Hello. Does a Traumatic Brain Injury cause slow mental processing and if so, what can be done about it? I had a Traumatic Brain Injury when I was younger and although I am managing with my life, I feel that it takes me quite a while to understand things and even when I try to do things, I usually get them complete them wrong and take a while to complete the tasks. This is especially annoying for my wife since I always try to do things right but almost always get them wrong, even with clear instructions (I help others with study skills so I am familiar with these). Strangely, my mother is slow to complete tasks and I was upset when I heard that my niece has many characteristics similar to mine, also completing tasks slowly. Could this be somewhat genetic? Even if it is, can anything be done to speed up my mental processing or I am simply stupid and incompetent?
Slow mental processing: Hello. Does a Traumatic... - Headway
Slow mental processing
Hi GhostWriter
My experience is the injury has slowed me down. If I am tired or stressed, it gets worse.
The battle I had with my Mum for awhile is what I will call the 'I can make you more efficient' myth.
Basically the idea she had was she would make me a list of things to do - only it always involved doing more than one thing at a time. So, say going to the store and buying things for 3 tasks. Only generally you have to make decisions and I can only keep one task in mind at a time. So it didn't work. It used to drive her nuts that I would write done things for 1 job, take photos , go to the store, then do the job- not necessarily on the same day. But if I did it that way I would complete the task, then do task two entirely.
So, what she saw as efficient wasn't efficient for me because I would just not be able to do it - too much info cominng in at once is flooding out the brain, basically.
So, the thing is, you need to figure out what works for you.
There are aps you can get where you can take your own step by step photos, put them in the ap, and then follow them. That might help some things.
How do things get better - coping strategies, keep doing without getting too overloaded - you will eventually get better at it - well better than you are now - combo of your system working for you and your brain rebuilding.
Of course there will always be better days and backwards days.
Maybe there is some component of your family not being neurotypical. With a brain injury, part of the reason everyone is so different in some ways is because a lot depends on what you did before and what parts of your brain have a lot of circuits.
You may find giving Headway a call. They may have some ideas of what help you can get.
It's really hard not to label yourself . It can make a person feel bad though - and to what end? Would you call someone with a broken leg names because they can't walk like they did before?
Please try to be kind to yourself. You have enough on your plate already - make friends with your brain and body - treat them as friends and trusted colleagues. I know that sounds a but weird maybe, but it does make a helpful shift.
I would also say the instructions you are using aren't what you need, that is, not clear to you - otherwise they would work, and they aren't. Perhaps you need to explore what is missing so you can start to provide yourself instructions that work for you. (Please don't should jn yourself- perhaps what you have 'should' work - but they don't- that does make you bad or wrong - just that you need something that works for you.)
Maybe some testing would help so you know what extra support you need and what you can work on.
Healing keeps happening. It slows down after a few years they say - and it still keeps happening. A lot of docs don't really get it. Will you be back the way you were before- i would say not likely- and you can be a lotbetter just the same.
It's been 16 years for me and I am 1000 times better than I was 8n the beginning - some big shifts took 10 years or better and they still have happened ap/are happening.
This is a hard situation, no doubt about it. It's normal to feel the way you do and have those thoughts. They just aren't terribly helpful.
Keep us posted.
Leaf
Wow - great, comprehensive reply! Don’t think I can add anything, just some personal experience. Since my injury (6+ years now) the brain fog/slowness is marked and definitely worse if I get stressed/rushed/feel I’m letting anyone down!
In my case, if I am rushed I tend to breakdown /do worse
I had a melt down in Asda the other day because the cashier was rushing with my shopping. I did ask her to slow down but it only seemed to make her go quicker.
Great response as ever from Leaf 
Go easy on yourself, ghost_writer
Tx
Thank you. Much appreciated from you and also everyone else here
Thank you. That is quite detailed. Yes, that happens with me and one of the most common cases; going shopping and I almost always get something wrong whether its missing something, getting the wrong item, taking too long, etc. I just bought an onion today with a huge cut through it but didn't notice it somehow
Identifying areas can be helpful. For example, some grocery places will shop for you and you just need to pick up.Some will deliver, for a charge.
Where Inluve, since Covid, a lot of shops have an option for them to gather the items and you pay online, then they bring them to the car. You never have to go in to the store.
You need to modify to suit you, and make sure you get rest and not stressed.
Little by little try *small* things the usual way, and eventually you will improve.
In the beginning I couldn't find anything in a store - it was one big blur. So I have to give a list to the sales associate - I had to dictate the list because I couldn't write - I used an ap called Remember the Milk, and then print it.
Now I can go into a shop and get things, if it's not too busy. And if I feel like I have had enough, I leave. There is also a grocery store here that has low noise Wednesdays - the lights are low, and no music is playing. It'd meant to give a window for people who need low sensory input to shop.
Do you have a brain injury association or society in your area ? They usually know about this stuff. Ask Headway.
