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If you've experienced brain trauma, you might not feel like your old self — you might be foggy-headed, feel pain, have excessive fatigue, and/or your mood might be all over the place.

It's a tough place to be, but there are ways to help yourself recover.

An animation depicting a cross section of the brain.

These strategies will help you if:

  • You’ve experienced a brain injury (e.g. concussion or stroke), or are looking for information to help someone who has.

  • You’ve been evaluated by a qualified medical practitioner and followed the advice they gave.

  • Your brain injury was over a month ago, and you are still experiencing symptoms.

If that isn't your situation but you think you might have a brain injury:

Did you know?

Brain injury is very common. Over 5 million Americans and 1.5 million Canadians live with the effects of an ABI (acquired brain injury).

Use Your Mind to Help Your Brain

Embrace the Change

First things first — accept that things might be different now. Your mindset is so important in adapting to your new normal.

Embrace the changes and plan for a future that might be different from what you had in mind before the injury.

Celebrate every win, big or small. Can you sometimes remember things without looking at notes? Or control a strong emotion? Or feel more stable on your feet? That deserves celebrating!

Treat yourself and others with patience. You're all learning and adjusting, and that’s going to be a process.

Progress, not perfection

Set Goals and Crush Them

Wellness wheel. Sections labeled Physical, Occupational, Environmental, Social/cultural, Emotional, Intellectual & Spiritual Source: unr.edu

  1. Set realistic goals (only 1 or 2) for yourself based on what you can do now.

    You might focus on getting back to your friends, community, family, and work or school life, but maybe in new ways. Try this Byte for tips on setting goals.

  2. Now, how are you going to do that?

    Make a plan for the first thing you need to do — make sure you have all the information, supplies, equipment, and the help you need to make this work.

  3. OK, now go do it!

  4. Check back. What worked? What didn’t? Adapt your plan to make it better.

Stay Healthy

Cartoon character calming itself down

Keep it Chill: Reduce Cognitive Load

  • Tackle one task at a time.

  • Find a quiet space without distractions.

  • Use reminders and automation to help you finish tasks.

  • Keep a diary to track your progress.

  • Do the most challenging things when you have the most energy for them.

Keep Moving: Physical Health

People with brain injuries need to stay active, but often don't. After all, it's harder to exercise now. Try these tips:

  • Adjust activities to match your abilities (like using lighter equipment).

  • Take breaks and rest when needed.

  • Gradually increase the difficulty / intensity of the exercises as your symptoms allow.

Homer Simpson character barely exercising on a treadmill

Eat Well

Feed your brain well. Good food helps it recover better. This Byte has some great tips on the kinds of foods that help your brain function well.

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Quiz

What are some techniques you can use to remind yourself to finish tasks? Select all that apply:

Keep on Having Fun

Stay Sociable

Keep up with your friends and hobbies to boost your emotional well-being. Support is key to thriving in your "new normal”.

Think about joining a local brain injury survivors' group for support and shared experiences. This could be the one group of people who really "get" your experience!

A group of animated penguins hug each other.

Mix It Up

Try new activities and hobbies that match your current abilities and interests. You might find new passions and bring joy into your life.

For example, you could try hiking instead of running, or playing and writing music rather than attending concerts. If you love competition or gaming, board games have all the strategy and contests without over-stimulation.

Did you know?

People often change their leisure activities when their lives change. For example, two thirds of Canadians took up a new hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adapt Your Working Life

Turtle being carried away, and vowing to return

When you're ready to return to work or school, keep making the adaptations you need to make it work. e.g.

  • Take plenty of breaks.

  • Stick to routines and structure.

  • Ask for flexibility and reduced hours.

  • Seek out support from your supervisors and coworkers. They all want to see you succeed.

Volunteering can also be a great option if you're not quite ready for work or school

Get Help

Don't be afraid to ask for help — different people can offer different kinds of assistance.

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  • Family

  • Friends

  • Professionals

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  • Encouragement

  • Practical help

  • Tips

  • Resources

Take Action

By focusing on these areas and trying out these strategies, you'll be well on your way to finding your new normal after a brain injury.

License:

This Byte has been authored by

LM

Liz McBryan

Learning Designer & Educator

This Byte has been reviewed by

LD

Lana Do

MD, MPH, BCMAS

English

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