Welcome back to Second Chance to Live. I am happy you decided to stop by and visit with me. In life you and I have experienced circumstances that have been out of our control. You, like myself may have sustained a traumatic brain injury that has presented you with various challenges to overcome. Your brain injury may have led you to develop a learning disability or a mental health challenge. I am also confronted by and challenged with a learning disability as well as other neurological limitations. These obstacles and challenges can leave us feeling very alone and overwhelmed. Consequently, you may be confused, discouraged and despondent by your present circumstances.
In our frustration, you and I may want to isolate and cut our selves off from other people, but the good news is that you and I do not have to be alone in our struggle to accept our reality. We can reach out to other people and in the process find strength and comfort. Your ability to accept your brain injury does not have to be limited by your capacity to accept your circumstances. You do not have to be alone in the struggle to accept your reality. You no longer need to suffer in silence because of what you do not understand. You can reach out to a community of individuals who will be able to identify with you because they too have experienced a traumatic brain injury.
Through being involved with a brain injury support group you can learn from other members. You can talk about whatever you may be experiencing in your rehabilitation process or your relationships as they relate to your brain injury. You may just want to sit and listen to what other members share during the meeting. You don’t have to say anything or be anything when you attend a support group meeting. As I have attended different support groups meetings over the last 21 years I have found solutions to my struggles, learned from a myriad of members and benefited from their experience strength and hope. Through attending support groups meetings you can also find hope. You can find people who will cry with you when you hurt, laugh with you when you are happy and celebrate with you in your successes. Consequently, I want to encourage you — if you are not already – to get actively involved with a group of brain injury survivors who will support, encourage, motivate and empower your process.
Please remember an important reality; your destiny is out in front of you my friend. You no longer need to believe that your destiny has passed you by because of your traumatic brain injury. Your disability will become your ability as you move beyond believing you are your limitations. You are not your deficits, your limitations or your disability my friend. Be encouraged because I hear the sound of abundance for your life. You are making wonderful progress, so don’t give up on your process, on a loving God, or on yourself. Although you may not understand how your circumstances are going to be used for your good, believe because I believe. With time, clarity will come and you will behold what was being worked out in and through your life. Take comfort in this reality my friend. Your brightest days are yet to be revealed. You have a future and a hope.
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Shelley says
I can so relate to what you are saying about feeling alone. Mostly I do because I can never explain how I really feel. I hate it. I though, like maybe others, am not ready to talk in person with people. I feel very self concious when I’m around people I don’t know. I feel dumb, out of it, uncool, I’ve gained weight because of my meds. I think a support group would be great but not for me yet. That’s why I started a blog and forum. I am hopeing that will give me a way to talk with other survivors. I haven’t gotten any real responce yet but am hopeful. It’s about why I had to move to Arizona after my accident and how it ended up being the best thing for me. To move.
Its http://arizonasunshinetbiblog.blogspot.com/ if you want to visit.
Jo says
I was victim of a hit and run incident in march 2001 and suffered a traumatic brain injury as well as being left physically disabled so wheelchair bound.
I miss the freedom of my old life so much. I do not like how we are treated by the public. Why do they always talk to whoever is pushing our chair instead of me who asked the question!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jo says
Its so difficult to get a work placement because I’m in a wheelchair. So much for the law for all buildings to be accessible!!!!!!!!!!!!