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Life after brain injury remains a bit surreal. One might think that after fifteen years, I would have mastered the subtle nuances of this second life, but not even close. Occasionally, I am reminded that I live on a different plane than the neuro normals of the world but I've found ways to adapt and celebrate.
U.S. Navy Ensign Timothy Bleigh clearly recalls when the bomb went off. The Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) tactical vehicle flipped several times through the air before it landed partly on its roof. Bleigh shares his story and reflects on how his difficult recovery, which included a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), influenced how he approaches patient care.
Many years ago, I was introduced to a phrase that, before my brain injury, had not been part of my vocabulary: “compensatory strategies.” Why? Because prior to my injury, there had been nothing to compensate for. I was a fully formed and completely functional adult. Strategies were for board games.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve discovered mindfulness and have learned the value of living life “in the moment.” It’s a learned skill that has enabled me to find peace in my life. In what amounts to almost an irony, I no longer have much of my past to recall. The future never really comes. By circumstance, rather than any virtue, I am now forced to live in the moment.
Last month, I found out that I qualified for a Cornell University research study about brain injury.... I ruefully admit that I was nervous going into the testing. What brokenness in me would they find? I do pretty well these days, well enough that most people might not notice my challenges. But I still have an ego and can be more sensitive that I care to admit.
“Long COVID is an umbrella term for the many post-acute consequences that result from COVID-19. The more we learn, the more we see that COVID-19 can affect nearly every organ in the body — from the heart and brain to the lungs, kidneys, skin, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. We are still learning, but we need to listen to our patients, validate their experiences, and treat their symptoms.”
William "Bill" Jones joined the United States Army in response to the attacks on 9/11. After several deployments anger, anxiety, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were taking over and he retired from active duty.
Like so many other brain injury survivors, I appear to be okay. And while many know of my past history, many others think I am well beyond my brain injury challenges and struggles. Why wouldn’t they?
Sir, I do not request an apology, explanation, or acknowledgment of my letter. As a lecturer at Texas A&M who advises future leaders, I wrote this to say that I mattered then, and I matter now. I did not deserve to be relegated to a second-class soldier.
Here’s a TBI mind-twist: Looking forward to a holiday that just passed. All but forgetting that it’s already in the rearview mirror. “How does that work?” You might be asking.
Michelle Ranae Wild is a fan of technology so she likes to have the latest gadgets. After only a short time with a precursor of the iPhone she realized how amazing a tool it could be for her students with brain Injury.
Apps can change the life of a person with brain injury. People with TBI and their caregivers don't always realize how much the injury can impact their lives. For someone who is used to be able to do so many things the loss of those abilities is frustrating. Apps can help.
A veteran with TBI started using apps to help her in school while she was getting her master's degree. Soon she found those apps were being incorporated into her every day life, not just when she was in the classroom.
Apps are great tools for people with brain injury, but caregivers can help make them even more effective. If caregivers learn how the apps work they can provide support and troubleshooting, minimizing frustration and maximizing usefulness for someone with TBI.
Troubleshooting can be necessary when using apps after a TBI. Before giving up on the app and, if you can, check to see if it's a common issue for others. It maybe a simple fix.
There are many apps that can be helpful after a TBI. They should help with skills you need to support, but here are some options that might be what you're looking for.
Using apps after brain injury isn't about quantity, but rather quality. More apps doesn't equal more improvement. In fact, it can be too overwheming to be helpful at all. Instead, examine what skills you want to focus on and then find 5-6 apps that will help with those skills.
Self-regulation is an important skill and apps like PaceMyDay can be a great tool to learn your own limits and comfort levels. After a TBI this skill is even more important since those comfort levels have likely changed. How long you want to use an app depends on what you want or need.
The Pace My Day app allows people with a TBI to judge their stamina post-brain injury. By monitoring your energy levels and physical comfort using the app it's possible to learn how long you can perform a given task without feeling drained or in pain.
Kristi Kragthorpe finds the Pace My Day app to be an amazing tool for helping her to organize her day's activities, but to also monitor her energy levels.
Kristi Kragthorpe has found calender apps invaluable since her brain injury. She uses them to remember appointments, but also to keep track of how she's spending her energy.