Thank you for sharing your experiences on here with all of us. I appreciate your input. I also get very tired by social activities and require far more rest than ever before. I am grateful to still be active in life and some-what independent. I've been telling myself that I'm doing better but had a reminder yesterday that perhaps I was not being honest with myself. I lost my car yesterday. Since my brain injury I have trouble with "way finding". Basically speaking I forget where I am, where I'm going, or where I parked my car. I had made notes on where I parked but they didn't seem helpful when finding my car. I'm thankful for helpful co-workers who know of my injury and were willing to help me locate my car. Thank you for sharing your experiences and for also sharing what helps!

I also remember when l first came home after my TH I l cried because l didn't know my house and that l had children. Then one day my therapist took me to the grocery store to see what l remembered. I cried because there were people around and it was to overwhelming. I didn't know how to do house work or cook. I also couldn't take hearing loud noise and too many people talking frightened.me. Then one day l was told l was strangling my daughter and l really didn't know what l did then l was sent to the mental hospital. And l can remember only one time being there. I guess it was the drugs l was given. Then l was discharged. Then everything after while seemed ok. I was reading doing math and my speech therapist helped me to do these things. Then once again something happened again l fell on an antique table and hit my head. I wanted to go home because when l hit my head we were to fly back home. My mother and l did and l was told l did something else l am not sure. I was told when we got off the plane they took me straight to the hospital and l kept calling my therapist name and she came and Then l was transferred to another mental hospital. I came back out and l was put on stronger antidepressants from 1997- 2014. I had another attack with my brain injury. Viral encephalitis first and then autoimmune encephalitis and all the things l was going through were symptoms of autoimmune encephalitis disease and at that time and still today doctors don't know about it and they think it's a mental problem when it's actually all the signs of autoimmune encephalitis disease. Then l had a 4hr test for memory and then a PET for dementia and they all came back normal. So l prayed Lord give me my memory back. I listened to music and watched wheel of fortune. When l read the bible or hear the preacher speak l couldn't comprehend or remember as soon as l got out the church. Now l can read and understand what l hear and not frightened of my surroundings but now in the times we are living in we have to be aware so that is normal. Now l haven't been driving for a year because they didn't know what was going on with me so l have to tell doctors go to about my illness and the symptoms but l am doing great and they can't believe it but God is not surprised. And just recently l read about 2 people who went through the same thing and were treated the same way and also placed in mental hospitals. So it takes time and lots of prayer. And don't be hard on yourself because all of this is normal and it will get better.

Hello Lisa, @techi

What a remarkable story! I appreciate your sharing this information on Mayo Connect.

Teresa

Lisa,
Thank you for sharing your story! I am often amazed at what a person can go through because of a brain injury. As an adult, I feel that, our symptoms are viewed differently or may not be seen for what they really are. I'm so glad that you stayed strong and got through some very dark times. Love and support from family can be so very helpful. Belief in a higher power also carries me on a daily basis. I spend a good portion of my day "talking" to God. I try to be thankful for what I have and to not spend too much time grieving for what I have lost. Some days that's easier than others. The last sentence of your post is so encouraging!

Hi, thanks for sharing. I was in a head-on car collision 2 years ago, and I'm struggling to live a normal life. I broke so many bones we never even counted, and have undergone 9 surgeries in the last 2 years.I have rods and screws in my back and my life is full of pain from the various injuries. I walk, ride a stationary bike, and swim. I also struggle everyday with the thought of what I used to be like. I was a junior high school teacher and a marathon runner. Now I'm a disabled middle-aged woman. I also suffer from depression. Going to weddings is very difficult for me also. Riding in a car can be difficult, and I really limit freeway driving. Because of the chronic pain in my back my doctor has limited how much sitting I should do. It is comforting to hear that there are others that have such similar symptoms, and it makes me feel a little less crazy.

Welcome to Connect, @cjackura. You certainly have found the right group. It is comforting to hear from others in similar situations as I'm sure @dawnpereda @lakelifelady @carnes and others will agree.

There's an insightful discussion in the neuropathy group about Acceptance (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/acceptance/). How does one get to the point of acceptance to new normal? That's a big question and perhaps even rhetorical.

While you're not running marathons, it must be helpful to be physically active. I can't imagine after such injuries and 9 surgeries that you're able to walk, ride and swim. Kudos to you for building and adapting your abilities to be physically active. I'd like to hear more about your journey to get to this point. What rehab did you do? What kept you going?

Hello Colleen, Carnes here. I find it not so easy to accept my not being able to find my words to express what I really mean. Me trying to teach now is frustrating. But I won’t give up, I’m going to continue to study and do what I can for others. Exercising I find difficult, but going in the water ti exercise I don’t feel the pain. So good to hear from you.