Your brain, my brain, everyone’s brain could sustain damage throughout life. The brain is incredibly resilient and has tremendous healing qualities. We will talk about what happens to a damaged brain and how you can help your brain heal.
My accident
Back in January, I got into an accident. Here’s what happened:
I went ice fishing with my dad. I pulled my car into a snow-covered parking lot. We got done fishing. I attempted to back out and my car was stuck. I pushed from the front and my dad hooked up his ATV to the back of my car, and I put the vehicle in reverse to help it out.
With my pushing and (mostly) my dad’s pulling, we got the car out. Unfortunately, the car didn’t stop rolling. I rushed to get into the car to stop it because I was in a parking lot and I was going to run into another car. As I attempted to get into the rolling car, I slipped and hit my head on the inside of my door.
I stopped the car though.
Aftermath
I definitely got a concussion. I’ve had a few before so I know what they feel like. You’re disoriented. Your equilibrium is off. Your brain is not firing on all cylinders. Sometimes you’re dizzy. Sometimes, it can knock you out cold.
I went to my parents’ house instead of going home because I had my son. I needed someone to watch him while I rested.
The following weeks have been interesting, to say the least. The week after required time off of work. I was dizzy, nauseous, had headaches, and had annoying brain fog.
The headaches and brain fog persisted for weeks to the point where I couldn’t take it anymore and got a CT scan. Thankfully, the scan came back normal, but I still have bad days. It’s going to take time.
While I rest and get better, I found ways to help myself.
Brain injuries
They’re incredibly common. Per the CDC, there are 2.8 million traumatic brain injuries per year. That number, though, is not accurate because the majority of people that experience a brain injury don’t get diagnosed. They don’t seek treatment.
A brain injury can result in physical ailments like brain fog, forgetfulness, trouble with day-to-day activities, and drowsiness. It can also lead to psychological illnesses like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and mood instability.
Healing the brain
As I mentioned, the brain does an extraordinary job of healing itself. 90% of people that experience a traumatic brain injury recover without any long-term effects.
Here are some other things that I’ve implemented and some things I would like to do to help my mind and my body:
- Meditation
- Exercise
- Eating healthy
- Listening to music
- Learning something new
- Getting enough sleep
- Brain stimulating games/activities
Exercise, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep to establish an imperative foundation for healthy living, but also helps tremendously when recovering from a brain injury.
Brain stimulating games, learning something new, and meditation are methods to help create new neural pathways
I believe establishing these practices in my daily life will help my brain in the short-term and the long-term.
Related reading:
10 Ways to Help your Brain Heal
Stock Splits, Asset Allocation, Cognitive Bias
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