This concludes my little series of quick answers to queries people have entered into search engines to get here. You can read the previous posts here:
- Quick responses to loaded questions
- More quick responses to loaded TBI questions
- Still more quick responses to loaded TBI questions
- head banging leading to brain injury – This happens. Not all the time, but it can. If it happens in conjunction with other conditions, like mental illness or some form of autism, I would expect it to complicate matters even more. Add TBI to the list of other issues… wow.
- brain injury learning to read again – I had to do it. The thing that really made reading difficult for me (and this isn’t true of everyone) was my attentional issues. Getting constantly distracted by every little thing, so that by the time I was done with reading a chapter – even a page – I had forgotten what the beginning was about, and how I’d gotten there. I’m much better at it now. I’ve been practicing. And I try to practice with things I really enjoy, so that keeping my attention trained on what’s in front of me is enjoyable.
- brain injury if consciousness was lost can you remember thing prior to the accident – Maybe. It depends. Some people have memory loss about events prior to the accident, others lose their memory during, others lose the memories immediately after. It’s very unique.
- brain injury and lying – Could be anxiety causing them to say whatever will get them off the hook. Could be confabulation, where they literally don’t know they’re lying. Could be impulse control issues. Not easy to “diagnose”. Pay attention and see if there’s a reason. And see if you can get rid of that reason.
- coping with anger brain injury – I’ve written a lot about that. Search this site for various ideas.
- is there a difference between a minor head injury and a concussion? – Depends. Some people say concussion IS a head injury, while others say concussion is the initial hit, and injury applies if the injury and effects are lasting. I think it’s safest to treat any concussion like a brain injury and err on the side of caution. I think… Then again, it might be counter-productive to make a HUGE deal out of a concussion that clears after 3 months. This is one of those annoying “wait and see” things.
- traumatic head injury transposing numbers, can’t spell out loud – That happened to me. The transposing numbers thing. After my last head injury, all of a sudden, I was turning numbers and letters around, and I was having trouble spelling. I’m not sure about the spelling out loud, but it’s quite possible that I just never tried, because it was so challenging for me. I did have a lot of trouble reading numbers out loud — they would be right in front of me, but I’d have a hell of a time reading them off in sequence. It’s been really terrible at times — those were some of my strong suits. I still have trouble doing these kinds of things as easily as I used to. When I’m tired, I tend to get my words and numbers turned around. And I sometimes have to get people to repeat numbers to me several times, even if I’m looking right at them.
- best way to get a buzz even with a head injury – Chances are, you’ll have no trouble at all, because head injury can make you more susceptible to drugs and alcohol.
- head injury vague nerve – I think they mean “vagus” nerve. The vagus nerve is the largest, longest nerve in the body, and it helps to regulate and stimulate the parsympathetic nervous system — that part of our bodies that helps us rest and digest and get off the fight-flight-freeze roller coaster. It’s really important, especially for folks with TBI, because we can often get jammed in high gear, which makes everything worse. Developing a good working relationship with your vagus nerve can help repair a lot of damage from TBI — especially in the years to come.
- how do you tell the diffrence cuncusion and just a minor head injury – See #6 above
- head injury “delayed loss of consciousness” – I’ve heard of this happening. Get hit, walk around, then all of a sudden — boom, you’re down. I think it sometimes has to do with swelling/bleeding in the brain… it can take a while for the pressure to build up, then when it does, the brain can “conk out.” This is dangerous – remember Natasha Richardson? By the time she lost consciousness after her fall during skiing, she was almost beyond help.
- broken head injury – There are different kinds of head injuries – closed, open, and ones that involve varying lengths of unconsciousness.
- blog head injury beautiful mind – I think they meant me? Or not. I hope there’s someone else out there who fits this description.
- head injury effect on mental illness – Search this site – I’ve written about this a fair amount.
- aggression in the brain – Ditto – see above
- photo sensitive brain – Since my last head injury, I’ve been very sensitive to light, especially when I’m tired and/or stressed. Sunglasses help. So does getting enough rest.
- mental issues following brain aneurysm – See above. Search this site. Mental issues following a brain aneurysm are probably very similar to TBI issues.
- what can a lot of head cuncushins do to u – First of all, they can mess up your spelling. And they can reduce your patience and impulse control. I suspect the person who searched on this phrase has had a few — witness the spelling, and the quick use of “u” instead of the longer “you”
- overcoming mental damage – In some ways, “mental damage” is all in our heads. We tend to think we’re much worse or much sicker or much less capable than we really are…. for a number of reasons. The main thing is – there are many, many ways to overcome these kinds of things — either through fixing them, adapting to them, or avoiding situations where they get worse. You just have to keep at it. Consistency can save your ass.
Broken Brain - Brilliant Mind 
Thanks for the summary.
Now I know what to search your site for too….
I have depression that comes with some anxiety that is secondary to surgery when I was in my mid 20’s to repair a massive aneurysm in the brain – right at the site that is thought to have the most direct association with depression within the brain. I am one of the cases where two separate diagnoses have found a meeting point.
The most difficult things to adapt to though have been related to changes in brain function secondary to surgery, a long period of undiagnosed and untreated depression and medication side effects. I can certainly associate with some of the frustrations of slowed mental function and the increased effort required for new learning.
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Wow – double-whammy. Or triple. Those changes to the brain always keep things “interesting” don’t they? I think some of the things that make everything worse for brain injury folks — whether it’s a traumatic or acquired injury — is the uncertainty and the not knowing, the feeling that you’re alone, the difficulty describing your situation to people who don’t understand, as well as the increased need for functioning. Just at the time when we need to be more able to communicate and process information, our faculties are impaired. Pretty rotten for everyone involved, actually. We just have to keep going, keep reaching out, keep trying. And eventually some good can come. Sooner or later — preferably sooner.
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