Getting it done counts, even if you use help to do it.
TBI, 100% = slow processing. I'm 6 years in now and the last couple of months have been extremely stressful and slow. I try to do things and start one job go to another, walk into a different room, start a job, go back into the first room and see a half done job! I used to multitask brilliantly but now often fail to do one thing properly. I would like to say it gets easier but I'm not sure it has. I know my limits now but still push past and get terribly muddled. But because I look the same everyone treats me the same and they don't understand that my brain cannot cope with more than one task, more than 1 question at a time. Noises around me distract from whatever I am doing, etc etc. I have bought some earplugs to help drown out background noise when I am trying to concentrate and they have helped a lot. My brain doesn't seem to have a chill switch, even overnight my dreams are so full on I wake up shattered. I do hope you train your brain to ease your days, but don't expect answers from a GP they just haven't a clue. Best place for answers is on here. Good luck and all I can say is don't stress, just remember you are your own safety switch, you know when to walk away, when to ignore. Be a bit selfish, if you want to sit down and rest, if you don't want to go somewhere don't. You have too manage your days now. I went to pick my granddaughter up from school yesterday, she's chatty, bubbly, happy, bouncy, I was shattered, my brain felt a mush but all in a good way. My days, my terms, means easier management for me and if someone doesn't like it we'll sorry but that's how I cope with things now. Reading this back it all seems a bit negative but I have found saying no to meeting with friends, just 1 or 2 at most is ok, ordering weekly shop online as I can't cope with lights and noise and business around me. I'm adapting but very very slowly. Good luck in your journey. I'm thinking of getting a 🙄 tattoo on my forehead, cos I seem to think like that 90%of the time I interact with people! (Only joking 🤭🤭)
Thank you. Yes, people work at different paces. It helps to know that I am not the only person whose mind has slowed down. I had my accident during childhood so its hard to say how fast my mind would have been otherwise
Many GPs don't know about patients and their needs (especially mental illness /hidden illnesses) so groups like this are useful as patients have first hand experience of living with the problems
Hi,
Before my injury I was ‘methodical’, now more so! It’s not to do with Intelligence, more how the brain processes inputs and unfortunately the new pathways are never quite as efficient as the original ones! remember, you are having to spend more ‘processing power’ just to keep up with the basics and nobody sees that!
You can work on these issues though, but the trick is more about understanding yourself, then educating others on how to assist you to be your best self! Sounds daunting, but slowly you can do it.
I identify now, after brain injury with many traits of ADHD and have found lots of their stuff informative and helpful over time. I think I had some of these traits before but masked/coped with them, but the injury has made this process less accessible.
ADHD is not necessarily everyone’s problem, but it is highly undiagnosed in the adult population I have learnt. Any brain injury is going to disrupt the coping methods that we used to use in our everyday lives and interactions, whatever the label you give it. It takes time to understand what these were and why, let alone reassert them. These also have to be a conscious effort! If you are unsure on what to focus, then it’s hard to know where to start in the process.
Once you understand a little more of how you work (whether ADHD or other), its possible to move forward. Please don’t label yourself as ‘stupid’. It is not about ‘intelligence’! We have so much to deal with and educating those around us unfortunately also falls on our shoulders too!
It’s hard to highlight individual processes that have helped me along the way - I have done many to claw back! Sometimes the link its not always obvious until later, but hopefully the list below can give you some starting points. What works for one isn’t necessarily the same as the next! I do know that trying to do things someone else’s way though just gets me more anxious/confused!
* Writing about an incident helps me understand it and possibly realise how to improve it/ what I might need in that situation. I try to name the feelings/emotions associated not just the logics. This has helped me untangle the ‘flashpoints’ both for me and in my interactions.
* Quiet space/Timeout - to focus on something that ‘clears/calms’. For me this has been jigsaws, puzzle games like wordle and word search, soduko, an inane TV show. Anything goes, it just ‘clears and settles’! When the brain gets foggy/overloaded and I feel anxious, time out is the best way forward otherwise things just escalate!
* Gardening/solitary time outside, a walk (trees, nature, fresh air and long horizons!). It soothes me!
* Earphones - initially to just mute /cancel excess noise. Even though you don’t really focus on it, the brain has to process it all and therefore is using up capacity. Now I find gentle background music can do the same for me.
* Exercise - regularly (see Baking)
* Baking (my way, slowly) - you need something that gives you positive achievement. A sense of satisfaction and meeting your own goals!)
* I’ve got involved with chat rooms, forums and spreading the ‘patient experience’. It helps me order my own thoughts and understand them better.
* Communication - A big one! Stand up for yourself! It (hopefully) is something I’ve learnt to do in a good, non confronting way and unfortunately, if some don’t like what they hear then maybe it’s more about them having unsolved issues too than you! We all have baggage, brain injury or not! I’ve had to ‘advocate’ for myself a lot! Explaining to family and friends how it ‘feels’ to me and why the reactions appear, but also this may help them not to trigger these issues as much. A little adaption from all goes a long way.
