Author: brokenbrilliant
I am a long-term multiple (mild) Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI or TBI) survivor who experienced assaults, falls, car accidents, sports-related injuries in the 1960s, '70s, '80s, and '90s. My last mild TBI was in 2004, but it was definitely the worst of the lot. I never received medical treatment for my injuries, some of which were sports injuries (and you have to get back in the game!), but I have been living very successfully with cognitive/behavioral (social, emotional, functional) symptoms and complications since I was a young kid. I’ve done it so well, in fact, that virtually nobody knows that I sustained those injuries… and the folks who do know, haven’t fully realized just how it’s impacted my life. It has impacted my life, however. In serious and debilitating ways. I’m coming out from behind the shields I’ve put up, in hopes of successfully addressing my own (invisible) challenges and helping others to see that sustaining a TBI is not the end of the world, and they can, in fact, live happy, fulfilled, productive lives in spite of it all. View all posts by brokenbrilliant
Oh my such a heartbreaking story. But this is reality and this should not be taken lightly. Young athletes and all children need to warned and educated regarding the complications of concussions and how the brain can be severely damaged by it. Interesting article, love your post!
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Absolutely – everyone should know about this. They should be educated and have the facts and make educated guesses. But I think they also need to be aware of the capacity of the brain to heal and remap itself and find other ways to regain its functionality. A concussion — even two or three — doesn’t need to spell the end of your meaningful life.
Thanks for writing.
BB
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