TBI, Concussions, Brain Health: Favorite Resources

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TBI, concussions, and brain health are no laughing matter. Our family experienced this first hand nearly a decade ago when, while stopped at a red light, we experienced a terrifying…

CRASH!

The immediate impact of the rear end collision seemed evident: It totaled the car and jammed my wrists into the steering wheel, my ankles into the floorboard. Thankfully, my children, though stunned, were unharmed. Our family felt fortunate to escape the collision with only minor injuries. The totaled car was soon replaced, my swollen wrists and ankles healed within a few weeks, and life continued on as normal.

Sort of.

What was not immediately evident to me at the time of the accident was the impact the collision had had on my brain. Looking back now, I recognize the signs⎯the shock, the agitation, the lasting trauma. The damage had been done. Unfortunately, it would take years for me to realize it and get the treatment my brain so desperately needed.

This is a record of my continuing journey to recover from multiple concussions and TBI:

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TBI and Brain Health

In the Beginning

The devastating effects of the car accident on my brain became clear years later after I experienced a series of concussions. Concussions are traumatic brain injuries, and every injury to the brain is devastating. As one person emotionally stated,

“There really is no such thing as a ‘mild’ TBI.”

Any damage to the brain is a serious matter and ought to be treated as such.

The cumulative effect of these traumatic events over the years really began to take a toll on my brain, and life just became…harder. Every day required more effort. Every action during the day required more effort. And I couldn’t figure out why. What was wrong with me?

Too busy to search for answers, I carried on with work and school and homelife. In the meantime, my symptoms gradually worsened. Finally, barely able to function each day, I was left with no choice but to slow down and to figure out what was happening with my brain. Following are resources that have helped on my continual journey toward recovery from multiple concussions and TBI:

Part I: Resources for Comfort

To be able to communicate with another person who is dealing with TBI is a blessing. At the beginning of my journey I was forntunate to make contact with someone who could relate to much of what I was experiencing. She made several product recommendations which have blessed me tremendously on my health journey:

Lighting

Edison old-fashioned incandescent lightbulbs, I was told, are easier on the eyes than many lightbulbs. I added these bulbs to areas of the house in which I spend the most time. They really do help with light sensitivity. As a bonus, they add a beautiful warm glow to the room.

Sounds

Loop earplugs were recommended and I have been very happy with the set I purchased. They are comfortable and come in a variety of colors. Loop earplugs filter out some, but not all, sound, with some filtering out more sound than others, so be sure to look for that information in the description if you purchase a pair. Wearing the earplugs makes going shopping, attending church, and other public gatherings much more comfortable.

Sleep

A good, comfortable sleep mask has saves me in the mornings when the sunlight is flooding through the windows. Allowing light to flood the room can help to prevent depression. Using an eye mask allows me to sleep in longer than I otherwise might have, and sleep is an essential element when healing from TBI.

Resources for Healing

Books

My journey to healing began by reading brain injury-themed books. It was through reading the experiences of others that I gained a foundational understanding of what I was experiencing with my brain. The books that really stood out include:

• Racing to the Finish: My Story by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is the detailed account of Dale’s harrowing journey of recovery from multiple concussions during his racing career. This book is a page turner, filled with recommendations and resources for your own personal healing.
• Concussion: Traumatic Brain Injury from Head to Tail
• The Concussion Companion: The real world guide to navigating recovery with confidence and clarity
• The Ghost in My Brain: How a Concussion Stole My Life and How the New Science of Brain Plasticity Helped Me Get It Back

Community

After reading books, I sought out a community to join for added support. I’m so grateful to have crossed paths with The Concussion Community at just the right time. Silvie started the community while dealing with her own concussion injuries. She is so incredibly helpful and supportive. The Concussion Community she has created is filled with videos, resources, and activities from professionals about every conceivable topic relating to concussions: vision and sleep difficulties, emotional healing, exercise instruction, diet, cognitive exercises, and so much more. Communicating with others in the community who are dealing with similar challenges as mine decreases the isolation I feel. I could not be happier with the support I receive from The Concussion Community!

Training

It was through The Concussion Community that I learned about the Concussion Boost Program. It was an easy sell, considering how wonderful both Silvie and The Concussion Community are. The cost was low compared to the tremendous benefits I received from the training, which is filled with instructional videos, printouts, exercises, and other resources. As I took action and applied what I was learning to my daily routine, I began to experience remarkable improvements with my health.

Tools

Many resources and products are available to help treat brain injury. Some that I’ve found to be especially helpful include:

• Recovery Journal: At the onset of my recovery journey, I created a Recovery Journal in which to track my daily highs and lows, diet, exercise, emotions, etc. This journal has been key to helping me figure out what is working and what isn’t. This is the brand of journal I use.

• Brock String Can help address vision issues specified by your doctor
• Marsden Ball A tool for improving vision issues specified by your doctor
• Exercise Bike Ideal for indoor interval training
• Rebounder Lymphasizer Ideal for indoor interval training
• Balance Seat Increases the intensity of your physical and cognitive exercises
• Exercise Ball Use as part of your exercise regimen
• Brain HQ Online training to improve brain health
• Designs for Strong Minds Website filled puzzles and other resources
• Puzzle Books Ideal cognitive exercises
• Cognitive FX Personalized treatment for your brain injury. Though I did not attend the center in person, I used some of their methods at home with great success.

Emotional Health

I’ve learned for myself that pursuing personal interests that will be calming and safe for one’s brain is an important aspect of brain health and care. Some interests that fall into these categories include;

• Gardening
• Walking
• Hobbies: Peruse a list of 199+ hobbies to find one or two that interest you, or enjoy this list of 70 Hygge Hobbies for Women
• Reduce screen time; spend more time in nature
• Supplements, as recommended by your physician

Vision Support

Some time after my injuries, I began to notice issues with my vision that affected my ability to function normally in day-to-day life. Thanks to information learned in The Concussion Community, I was led to the perfect eye doctor in my area who prescribed prism lenses and, potentially, vision therapy. Vision is connected with the brain and affects much more than sight. Finding the right treatment for one’s vision may lead to the improvement of a vast number of brain injury symptoms. I know it did for me. Vision health has been a huge part of my recovery journey.

Where I Am Today

Today, though the path to recovery is long and overwhelming, I look back at how far I’ve come and am filled with gratitude⎯for lessons learned, knowledge gained, and connections made. Life is what we make of it. Some days are harder than others, but I’m in this for the long haul. I may have a TBI, but TBI doesn’t have me.

What has your journey to recovery from TBI/concussions/brain injury looked like?