now – some of your may be thinking I didn’t have much of a brain injury to start out with – that is far from the truth. The first few years of my brain injury were extremely tough for both Larry and me. I cried a lot and got frustrated and just got plain mad a lot. Everyone progresses at their own level depending on attitude, potential, and available support.
Anyway, I just think it’s exciting to think about what is possible and encourage you to challenge your injured brain. You’ll be glad you did.
First, I had to believe I could find a way around the losses I suffered after my acquired brain injury. It is considered an “acquired” brain injury because it was not something I was born with – but rather due to an injury I acquired due to lack of oxygen that resulted in the partial or complete loss of certain portions of my brain. After getting through the denial phase and realizing I was never getting the use of certain parts of my brain back, Larry and I put together a plan for compensatory strategies that worked for me to be able to live a more enjoyable and productive life. Many of these strategies are in Brain Injury Survivor’s Guide, Welcome to Our World.
Recently, I’ve been thing a lot about all the wasted brain power each of us has – not just those of us who have an acquired brain injury – but everyone. Larry and I bought software to begin learning a new language (French) – a late Christmas gift to ourselves. Even with a brain injury, I am amazed at how much I have learned in a little over a week. It will take me a while to become fluent, but I really believe I can. I think it’s pretty special to be able to say I have a brain injury, but I can speak and write French. That is something a lot of “normal” people can’t do. I already feel I’ve accomplished a lot and look forward to learning more.
Now – some of your may be thinking I didn’t have much of a brain injury to start out with – that is far from the truth. The first few years of my brain injury were extremely tough for both Larry and me. I cried a lot and got frustrated and just got plain mad a lot. Everyone progresses at their own level depending on attitude, potential, and available support.
Anyway, I just think it’s exciting to think about what is possible and encourage you to challenge your injured brain. You’ll be glad you did.















