A brain injury can change your life in the blink of an eye

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/04/2016 (3685 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Have you ever woken up, maybe from a daytime nap, and been a bit disoriented as to where you were, what time it was, or what to do next?

Have you been in the middle of a sentence and completely lost the word that you intended to say?

Maybe you’ve found yourself in the grocery store with no idea what you need to buy. Perhaps you’ve looked at the clock at 3 p.m. and really had to wonder if you’ve eaten lunch yet or not.

None of these moments is particularly fun, but they happen to everyone at some time in life, and they generally don’t indicate a serious problem. Generally, we chalk them up to stress, busy lives, “senior moments”, or some other simple explanation.

What if those moments weren’t random? What if every day was filled with struggle to figure out or remember words, when to eat, where you were and why you were there?

These can be realities for people recovering from acquired brain injuries (ABI).

ABI is the term for brain injuries caused by many different events — trauma (impact, such as in a car accident); brain tumour; brain surgery; uncontrolled seizure activity; stroke; or penetration injury (something enters the skull, such as a bullet).

Concussion, shaken baby syndrome, and hypoxia (lack of oxygen) following an event like a heart attack are all acquired brain injuries as well.

ABI is often an “invisible” disability, because survivors may not look different after the injury compared to before. In many brain injuries the skull and face remain intact but the brain still changes, sometimes dramatically.

Recovery from brain injury is a lifelong journey of relearning previous skills and learning new skills. Brain injuries can be very different among survivors, as different areas of the brain control different parts of the body and the life.

Survivors are affected not only on a physical level in ways like co-ordination, speech, strength, vision, pain, and hearing, but many also experience changes in emotional control, memory, word finding, concentration, mood, attention span, planning, understanding verbal and written language, and personality.

Recovery begins once the brain is injured. This process may involve diagnosis of brain injury, and therapy with a rehabilitation team, but does not end when the survivor leaves rehab, and is possible without formal services.

An injured brain, like a non-injured brain, can and will continue to learn throughout life. It can be an exhausting process, because using an injured brain, like using a broken leg, requires immense energy, and causes intense fatigue.

Having good support can improve the recovery experience and relieve some of the stress involved in relearning life. That support can be from spouse, children, parents, extended family, friends, and/or community.

Brain injury can create a sense of isolation, and a perception that no one understands or has been through anything similar — but there are others who understand and are recovering, too.

The Brandon and Area Acquired Brain Injury Survivor and Family/Caregiver Support Group can be found in several ways:

• on Facebook: Brandon and Area Acquired Brain Injury Support Group.

• on Twitter: @abiwestman.

• by phone for information: 1-866-327-1998 toll free.

• at meetings: the third Monday of the month in Public Health at the Town Centre, Brandon, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• at our Brain Injury Awareness Walk on Saturday, May 28, at the Riverbank Discovery Centre.

The Awareness Walk is an opportunity to learn more about ABI prevention and recovery, and to connect to people who are living their own or supporting someone else’s recovery.

There is no admission fee and no pledges to raise. Refreshments will be provided, and the option to buy tickets for prizes will be available.

All ages are welcome, and routes of two different lengths will be available. Knowledge is power, so come, walk, learn, socialize, and connect with us.

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