Jealous

[Negeen]

Feeling jealous of those who've made full recoverys. Steven Benvenisti, Susanah Cahalan, Jill Bolte Taylor... Just to name a few.

[aqua4]

Hi Negeen, I see anyone who has made any sort of recovery from BI as inspirational. K

[Negeen in reply to aqua4]

That's a very sweet attitude to have.

[B_S_A]

Ohhhh I'm sure that's what they say, but I don't think people ever make "full" recoveries. The woman in that book you showed me took 8 years to get better!

[Negeen in reply to B_S_A]

Yes she did take 8 years...

[Kirk5w7]

It's best not to compare yourself with anyone, unless these people have kept a comprehensive diary from day one they are relating recollections, and are they being wholly truthful?

I know that's very cynical of me but I think you get more cynical with age. You need to concentrate on you, keep your own diary and log everything, when you re-read it in a few years you'll see how far you've come. Don't forget, everyone is different xxxxx

[B_S_A in reply to Kirk5w7]

Also, every bleed is different, so I agree absolutely that every bleed causes different issues.

[Negeen in reply to B_S_A]

Ben, did you check out that girl on youtube that I told you about?

[B_S_A in reply to Negeen]

I did, I saw it a while ago though. It's nice to see that's she's so well!

[Negeen in reply to B_S_A]

She's also super hot!! If I didn't think you were marrying me, I would tell you to go after her

[Kirk5w7]

Yes Ben, I'm 61 now and my brain trauma was caused by swelling so the injuries were caused in a different way and will or will not recover differently, plus I have less time for that recovery because my brain will be deteriorating naturally must faster than someone much younger. What we, each of us, have to do is focus what we can do and strive to improve those things we can't. You are an inspiration, you are trying so hard to achieve what you want, I'm sure you'll get there.

Best wishes in those examsxxxxxxx

[iforget]

I must admit I had never heard of any of these people...and I probably concentrate most of my energy on getting through each day to worry about what others are doing or to spend time feeling jealous..but there is a point in my notes where I was pretty furious with a so-called celebrity here in the UK who appeared in the media to have a speedy and miraculous recovery from a TBI.... and this high profile case made me angry with myself for not being able to achieve the same level of recovery in a longer time frame....

and then I saw him in a TV interview and immediately recognised that his recovery was not as complete as the media would lead us to believe. I saw that feeling of desperation flicker across his face as the interviewer quizzed him, I recognised the pauses, the stutters, noted the little hand gestures....that indicated all was not completely well. I saw him employing techniques I had been given in rehab...

From that point I was able to drop the anger both at myself and at him. I was glad that I was not having to live my recovery in the spotlight, that I did not have PR teams managing my recovery...

Some time later he was on TV again and he admitted his recovery was not as complete as first portrayed - that he still had a way to go yet....

We know that certain levels of BI are classed as being invisible injuries because to the casual observer it may appear that a person is functioning normally ... but most of us realise that we lose a little something in all of this, that a brain injury changes things, it changes us.

It appears to me that how we deal with those changes is what will define our outcomes. The one common thread to all of the 'complete recovery' claims is attitude. Personally I would doubt that anyone makes a 100% recovery and is totally the same person as they were prior to their injury, but I think that these people have all found a way to accept and grow as they live within their new reality and they have made the very best of what they have now....which for them is a full recovery.

No matter what anyone else does, nobody should be made to feel bad because their recovery takes longer, appears less complete or is different from that of others... we were all different before our BI, why should that suddenly make us all the same?

[aqua4]

Hi I forget, my thoughts too, especially the last para. K

[Winb143]

My Family went through hell when I had my SAH, I was in dreamland while they where looking out for me.

My Sister tells me "Win how proud I am of you" she keeps me going as they were told I'd never walk, but 60 steps before back ache sets in.

Keep happy and sing it really helps, and think of the days you really laughed, the good days .

Good luck to you All and many more good days will come.

Win xx