Another way to explain..?: Hello When I meet new... - Headway

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Another way to explain..?

sidekickpete profile image
8 Replies

Hello

When I meet new people I get a bit flustered explaining what's going on with me at the moment

I don't mind talking about what happened but I don't want that to be all I talk about

Is there a short, to the point way of saying I've broken my head..?

What does everyone else say?

Thanks!

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sidekickpete profile image
sidekickpete
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8 Replies

With my husband we just say that he has a little bit of a problem with his head following a brain injury and leave it at that. When you know people better, you can tell them more if they wish to know.

I found that as soon as you mention Brain Injury, neurosurgery and perhaps epilepsy you have a flurry of interest. However, when it is discovered conversational skills are tainted because of stuttering for the wrong word and perhaps forgetting the train of conversation you find yourself out of the group entirely. Fifty years on I don't bother and its probably the reason I have only one friend.

Kirk5w7 profile image
Kirk5w7

When I have problems finding the right words I just say please be patient because I have a brain injury and I lose my words. I've found that works for me.

Janet

TiredNan profile image
TiredNan

I keep it brief and just say " I had a head injury please bear with me.. sometimes its hard to get the words out."

Usually it works fine ...

I've had some bad experiences though.... including the wedding guest I'd never met whom I was sat next to who turned into Miss Marple after asking if I worked and being told I was retired.

On and on she went determined to find out why I did not work being a bit "young" ... with me giving short but polite answers to increasingly personal questions..

Resisting the overwhelming urge to stick a cup cake in her mouth... I went and joined the agadoo line instead....

RogerCMerriman profile image
RogerCMerriman

At a glance or brief meeting you'd not know with me, so I tend not to tell people since well

a) it's my medical stuff and not theirs!

B) they are very unlikely to understand which is fine there are loads of conditions/disability to know.

I used to tell more but well I felt that was for mine rather than their benefit, I do sometimes explain why I do something or why I don't more likely.

As per chance my next headway meeting is about this!

malalatete profile image
malalatete

I bombard them with letters knowing they most likely won't know what any of them are and that as there are so many they won't want to look daft asking! If you get 'an ICA, coupled with pre-existing ME/CFS and FMD - neurological conditions' then the last 2 words are probably enough explanation! Occasionally someone will say 'oh, is that like MS' to which I will respond 'very like it in terms if day to day impact.' And they go off satisfied. And I go off thinking that they are probably no more informed than they were 5 minutes ago. But I think most people don't actually want to know the ins and outs, they are just making conversation.

Pat-rick1 profile image
Pat-rick1

You shouldn't have to explain its your body , if you do they don't really listen that's my experience

sospan profile image
sospan

I always find that when people ask "how are you ?" they don't really want an answer beyond "fine".

When I explain to people about my injury I just say "I banged my head a few years ago and I am a bit slow on times". The people that don't realy care just accept it but the people whom are more interested in you as person will ask "How did you do that ..." and ask some questions. I have found it a very reliable way to sift through people that are willing to help :-)

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