I recently was asked to give a presentation for a day treatment program at a rehabilitation hospital. Brain Injury and The Power of “I CAN” in an Ongoing Brain Injury Recovery Process Consequently, I created a presentation to share during this upcoming meeting in January 2023. Below is a link to the presentation. Click to view outline. Brain Injury and The Power of “I … [Read more...]
Self-Acceptance after Brain Injury
Self-acceptance may be difficult for an individual living with a brain injury. As a result individuals living with brain injuries may begin to doubt themselves. This doubt can undermine their ability to trust or believe in themselves. Societal labels and stereotypes may lead them to believe that they are their brain injuries. In this belief, individuals living with brain injuries may find themselves angry at themselves. Angry at the "world". After coming out of my own denial concerning my brain injury, I was angry. I was angry at the impact of my brain injury. I was angry at the labels, stereotypes that society placed on me. I was angry for being minimized and marginalized because of what was out of my control. I was angry at what I was powerless to change.
But, I am grateful for this anger. My anger motivated me to make changes. Changes that helped me to begin on a journey of self-acceptance.
I am grateful for the anger I experienced. The anger helped me to move through a grieving process. A grieving process that helped me to accept what could not change. I am grateful for the acceptance of what I could not change. The acceptance of what I could not change gave me the ability to change what I could. By changing what I could, I grew in self-acceptance. My self-acceptance gave me the gift to be able to get into action. Action that would prove to me that I was not my brain injury. The action that gave me the ability to create hope in my life. The hope that gave me the ability to grow in self-acceptance. The self-acceptance that helped me to realize that I was not my brain injury. To discover my unique creative capacity to use my gifts, talents and abilities in ways that work for me.
The self-acceptance that helped me to define my identity as an individual living with a brain injury. To discover my unique creative capacity to use my gifts, talents and abilities in ways that work for me.
Self-acceptance that gave me the ability to trust myself. The articles in this category can help the individual living with a brain injury to love, accept and approve of themselves. To love, accept and approve of themselves to create. To learn how to trust themselves. To discover their unique capacity as an individual living with a brain injury. To discover that they are not their brain injuries. To discover their identify as an individual living with a brain injury. To discover their own unique creative capacity to use their gifts, talents and abilities in ways that work for them. To find the freedom to be themselves. To discover that they are not limited because of their limitations. To discover that they no longer have to allow societal stereotypes or stigmatization to get in the way.
Brain Injury — Why Do I Feel So Misunderstood and Shunned? (Article, Video, Slideshow, and Zoom Presentation)
In July 2016 I wrote the article: Brain Injury -- Why do I Feel So Misunderstood and Shunned?. In follow up to this article, I created a video presentation, slideshow presentation and zoom presentation. I created the video, slideshow and zoom presentation to share the information with visual and auditory learners. As you read, watch and listen to the article and … [Read more...]
Brain Injury — Why Do I Feel so Misunderstood and Shunned Zoom Presentation
Because brain injury survivors often feel misunderstood and shunned I created this Brain Injury -- Why Do I Feel so Misunderstood and Shunned Zoom Presentation. I created this presentation to share to offer hope. Brain Injury Why Do I Feel so Misunderstood and Shunned Zoom Presentation I am available to share this presentation to inspire hope. In July 2016, I wrote … [Read more...]
Grieving the Guilt and Shame of a Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke Zoom Presentation
Recently, I received a comment that encouraged me to share the information in this article with all brain injury and stroke survivors. As a result, I decided to create a presentation of the article to share as a keynote presentation through zoom or in conference setting. Below is a link to the presentation for Zoom or Conference Setting: Grieving the Guilt and Shame of a … [Read more...]
Second Chance to Live — Celebrating My 2000th Article
On August 11, 1967 I sustained an open skull fracture, with right frontal lobe damage and a severe brain bruise. On February 6, 2007 I created Second Chance to Live. Over the course of the past 15 years I have written articles to share encouragement and hope with the brain injury community and the brain injury industry at large. This particular article marks the 2000th … [Read more...]