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.
Does anyone else have confusion with time/dates?
I wasn't even aware that I had this problem until about a year past my TBI. I guess that is not surprising. I haven't yet met anyone with a brain injury who had every single one of their symptoms diagnosed.
I became aware that I would think it was a different date than it really was. So, my Dr. had me keep multiple calendars in my house to remind myself every day what day it was. Well, that seems to have somewhat worked. I can usually figure out what the date is, if I think about it.
But, a couple problems I have. One is that my mind seems to always think it's 2010. (That's when I was injured.)
And the other thing, and this is the more difficult one, is that I seem to think time has passed differently than it really has. My husband is aware of this and tries to make me tell him how much he has been in his new position at work, for example. I will think it is 2 months, but it was really a year!
I don't know if I've described the problem that well, but basically, it affects others in my life, because I don't have the right sense of how long they've been doing something.
I do quite well in conversation, where I appear totally with it, and have no problems following or joining in conversation. But I have a confusion over time, so I am incorrect about things or it appears I don't care, because I'm all mixed up.
So, anyone else have this aspect to their brain injury?
I wasn't even aware that I had this problem until about a year past my TBI. I guess that is not surprising. I haven't yet met anyone with a brain injury who had every single one of their symptoms diagnosed.
I became aware that I would think it was a different date than it really was. So, my Dr. had me keep multiple calendars in my house to remind myself every day what day it was. Well, that seems to have somewhat worked. I can usually figure out what the date is, if I think about it.
But, a couple problems I have. One is that my mind seems to always think it's 2010. (That's when I was injured.)
And the other thing, and this is the more difficult one, is that I seem to think time has passed differently than it really has. My husband is aware of this and tries to make me tell him how much he has been in his new position at work, for example. I will think it is 2 months, but it was really a year!
I don't know if I've described the problem that well, but basically, it affects others in my life, because I don't have the right sense of how long they've been doing something.
I do quite well in conversation, where I appear totally with it, and have no problems following or joining in conversation. But I have a confusion over time, so I am incorrect about things or it appears I don't care, because I'm all mixed up.
So, anyone else have this aspect to their brain injury?
For some reason I keep telling people I moved here in 1996.
I don't know why, it was 10 years later. People think wow you've been here a long time so and I have but not quite that long.
If something comes up about my accident I do think it happened in 1997. It didn't, it happened 10 years later in 2007.
I was a teenager in the 90s and had some fun maybe too much now as now when I think of anything form the past I always seem to think it happened in 1990 something.
Strange.
Otherwise I do get mixed up at times with what day and date it is but I think as I am not working full time at the moment it is in some ways normal enough.
I remember years ago when on summer holidays I wouldn't know what day of the week it was either.
Another thing that did cause me trouble a couple of years back was when I would try to manage my time. So that I could be somewhere to meet someone on time.
I hate being late but try not to be too early either.
I seemed to think i was doing ok but then would turn up way too late and this happened a few times.
Annoying when you still have to pay because you had the appointment booked.
It doesn't happen anymore i just turn up early sometimes way too early now but its better than being late right.
I am actually known now for always being punctual if not early. You know how some girls are so often late. I make a point of it now as I don't feel I can trust myself to relax and just be there. I plan it out so well. Its all part of my need for everything to be routine now.
Others don't really get it and I say nothing. I know what works for me and good for them that can be more laid back about things.
I just have to try not to let it stress me out.
Just for fun, when I had my accident it was just before Christmas and then I was in a coma until early january.
the psychologist had to keep coming in and asking me very basic questions to see how awake I was after my coma.
I was so confused of course it was still 07 when it hadn't been Christmas or my birthday which happens on new years eve and to me is obviously when you ring in a new year.
I had been told that I had slept through it all but trying to remember that and understand it was a new year was hard.
Thank goodness I am past all that now.