Developing the Creative Side after Brain Injury

I really do believe the statement “when God closes a door, he opens a window” (of opportunity). Sometimes people totally lose their ability to do the things they once did prior to their brain injury. However, over and over again we see survivors discover another side of themselves after having suffered a traumatic brain injury, an anoxic brain injury, a stroke, or other type of acquired brain injury. Many times their inability to do what they once did presents an opportunity to develop the creative side of the brain.

"So you have an injured brain! Actually, you have a new brain; one that thinks, dreams and guides you along the paths you will journey in your new life. That’s exactly what everyone else’s brain does. For the moment, your brain is processing information a little slower, but it is still processing information.

Your new brain is having memory problems, but you have made a decision to retrain your memory. You have decided to use tools and strategies that will make your life more enjoyable and productive.

Never give up on your dreams. Never give up on becoming the person you want to become. Never give up on yourself."
- book excerpt from Brain Injury Survivor’s Guide

FACTS:
Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability in the world!
Brain injury is always unexpected.
Brain injury is always unwanted.
Brain injury is always life-changing.

Yes, my brain was different after the injury. As it turned out for me, I was able to return to my previous employment after a long period of rehabilitation and self assessment. I even eventually received a promotion. Eventually, I grew into a position that was even better suited to dealing with my limitations and I had the opportunity to explore a different type of “thinking”. It was the type of position that challenged different parts of my brain. It was one of those windows God opened when the injury slammed the door closed. At the beginning of my rehabilitation, I was told not to expect to be able to go back to my previous job or anything even close to it. After that, I became serious about learning the strategies they were teaching and Larry helped me develop even more as time when on.

Although I was fortunate to return to my previous employment, I was able to discover the creative side of my brain while in therapy. Early during my rehabilitation process, it was obvious that the executive function side of my brain (left brain) was not working well at all. It was still trying to figure out how to remember words, do math, read, etc. And, not doing a great job of it. I struggled to remember the correct words to say or write. Interestingly enough, I could sing along with all the songs I knew prior to my brain injury.

There are basically two sides of the brain controlled by two different modes of thinking. It is thought that each of us prefers one mode over the other. Don’t you think it’s possible our brain could switch sides if one side was injured? That side may not have been developed to its fullest capacity if the other side was the one being favored. Also, most schools don’t provide equal amounts of stimulation for both sides of the brain. They tend to favor the left brain which emphasizes such ways of thinking as analytical, logical, objective and rational as opposed to the right brain which focuses on aesthetics, feeling, and creativity; and, exhibits ways of thinking such as intuitive, subjective, and random.

It was while I was at Timber Ridge (rehab facility) that I was first made aware that going back to my previous employment might not be an option considering the areas of my brain that were damaged. Since I’m a bit on the stubborn side (Taurus – the bull), and since it was shortly after the injury, I was not accepting that my life would not return to what it was before. While there, although I didn’t think it applied to me, I was introduced to the possibility that the creative side (right brain) might be something worth exploring for a new vocation.

Now, I’m not referring to being able to become a famous artist, singer, or inventing something. Although, that is possible for some people. What I’m talking about here is discovering a part of me that was pretty much ignored as long as I had the ability to predominantly use the other side of my brain. For instance, after a while, I became interested in drawing. That’s not such a big deal, right? For me it was. For someone who could hardly draw a stick man to play the hang man game, it was a very big deal.

I don’t remember what prompted me to do it, but one day I decided to draw a horse. I love animals and we always had horses when I was growing up at home. Much to my own amazement, I drew a horse! To a professional artist, it probably didn’t look like much, but I was quite impressed with myself. We bought drawing paper, pencils, and books about sketching and I really got into drawing other animals and “things”. I even did calligraphy for a while.

Of course, I’m glad I was able to return to my previous employment with the help of the compensatory strategies I learned while in therapy along with additional ones Larry and I developed for my particular needs. But, now I don’t know where developing my creative side would have led had I pursued it further. Who knows, maybe some day I will have an opportunity to find out.

There are always options – Never Give UP!