Brain Injury Support Group
Traumatic brain injury occurs when a sudden trauma causes brain damage. TBI can result from a closed head injury or a penetrating head injury. Symptoms of a TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the damage to the brain. Outcome can be anything from complete recovery to permanent disability or death. A coma can also affect a child's brain.
Recently I did something I've never done in my whole life and that is...I admitted I couldn't cope. Have tbi, two boys with aspergers and am trying to rebuild my life through further study as mentioned in other discussions. Have been in a terrible situation over the last month - our education authority in the U.K. want to put my youngest son in a lockup school just because he can't cope in mainstream. (It really is like a prison). I'm fighting this with everything I've got as I firmly believe it's an infringement of his rights and as he is bright he wont get a decent education.. The only other alternative offered was to be placed in a school where I worked, was attacked and received my tbi. My employers acted disgracefully about this at the time. So, I went to the authority and said - sorry, can't cope any more, you fund a private residential school suitable to his needs. Now a tribunal will take place. Funny though- as soon as I said "Can't cope" realised how hard life has been over the last three years. A strange emotional reaction followed with me waking up screaming in the night and having such awful nightmares that I was scared to go back to sleep. Couldn't even speak to my husband for two days. Feeling calmer now but I do wonder what it was about me just saying that key phrase that caused such a reaction. Any ideas?
Oh have also been photocopying and writing letters 24/7 for the last month. My memory has been so bad this last two weeks that I have got lost on campus more times than I can actually remember and can't store any information at all. I have never been this bad to date.
Oh have also been photocopying and writing letters 24/7 for the last month. My memory has been so bad this last two weeks that I have got lost on campus more times than I can actually remember and can't store any information at all. I have never been this bad to date.
My gut feeling about the emotion you experienced, is that once you said the phrase you did...you opened the floodgates to feelings perhaps you had stuffed...this type of reaction happened to me....terrible slasher movie dreams/waking up in a cold sweat/hyper anxiety....it was my bodies way of telling me a memory/memories of a bad incident I had stuffed were coming up! I can say that now looking back....at the time, this was years ago, I thought I was losing my mind. I also was having confusional episodes, didn't know where I was/short term memory awful. I had been in a terrible car accident, somehow walked away, then a second accident...an episode of *flash anger* at work....I finally had docs who did testing and found brain abnormalities. The thing is I struggled with any kind of stress, and I worked at a large hospital. I ended up on medical leave..too much stress/overstimulation and part of my brain just shut down...could not even process simple words. I had to leave that job.
madoak, is it possible for you to lighten your school load, I know it's hard, but you have alot on your plate right now!! It's not that you won't be able to continue school....but maybe a slower pace for awhile would help you!
This is all a big life adjustment for sure...would talking to a lawyer about how you were treated and the situation you and your son are now in because of what happened to you help clarify your rights?
Since my BI...emotion comes out of me differently, but since our injuries are all different, the best thing I have found is lisening more to my gut..they call it our *second brain*...that has helped guide me, as my real brain heals/makes new connections.
I'm in your corner and that of your smart high- functioning sons! My thoughts and prayers go out to you! I wish there was more I could do! I hope others here have input for you. God Bless
Best wishes.
Pulling any of the issues out does risk activating the PTSD. That maybe part of what is going on. If you use a counselor you might want to discuss it with this person.
I have an autistic grandson that I raised from a baby through kindergarten. I was able to get him into lots of therapy to help him and by 1st grade he was able to go into a small Christian school into regular classes with therapist on the side. His mother was finally well enough to take him home. However, this has been a very bad month for him and I have him this weekend to try and find out what has triggered his violent behavior and his choice of not associating at all with any of his classmates. He is in 2nd grade now.
The point is I have had 2 car wrecks and heart failure since he was in my care. It is very hard to concentrate, and stress makes it even more difficult. You are under stress over your child, and the realization the your new life is making you have to pick and choose what are the priorities and what do you need to put on hold. With TBI and PTSD we can not multitask and accomplish everything anymore and yes, it really pisses me off.
If I get really stressed and add the pain on I not only get lost, I don't recognize people. I have had my children having to identify themselves to me. That is scary, that I can't even recognize my own children until they tell me then I remember them. But it only happens when I am really stressed.
Find out what works for you to reduce and control your stress so you can function better. I will be praying for you and your son and sending positive thoughts.
Hugs-RJ
Things came to a bit of a head on Friday night. Have had choking sensations and chest pressure since spinal fusion and had to go to hospital ER. They did basic checks but it may be that my vocal cords or trachea have sustained some damage during the operation. This week will have to focus more on me and get to see my surgeon I think and find out what's going on. I admire you for the work that you are doing with your grandson. It's a hard road with autism. Also quite hard to switch off when you're fighting for others. Anyway, will definitely cut myself some slack this week.