This is probably not what you want to hear but what has encouraged me to keep going. Just the idea of getting better keeps me going. When you find you can do something that was tough before it gives you such a boost but I imagine your lack of motivation is maybe tied in with your brain injury. Have you thought about setting goals and rewards for yourself. You know make a deal with yourself when you have accomplished something that you are having trouble with now that you will treat yourself to something. Be it a dress you have had your eye on or your favorite meal whatever you think could work for you but you would have to be strict with yourself. As you feel it in yourself you will start to feel more motivated to keep on getting better good luck

Motivation is a problem with TBI...at least it has been for me.

Nat has some great ideas...and practice is the key. Goals have really helped me. Start small and work up to bigger ones even if it is...do my exercises X amount of times a day. You don't want to lose what you have gained!!

I would suggest that you take it upon yourself to dictate your therapy. Many of us have trouble with motivation post TBI, but the only way to get back to life is to take the bull by the horns yourself. I found that nobody was going to do it for me, so I set up a plan for myself and stuck to it.

You need structure in your life right now, and you are the best one to set that up, and only you can make yourself follow thru.

I don't know of any motivational tools so to speak. Just personal perseverence, and desire for better than you are right now.

You CAN push yourself to make a difference! Stay strong and keep working hard. :)

I was determined not to stay the way I was if I could help myself do better. I had a life ahead of me, and didnt want it to be with a hand that would never open for one thing. Yes it took time, some days were hard, but I made myself work at it. And slowly could see improvements.Yes at times it hurt. But today the only difference is I cant bend it back as far as other due to bone graft and pins. No more exercises as get use all day. You have to decide for yourself how you want the rest of your life to be, and only you can do that, and do what it takes to get there. No one else can do those exercises and you get the reward from it. If you dont have a phisyo right now, keep doing what you were doing, add small things slowly. Like pickingup a pencil, trying to move your arm safely to do little things. Just dont overdo things to start with. Massage your arm and hand with other for circulation, dont let the muscles start to waste away. When you achieve something you will feel so good in yourself, it will make you want to keep on improving.

I find it helps to make a list of things you want to accomplish each day.

Start with a short and easy list . You can write the list down on paper or put on your computer.
I sometimes send myself an email with my list on it. to remind myself
On rough days my list had things like : get up. Shave. Shower. Get dressed. Eat breakfast. Sometimes even those weren't easy.
Be proud of everything you accomplish on your list. Over time you will add more challenging things, but be patient. Recovery takes a LONG time. Good luck :)

When they released me from therapy I cried for days! I knew I was not any where near back to the me that was and I was very discouraged. It seemed like no one understood. I felt like I was screaming at the top of my lungs for help but no one could hear me. I stayed in bed and just could not get motivated. I decided the only one that could help me was me. I've always been a fighter and I wasn't going to let anyone tell me this was as good as it gets! Everyday, I set goals for myself. Somedays I only accomplished 2 our of ten goals depending on energy and how I felt, but what ever I didn't get accomplished I applied to the next day. I made goals to call positive people who would encourage me. I asked people to pray for me. I even asked people to come get me and get me out of the house. After awhile I was surprised at how much I could accomplish. Now four years later, I still tire quickly but I plan my days so I don't do to much on any one day. I can do just about anything now, although slower and not as well as I used to I just keep moving forward! I'm even back to work part time...something everyone told me I would never do! One thing that helped me the most I think was writing down something that I was thankful for every day. I would often look back at my list and wonder how someone who had so much to be thankful for could feel sorry for themselves, and yes I still have those days but they don't last very long! Just don't give up and keep moving forward!