* A good ‘feel good’ session - dance to favourite songs, sing along maybe or even laugh. Generally ‘diffuse‘ for a few minutes. This just helps reset.
* CBT - I have had CBT via IAPTS(NHS) and found that this has definitely helped to calm the ‘background anxiety’ levels.
* Rest - sit and enjoy that coffee/chocolate/whatever for 10 minutes. I find the break helps my processing!
* Sleep - so hard to function on any level if this is poor!
I could go on, but think that’s far too much for one post already!
Good luck and be kind to yourself! It takes work, but does improve if you want to make the effort. I hope this helps start you off on that track.
Thank you. Useful suggestions. I'll try and see how I get along with those
My thinking and response times are definitely much slower than they used to be and if I try too hard to do something challenging I get exhausted quite quickly.
I saw a kid the other day trying to read a car registration plate and he was sounding out each letter slowly. I realised that learning is a slow process and we need to accept that if we are looking to create new synaptic connections to accomplish tasks then it takes time, but also requires patient repetition of each activity, but again only in bite sized chunks.
So, as Leaf said, it's a slow process but with time, things can improve.
I've been using Brain HQ as it seems to be quite well thought of as a rehab resource - some of the exercises are just way too challenging for me at the moment, so I've taken them off my list for now. I just do 20 minutes a day, five days a week, and usually take a short nap or NSDR immediately after a session. This is to encourage synaptic growth - the sleep time is for consolidation of the new pathways that are being created by the cognitive challenges.
If you decide to try it, don't use a phone, use a standard laptop or even better a larger monitor as a big part of the training is to force the visual system to work harder.
You can use it free and it will allow just one exercise daily which might be enough to start with and to see whether it's a resource you get on with.
It's been deployed for a large scale study for Long Covid neurological challenges - if you look up Recover - NEURO, you can see the details if you are interested.
Slowly slowly seems to be the only way...
Thank you. I'll try and read up on those
hi ghost_writer .. I’ve just seen a neuropsychologist who has explained a little about my brain damage and I’m going to have more tests done . But the big thing for me was a Dr saying that this is normal for brain damage . I have no idea if it will get better as I’m 4 years since my accident .. but just to hear this is a part of brain damage and is usually the left side for memory which mine is a relief .. I’m not imagining it and the small amount of test I did yesterday has hi lighted the area in which the damage has effected .. all the reply’s you have had have answered also for me .. 😁 yes I also have a slow wonky brain . Sue 👍
Thank you. Its interesting that you should mention the left side of the brain. My head injury was on the left as well (lower left occipital area). I read that it affects visual /spacial memory such as judging distances and locating things (it explains why I can't do those well)
Not every brain acts the same , it’s just often found that memory problems and left side damage seem common .. interesting how your mum and niece are similar so I guess it could be genetic .. worth asking Drs about this
Hi ghost_writer,
You are certainly not stupid and incompetent.
Every brain is wired differently from birth, and then a brain injury may come along and mess with the neural pathways to the point where it changes how we are able to process information and handle cognitive demands - and mess with how our brains had dealt with stuff before the injury. Which can be said for most of us with brain injury.
For me, I have recently been diagnosed autistic on top of my brain injury (due to my whole life’s experiences from babyhood through childhood and into adulthood, all prior to my accident - I stipulate this, as there is a view out there that brain injury survivors are too easily diagnosed as ‘autistic’, because it’s true that a brain injury does equate to a neurodivergence. But for me, all the evidence for autism was there prior to my accident but hadn’t been picked up earlier because as a female who has masked so heavily all her life, it was overlooked).
It’s been found that autistic (and perhaps other neurodivergent) brains handle brain injury ‘differently’ (it’s just been studied by Kings College and I’m waiting to read that paper when it’s available to find out exactly what ‘differently’ means).
Prior to the accident, I had found ways to ‘mask’ and utilise my brain in ways that worked for me, that others wouldn’t necessarily use, in order to ‘fit in’. And now, my brain is flummoxed on every level. Which again is true for most of brain injury survivors, but with like an extra whammy on top.
Not to say you’re neurodivergent in anyway beyond your brain injury, but maybe that’s something to consider, especially if there’s a familial pattern?
Either way, I’ll reiterate that you’re not stupid or incompetent ☺️
Take care of yourself
Tx
Thank you. I've never heard of that term before. I'll try and read up on it
Incidentally, somethings some problems can also hide /mask other problems. When I had my TBI, I didn't know that I had flat feet /poor posture (that grew with me later). Likewise, there was a time when I had depression and was regrettably praying for death but the depression was never actually diagnosed at all
it can yes, certainly one of the things flagged up on my assessment was slow processing, I’m not sure it’s possible to improve as such, but certainly can use various tricks/techniques to help with tasks.
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