You’re surviving, but you want to continue making progress. If you have been asking yourself, "What can I do right now to get better?," here are some tips to aid you on your path to recovery.
Use your Toolkit!
If you have already created your own, it is time to break out your Tools!
Sleep
As often and as much as possible!
Rest
Try to relax and limit sources of sound, light, unpleasant scents and other sources of pain or discomfort. Don’t read, watch movies or play on your phone; don’t call clients or try to pay bills- REST: DO NOTHING but rest and relax for as long as possible.
Eat Healthy
The Anti-inflammatory diet is highly recommended for recovery
Drink Water- Staying hydrated can help your brain's healing and function
Foods to Avoid: high caffeine foods and drinks, processed sugars, salty or fried foods & alcohol
Supplements can be a great aid for recovery!
See a Specialist
Put your A-Team to work! Having difficulty with your balance? Time to call up a vestibular specialist and make an appointment. Staying proactive can be hard, but making sure you are getting the care and therapy you need is crucial to your recovery. Make sure to arrange a ride to and from your appointment and bring your medical file along with you.
Call a Trusted Friend, Counselor or Therapist
Need a venting session? Let it out on someone who you can trust to listen. Sometimes it helps to cry it out and release built up emotion.
Join a Support Network
Search online for in person and social media groups. Check out our Support section for more connections.
Spend time with Your Pets
Pet Therapy helps! Several studies have shown that petting a cat, dog or other furry friend can cause your body to release oxytocin, which makes you feel happier and more relaxed.
Go for a Walk. If you are able, go for a walk. It releases energy, gives you fresh air and can improve your mood (and memory). Remember to bring your cellphone in case of an emergency or invite someone to walk along with you.
Other Important Advice:
Not all doctors are versed in concussion. And if they’re not, they may not know the best treatment options for concussion. Keep looking for a professional who is knowledgeable about concussion and treating the condition.
Trust your gut: If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t.
Get a second opinion! If you need more information: Don’t give up! Keep looking!
Use your Toolkit!
If you have already created your own, it is time to break out your Tools!
Sleep
As often and as much as possible!
Rest
Try to relax and limit sources of sound, light, unpleasant scents and other sources of pain or discomfort. Don’t read, watch movies or play on your phone; don’t call clients or try to pay bills- REST: DO NOTHING but rest and relax for as long as possible.
Eat Healthy
The Anti-inflammatory diet is highly recommended for recovery
Drink Water- Staying hydrated can help your brain's healing and function
Foods to Avoid: high caffeine foods and drinks, processed sugars, salty or fried foods & alcohol
Supplements can be a great aid for recovery!
See a Specialist
Put your A-Team to work! Having difficulty with your balance? Time to call up a vestibular specialist and make an appointment. Staying proactive can be hard, but making sure you are getting the care and therapy you need is crucial to your recovery. Make sure to arrange a ride to and from your appointment and bring your medical file along with you.
Call a Trusted Friend, Counselor or Therapist
Need a venting session? Let it out on someone who you can trust to listen. Sometimes it helps to cry it out and release built up emotion.
Join a Support Network
Search online for in person and social media groups. Check out our Support section for more connections.
Spend time with Your Pets
Pet Therapy helps! Several studies have shown that petting a cat, dog or other furry friend can cause your body to release oxytocin, which makes you feel happier and more relaxed.
Go for a Walk. If you are able, go for a walk. It releases energy, gives you fresh air and can improve your mood (and memory). Remember to bring your cellphone in case of an emergency or invite someone to walk along with you.
Other Important Advice:
Not all doctors are versed in concussion. And if they’re not, they may not know the best treatment options for concussion. Keep looking for a professional who is knowledgeable about concussion and treating the condition.
Trust your gut: If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t.
Get a second opinion! If you need more information: Don’t give up! Keep looking!
"There is no consistency other than inconsistency.
But every day is a new day!"
-Lisa Webb
But every day is a new day!"
-Lisa Webb
Dear Survivor,
There are many gifts you give yourself
Especially in this time of healing: Quiet, Sleep, Nutrition...
And then there is the biggest gift you can give: unconditional self-love.
You may even hear it knocking: "Don’t push! Don’t hurt yourself overdoing!"
For those survivors who were so driven and completely self-sufficient before injury, this gift may sometimes arrive with trepidation. There are many of us who continue to bend over backwards for others, who push through the work load, and day after day continue to suffer through painful symptoms.
Consider this:
When you're hurting, do you find yourself saying "but?"
“But I promised that I’d attend the event...”
"But I need to finish doing the housework..."
"But I can push through just this one time..."
But you have had a concussion!
Your brain is injured which means YOU are your biggest priority right now. Let self-love be your mantra:
"I AM TAKING CARE OF ME.”
This is the time to take full rest, sleep and heal. This is the time to love yourself.
Love yourself enough to say "NO" when you’re hurting and can’t do what you could before. Don’t fight through headaches and pain for others when you can barely function. The laundry can wait and the paperwork, too.
Today, let the "buts" rest.
Tomorrow is a new day when you give yourself the gift of unconditional self-love.
There are many gifts you give yourself
Especially in this time of healing: Quiet, Sleep, Nutrition...
