New Year – New Brain

It’s a new year and if you are still in denial about your brain injury, it’s time to start fresh with your new brain.

Larry and I watched a moving last night about a man who was in a car accident which resulted in him sustaining a traumatic brain injury. As with many movies about brain injury, there were areas of it that were either completely incorrect or not likely to be true in reality. However, this one was pretty real to life. I think the name of the movie was “I Married a Stranger”.

One of the primary focuses was that his wife was in complete denial that he had a new brain and was not completely the same person she had married. She could not accept that he was never going to be the exact same person he was prior to the brain injury. And that, in fact, he had a new brain. His older daughter finally recognized it and became supportive of his efforts to learn to cope with his changed life. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but let’s just say his wife could have written the book on denial. In our book, Brain Injury Survivor's Guide, there is a lot of information about the denial phase.

Because of his inability to function “normally” at home and his frequent behavior problems, his wife finally made arrangements for him to attend a rehabilitation facility where he received compensatory strategies to cope with his memory and behavioral problems.

When you’ve had a brain injury, you are not the exact same person you were prior to it. The extent of the injury will determine how changed you are, but you are changed. There are doctors and therapists who specialize in acquired brain injury. There are even some doctors (including military doctors) who do not completely understand the effects of a brain injury on a person’s life; and, who actually speak of “complete recovery”.

I can’t tell you how upsetting that is to me. As much as I would like to believe it, I am frustrated on so many levels when I hear that a doctor has made that statement. It’s hard enough for the brain injury victim and their loved ones to recognize the special help they need without them receiving incorrect information and false hope from a medical professional they are depending on for help to deal with this devastating event that has turned their lives upside down.

That said, there are many wonderful doctors and rehabilitation facilities that can help someone suffering from an acquired brain injury to lead a very productive and enjoyable life. But, the first step is for that person to accept the reality that they can no longer deny their injury. Then they need at least one person who understands it too, and provides support to help them move forward.

There’s no time like the present to see things as they really are and start the processes to pursuing the best possible life after brain injury with your new brain. Happy New Year!