Living with the impact of a traumatic brain injury can leave us feeling very alone, isolated and alienated. Alone, isolated and alienated from other people and even ourselves.
Telling our stories after our traumatic brain injury can help you and me to bridge the gap.
Bridge the gap between other people and ourselves. Bridge the gap as we share from what we have experienced and what we have learned.
To watch and listen to the video presentation of the article, click on this link: The Value of Telling Our Story after a Traumatic Brain Injury Video Presentation
Telling our story helps you and me to own our process and journey. In the process, we find the courage to come out of the shadows of isolation. As we share our story something magical happens.
Our lives take on new meaning as we realize that we are not our brain injuries.
As we share our stories we find the freedom to accept ourselves.
In the process, feelings of alienation from ourselves and from other people drift away. As we share our experience, strength, and hope we offer hope. Hope to those individuals who read or listen to our story. They find hope by realizing that they are not alone.
Reading or listening to our story encourages them to not give up, as we have not given up. More will be revealed with time.
Yesterday I shared the importance of telling one’s story in the Building Your Life After Traumatic Brain Injury Community.
Below is a copy of what I shared with my community. As I encouraged my community to share their stories, I would encourage you to share your story.
Greetings Building Your Life after Traumatic Brain Injury Community members.
Thank you for being a member of a community of awesome people. Our community is growing and I would like to encourage you to share your story. Sharing my story with other people who could and can identify with me has helped me tremendously. As I have shared my story I have found freedom. Freedom to come out of isolation. In the process, I have been able to break free from feelings of alienation. Alienation from other people and from myself. Sharing your story may also help you to come out of the shadows of isolation. Sharing your story may also help you to stop feeling alienated from other people and yourself. And you don’t have to be perfect in sharing your story. You can share a little or a lot, as you feel comfortable. In the future, you may like to share more. There are no rules or guidelines. Your story may help another member of the community to feel safe. Safe enough to come out of hiding. Thank you again for being a member of our community!!!
Below I will briefly share my story with you.
My name is Craig J. Phillips. I sustained an open skull fracture after hitting the inside of the windshield in an automobile accident in1967 when I was 10 years old. My open skull fracture resulted in right frontal lobe damage, a severe brain bruise with brain stem involvement. I remained in a coma for 3 weeks, in traction for 6-7 weeks to set my left fractured femur (thigh bone) and then remained in a Spica or full body cast for 5 months. I was able to teach myself how to walk, talk, read, write and speak in complete sentences after the accident.
Once my external wounds healed the impact of my traumatic brain injury went invisible.
Once I was able to walk my parents had me undergo 2 EEG’s and a battery of cognitive and psychosocial tests. The results were shared with my parents. They were told that I would probably not be able to succeed beyond high school academically. They elected to not share the results of these tests with me. I was tutored at home for a semester and then mainstreamed back into an elementary school in the 6th grade. I went on to graduate (on time) with my high school class. I was bullied throughout elementary school, junior high and high school. I obtained my undergraduate degree in 10 years and my master’s degree in 3 ½ years.
On the day of graduating with my master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, my Mom revealed the finding from the 2 EEGs and cognitive and psychosocial testing.
I grew up and lived without knowing that I had an invisible disability, I had no idea that the traumatic brain injury that I sustained when I was 10 years old was getting in my way. After 3 SSDI applications and 2 Department of Vocational Rehabilitation engagements (one in Florida and on in North Carolina), I was deemed unemployable. After being deemed unemployable, my 3rd application for SSDI was approved. I began receiving at the end of 1999. After 7 more years of searching how to use my gifts, talents, and abilities, I found the right medium. The right medium that would work for me. Work for me to share what I had to bring to the table for people who wanted what I had to give.
On February 6, 2007, I created Second Chance to Live.
Y ou have my permission to share my articles and or video presentations with anyone you believe could benefit, however, I maintain ownership of the intellectual property AND my articles, video presentations, and eBooks are not to be considered OPEN SOURCE. Please also provide a link back to Second Chance to Live. In the event that you have questions, please send those questions to me. All questions are good questions. I look forward to hearing from you. More Information: Copyright 2007 -2019.
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