And then there is the biggest gift you can give: unconditional self-love.
You may even hear it knocking: "Don’t push! Don’t hurt yourself overdoing!"
For those survivors who were so driven and completely self-sufficient before injury, this gift may sometimes arrive with trepidation. There are many of us who continue to bend over backwards for others, who push through the work load, and day after day continue to suffer through painful symptoms.
Consider this:
When you're hurting, do you find yourself saying "but?"
“But I promised that I’d attend the event...”
"But I need to finish doing the housework..."
"But I can push through just this one time..."
But you have had a concussion!
Your brain is injured which means YOU are your biggest priority right now. Let self-love be your mantra:
"I AM TAKING CARE OF ME.”
This is the time to take full rest, sleep and heal. This is the time to love yourself.
Love yourself enough to say "NO" when you’re hurting and can’t do what you could before. Don’t fight through headaches and pain for others when you can barely function. The laundry can wait and the paperwork, too.
Today, let the "buts" rest.
Tomorrow is a new day when you give yourself the gift of unconditional self-love.
We are overcoming our concussions.
We have cried, struggled and SURVIVED.
Most importantly- we know you can make it, too!
We are survivors!
We have cried, struggled and SURVIVED.
Most importantly- we know you can make it, too!
We are survivors!
Here are a few things you may want to know on your path to recovery that we wish someone had told us from the beginning. Please note that these may not apply to all survivors, but can be taken piecemeal.
If You Can’t Do, Can’t Think, Feel Tired or Exhausted- You may be Experiencing Neurofatigue.
Possible solutions: REST AND/OR SLEEP
What did We do when We had Cravings?
We cannot recommend what you should do, but when we had cravings, we ate what we were craving (boxes of OREOS) and paid the price for it later.
Solution: The choice is yours to make.
Certain Sounds Become Overwhelming.
We lost our filters and began experiencing misophonia.
The sound of a foot tapping nervously on the floor, the sound of chewing and smacking lips, the dripping faucet in the bathroom…
Before concussion, these sounds were enough to annoy us, now they can put us over the edge. Misophonia, or "hatred of sound," is a disorder in which negative thoughts, emotions and behavioral reactions (such as anger, irritation, etc) are triggered by specific sounds. It can be more pronounced after TBI because the brain’s ability to selectively 'filter' different sounds and input can be compromised or disabled. This means that the slight tapping noise your brain could ignore before CANNOT selectively ignore it now.
Best Solution: Avoid triggers and annoying sounds that may cause you to become upset. If you have to, remove yourself from the environment that is causing the disruption.
Do Not Stress! REST
Stress can further compromise the healing of your brain. Don't engage in activities that make you upset or cause you to feel stressed out.
Solution: If you feel yourself becoming stressed, walk away and get rest immediately.
Drink Water
Probably one of the most essential suggestions for recovery, drinking water keeps your body and brain hydrated, helping the brain to heal and function adequately.
You May Become a Savant!
Artist, pianist, or math genius: some survivors can 'awaken' with unknown or unutilized talents or abilities after brain injury which can lead to different hobbies or new occupations.
It even happened to one of the creators of Concussion Survival!
Solution: If you find yourself thinking about or wanting to create beautiful unchained melodies on the piano, keep playing! If you visualize beautiful colors and shapes, take up painting! Art is also a great way to release stress during recovery.
If You Can’t Do, Can’t Think, Feel Tired or Exhausted- You may be Experiencing Neurofatigue.
Possible solutions: REST AND/OR SLEEP
What did We do when We had Cravings?
We cannot recommend what you should do, but when we had cravings, we ate what we were craving (boxes of OREOS) and paid the price for it later.
Solution: The choice is yours to make.
Certain Sounds Become Overwhelming.
We lost our filters and began experiencing misophonia.
The sound of a foot tapping nervously on the floor, the sound of chewing and smacking lips, the dripping faucet in the bathroom…
Before concussion, these sounds were enough to annoy us, now they can put us over the edge. Misophonia, or "hatred of sound," is a disorder in which negative thoughts, emotions and behavioral reactions (such as anger, irritation, etc) are triggered by specific sounds. It can be more pronounced after TBI because the brain’s ability to selectively 'filter' different sounds and input can be compromised or disabled. This means that the slight tapping noise your brain could ignore before CANNOT selectively ignore it now.
Best Solution: Avoid triggers and annoying sounds that may cause you to become upset. If you have to, remove yourself from the environment that is causing the disruption.
Do Not Stress! REST
Stress can further compromise the healing of your brain. Don't engage in activities that make you upset or cause you to feel stressed out.
Solution: If you feel yourself becoming stressed, walk away and get rest immediately.
Drink Water
Probably one of the most essential suggestions for recovery, drinking water keeps your body and brain hydrated, helping the brain to heal and function adequately.
You May Become a Savant!
Artist, pianist, or math genius: some survivors can 'awaken' with unknown or unutilized talents or abilities after brain injury which can lead to different hobbies or new occupations.
It even happened to one of the creators of Concussion Survival!
Solution: If you find yourself thinking about or wanting to create beautiful unchained melodies on the piano, keep playing! If you visualize beautiful colors and shapes, take up painting! Art is also a great way to release stress during recovery.