Hi don't write on here often but read daily, I had a minor head injury that's left me with executive brain dis function ,
I wounded if any one else with this could help, I find I get angry very quickly, but then it goes just as quick, it's usually when I'm feeling pressured, not heavily but by normal stuff, n cry , n feel almost smothered some time by situations, ie I was trying to send a message to the estate agent, n battery was low n signal bad, n I just couldn't stop crying because I couldn't do it, hardly life threatning.
How did others cope with things like this, any suggestions please
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sdcakt
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I have not dissimilar issues with feeling pressured with routine day to day things if there are several to do. I find that planning out what tasks you are going to do and when, then sticking to the plan and working through them in order helps. Don't try to do more than one task at once as often task switching is a key executive function issue which arises from brain injury. Leave yourself plenty of time for each task so you are at no time under time pressure to finish the current task and move on to next task. Above all, try not to get too anxious about the number of things to do, if you start to become overly anxious, take a step back , relax for a few mins then resume.
This regime seems to work for me, but will never allow me to cope with multiple tasks simulataneously as I did before the brain injury, but allows me to complete what I have too without becoming too anxious or distressed.
It's hard, most people multitask without thinking about it so get irritated when you won't break off from your current task to attend a task they deem 'more important' than your current one. Yes it can cause issues but if all planned out well it should pose no problems if all get completed.
Issues do arise though when unexpected events happen which throw you from your schedule.
Eventually those people who you are in contact with , if understanding will come to realise the way you have to do things and make allowances by not interrupting you mid task or asking you to prioritise another task ahead of your current one.
This will not always be the case but through my limited experience so far, many will accommodate the planning out of tasks and sequential delivery if all gets completed on time.
That one thing that I've noticed a huge difference with, used to be able to multi task amazingly well and now I have to focus on one thing so not to get frustrated that I can't do the other 10 things at the same time
yes. coping by diversion. Notice emotions rising, breathe to try to control emotions, if not able, allow emotions to come out and channel/focus them. Write a diary, go for a walk, do 10 jumping jacks, touch your toes, do a yoga balancer, drop down into a semi squat, dance from foot to foot and do 10 boxing punches with each arm as if you were Mike Tyson, play scrabble online (to relearn vocabulary). Find a diversion (or several) that work for you.
Good thing is - during this phase of recovery my memory was crap too, so when I diverted attention, I forgot that I got upset! LoL Then when memory wave kicks in up to half hour later, the emotion hit me again like a brick wall. Difference is, I knew it was not a real emotion, and didn't need a reaction, as I was able to divert and forget.
Trick is to be able to remember the diversions when you need them! So I was in the habit of wandering around the house in this state, would always have diary on kitchen table, would catch my eye when wandering, would start writing. Everything went in this diary, food, vitamins, exercise, emotions, activities, dreams, thoughts, sensations, number of hours sleep. Eventually you see a pattern of what your body needs. Repeat what works for you!
I always tell anyone new to me as this 'no multitasking' malfunction is one of my most annoying (to me).
My boys and husband know it well. I only have to hold my hand up and rhey will wait for me to finish what I am doing before continuing to speak to me. And my 10 year old will look at me, say 'are you tired,Mummy?' when I fly off the handle irrationally. They get it.
Coping mechanisms are as others have said to do one thing at a time (multi tasking has been scientifically proven to be an illusion anyway). And to recognize when rest is best.
All still rather counter-intuitive at times (even after 6 years!) But that is how I know I should handle this difficulty.
Headway have just released this which might be helpful.....
Thankyou all, I ll try some of your suggestion , frustration is defiantly part of the problem. N other people's expectations, it also happens when our chatterbox grand daughter, I just can't think, or do anything as her chattering 'fills' my head
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Strange One...?
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