Fatigue after a Brain Injury

After a brain injury, fatigue affects different people in different ways, some more so than others. I have found that when I work on getting myself fitter, fatigue is less of a problem- albeit still a problem. But, like many problems resulting from my accident, it becomes less of a problem the more I work on it.

I find that concentration is difficult, but it becomes easier if I have a clear mental image of my aim. Something that I'm working towards. And the more emotion that I add to that mental image, the more clearer it becomes and the less fatigue affects it.

An example is this website. I'm passionate about helping other people that have a similar injury (an A.B.I.) by expressing my opinions and relating some of my experiences. Every injury to the brain is different (mainly because the brain is so complex!), but many have similarities. And, in my experience, in order to master a habit, the key is to aim for repetition- not perfection. Repeating the same action until it is habitual.

I have used the word 'habitual' purposefully because if an action is repeated many times, it becomes a habit- something you don't need to purposefully remember. And in this way, the action is repeated.

For example, I used to type only using my right hand. This was very slow and cumbersome. I persisted, over a period of many years, to also use my left hand. It was slow and arduous and very frustrating at times. Now, after many repeated failures, I am much quicker at typing. Also cleaning my teeth. I used to only use my right hand. Now, after years of practice, I hold the brush in my left hand- without thinking about it!

All these skills, and many others, have been cultivated through habits. Actions repeated over and over, over many years. This way I am overcoming problems from my injury. I will never 'fix' my injury, but I will continue to find ways to deal with it.

https://www.biausa.org/public-affairs/media/fatigue-after-brain-injury?