Description
Book SynopsisThis important book presents a unique, personal account of the impact a mild traumatic brain injury can have. It tells the story of Pauline, who was 33 when a late football tackle caused a bleed in her brain which went undiscovered for 18 months. The account includes descriptions of hidden symptoms of concussion and post-concussion syndrome, pitfalls in diagnoses, the uneven progress of recovery and the effect of the varied reactions which others have to an acquired brain injury.
The author incorporates memories alongside extracts from clinic notes, diary entries and emails to reflect the disjointed progress of diagnosis and recovery as- although similar- no two head injuries are the same. Through this book, the reader gains an appreciation of the confusion experienced by many brain injury survivors, which sheds light on why some may develop unusual behavior or mental health issues, and how such issues can be alleviated. Brain injuries are poorly understood by the general publ
Trade Review
"Incredibly vivid... this book will be of great benefit to professionals, survivors and their families alike." — Dr Neil Parrett, MA (hons), DClinPsy, PgDip, CPsychol Consultant Clinical Psychologist (Neurorehabilitation)
Table of Contents2014: Perspective
1. Brain Injury: The Incident & immediate aftermath
2. Clinical advice & symptoms: Just wait it out
3. Abandonment & support
4. Returning to normal after brain injury: Life gets in the way
5. Seeking professional help: Hard truths to face
2015: Priorities
6. Finding a diagnostic pathway: Enter the specialists
7. Hospital appointments: You wait ages then five come along at once
8. Dizziness and related treatments: It’s all in your head
9. Returning to former activities: Get out, do more stuff!
10. Vocational Rehabilitation: Work, once more, with feeling
11. Results of the brain scans: A voicemail diagnosis
12. Therapeutic and diagnostic orders: Much therapy, very wow
2016: Planning
13. If it’s Tuesday, this must be a migraine
14. Fatigue management in the wild: Harder, faster, stronger
2017 & 2018: Pacing
15. Into the third year of recovery: Wait, is this normal?
16. Brain injury survivor: Who am I now?
17. Finding happiness within limitations: Who will I be?
Epilogue - Me, but different
