Coping

Every injury is unique

Every injury is different. No injury is comparable to another injury. The way an injury manifests varies from person to person, the type of person you were before the injury, the location in the brain, and from injury to injury. How someone copes with it and uses coping strategies also varies from person to person.

Everything has changed!

Brain injury is one of the most profound injuries, because the brain is us. After a brain injury, no one is given a roadmap or navigation system for how to continue living your new life. Everything has changed. It can feel like one giant puzzle that you have to piece together again, until you reach your 2.0 version. The trick is to gradually discover what is (still) possible, a different perspective on the future, and to begin accepting what is now different. This is accompanied by questions (who am I now? What can I still do? What do I want? And what makes life worth living for me?). This also involves grief.
See our page on grief.

Fight to get back to your old level?

Some people want to fight back to their old level, especially if they are used to struggling in life.

This may be too much for the brain, which then becomes chronically overloaded.
This can lead to a burnout. We always say: watch out for those people in overdrive... they often fall into the trap of wanting to fight back too hard. Take your rest in time!
Sometimes it is wise to have a professional help you find balance. Especially for people who feel depressed by their disability.

Recovery may take a very long time

Know that recovery may take a long time. It happens that, years later, a function returns either naturally or through exercises.

Many people thought that recovery occurred mainly in the first year, but years later they learn their pitfalls and sometimes experience spontaneous recovery.

Some choose a second rehabilitation program or find peace through a new direction in their lives.

Your 2.0 version

Sometimes a person reaches a point where she or he starts encouraging others and offering tips to people with brain injuries.

The most common encouragement is: "If becoming who you were is no longer possible, being who you are remains. Let go of what once was. Don't beat yourself up. Better times are coming for many."

Professionals offer the following tip

You first need to understand what a person can and can't do and help him or her accept that.

Then, help them set the direction, so be directive. Show them you recognize the challenges, or that they're doing their absolute best. Give compliments whenever possible. That is, offer reinforcement. Help the person regain strength. Together, discover what she or he is able to do!

Tips on this website

There are many tips on this website, so please take your time to read them.

Remember: tomorrow is a new day, perhaps new opportunities.
P.S. Most of the experience stories on this site were written by people in their new situation. They were often still in the process of processing their experiences.

More tips can be found below.

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