Permission to Tell the Truth

An open and honest blog about TBI from Nicole Bingaman

My name is Nicole Bingaman. I became a student in the classroom of traumatic brain injury over five years ago. Since that time I have learned that love does win, but that love is also made up of incredibly tough moments.

Here, in this blog, I share the struggles I’ve faced, lessons I’ve gathered along this journey, and the ordinary and extraordinary moments that make up our days. I desire to offer a realistic perspective of hope with truthful acknowledgment of the brokenness that brain injury involves. I’ve learned that ignoring the painful emotions involved doesn’t make them disappear. It simply causes more pain. It took me a long time to acknowledge the depth of my own grief.

By giving myself permission to tell the truth, I hope that there can be healing for others who are walking this same road. Learn more about Nicole >

The Latest from Nicole

Beautiful Truth

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to share with a group of caregivers and survivors at a rehab. From the moment they entered the gym, I sensed their exceptional spirits. This was not surprising, as I have discovered the brain injury community to be comprised of the finest people you will ever encounter.

The Art of Letting Go

I’ve kept in touch with a handful of healthcare professionals I had met in the early days of Taylor’s ordeal. These people not only taught me about the physical effects of brain injury and ways to participate in Taylor’s care, but they also taught me another invaluable lesson: the art of letting go.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

How do we get to new places within ourselves? And how do we bring our survivors to the places that seem impossible? For the climber, it is not always about reaching the top. Sometimes, it is just about the climb.

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Making Tough Decisions Easier

My son’s brain injury has taught me over and over again that I often have little control over life’s circumstances. But that does not mean I throw caution to the wind. Here are a few things we've learned regarding legalities and Taylor's ongoing care and future.

Spin Cycle

If I am busy with every little thing, then I don’t have time to be sad, angry, feel hopeless or miss our lives and the son I knew before. I can diminish the magnitude of Taylor’s injury. It just won’t hurt as much, until it hurts like hell and can’t be ignored. So here is what I learned in my own version of spin class.

Waves of Grief

I cannot remember the first time I recognized grief for what it was following our son’s traumatic brain injury, but it has come to feel like a familiar acquaintance. These are some coping strategies that have helped me get through to the other side of my own grief.

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Let There Be More

I’ve been fortunate to have a few personal encounters with people who are rocking the boat of brain injury awareness, and from them, I’ve gathered some valuable pearls of wisdom. Here they are...

The Space of Your Grief

One of the distinct markers in the aftermath of my son’s brain injury is the presence of an emotional space I’ve never before experienced called ambiguous grief. For both survivors and family members, it can be challenging to address the path of this type of grief.

A Fragile Strength

Taylor is still fragile in his recovery, and yet stronger than many can imagine. In that analysis, I also see myself and many others who are navigating the tightrope of brain injury.