Please read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 5, Part 6 for context. Thank you.
In the process, we may acquiesce to believing, “What is the use “anyway”. No one seems to take me seriously. In the process we may begin to distrust our judgement and ourselves. In the process we may trade our judgment for the judgment of a patriarchal system that wants to keep you and I dependent — to meet their agenda. In the process of becoming increasingly dependent — on such a system — we may loose any drive that we had to thrive.
In the process, simply surviving may become a way of life. In the process, we may find ourselves adopting a learned helplessness. In the process, we may begin to believe that no other alternative exists. To add to this lie, we may find ourselves being stereotyped, labeled and subjected to a societal stigma — by a society that by and large dismisses you and I — because we are brain injury survivors.
In the process of being stereotyped, labeled and stigmatized we as brain injury survivors can be conditioned to believe a lie. The lie would have us believe that we are our brain injuries, instead of unique individuals who sustained brain injuries. As a consequence, we may find that we are frequently dismissed, discounted and disregarded. In some instances, we may discover that we have been taken advantage of and even exploited.
Over time, such conditioning can lead you and I as brain injury survivors down a dark road. On that dark road we may be led to believe that who we are — as individuals — simply no longer matters. In our dark place, we may not be able to see the light of hope. Because we can not see the light of hope, we may buy into the notion that our lives are no longer worth living. In response, as brain injury survivors we may contemplate suicide.
In my past I have been there too my friend. If you are contemplating suicide as a way out, please stop. Do not use a permanent solution for a temporary problem. You will make it through my friend. If you have a hard time believing, believe because I have made it through. Believe, because I believe and please reach out to me and I will reach back to you. Who you are as a brain injury survivor is of immense value. Your brothers and sisters need you. Here is my Contact Page. Thank you.
Please read Part 5 for context. Thank you.
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