How concussions have changed their lives

Acquired brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability for Canadians under the age of 40. Here are four Canadians who share how their lives have changed after suffering a concussion.


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[firesidethewater]

Thank you, I hope you keep shining a light on how we need to improve healthcare and help the Canadians who need it.

[Ashley]

My sister in fourth grade, had a major concussion. Out of school for over half the school year, no watching tv, reading, playing etc. she’s 14 now, thing’s have never been the same. My happy go lucky little sister left us that day.

[BL-rbjm]

I have been recently put on a medication which has helped me focus and help me get things accomplished.
It is called vyvance.
I would never tell anybody to go on or try it. I just hope I don't have to be on it forever. For example I couldn't even get my dishes done for a week maybe two. Or I start my morning off by sitting there. Not knowing where to begin and how to go about things. So what this has done is help me to get things accomplished. So now i'm able to focus on getting my dishes done in Much less of a time in the same day. It almost feels like the synapse and your brain are being connected. I have wasted so much food in the past. Cause I forgot how much food to buy for just myself and so I threw out hundreds of dollars worth of food. Because I forgot how to prepare it. Is something as simple as making pancakes for example. Is and remembering how long to boil an egg. It's the patience for yourself that is very hard, and you get depressed. Because you can see the big difference in your life prior to the concussion and after.
I try not to focus on it but keep focusing on your daily activity. Live for the day as best as you can try to understand that. There are things that have change and will never be the same. And there are things that will improve, maybe even better. Is but being patient with yourself is so important. And living each day as it comes. Trying to focus on what you can do rather than what you can't do. And be appreciative that you're not as bad as somebody else. That's not saying that your condition is not important. It's just having a grateful attitude for any changes in your life.

[BL-rbjm]

You lose a part of yourself! I agree with these people. I had all these symptoms.
I knew there was something wrong. But I never expected my personality to change and never thought I would be affected in so many different ways. It's been now over three years, and I told my OT I feel like im coming out of a comma.
I forgot how to cook and my dad was a chef at one time. I used to make homemade bread for years and I forgot how to do that. I would burn things on the stove. I'd forget things I couldn't find where I just put something a minute ago. And people who have known for years. I forget their names. I'm getting better, but it's not completely healed. I couldn't stand the mood swings after my concussion. I couldn't stand the light. I couldn't stand talking to people. I would break down crying. It was totally insane.
There's more to what I experienced. Sometimes when I would try to think it was like having a cloud above you with all the information that you want to bring down into your head. But it was all scrambled. Or you knew how to do something, but the puzzles were missand you just couldn't find those puzzle pieces. You had no control over your life anymore not the way you had before. And the p t s d was incredible. I still can't forget the car accident.
It is always there in my head, and I'm hoping it will dissipate. It does in some ways, but otherwise it doesn't.
There are days when you are angry and you start feeling sorry for yourself. And you have to stop. And you have to pull yourself app and pull yourself out of that because it doesn't help to allow yourself to go deep into the depths of despair.
I think you work so much harder trying to focus.Just living everyday life, it's a struggle. Some days more so.someday's improvement.
And what I don't like is like you say to yourself. Where have I been? And you come to realize more things when you slowly get better. My father farmed I was good at growing vegetables.
I forgot how to grow vegetables I forgot how to grow potatoes.
I tried this year and nothing grew because I forgot a lot of things. I forgot how to amend the soil... If anybody doesn't understand what a concussion does to a person even if you don't look like you're damaged on the outside. I know now what a real concussion is and how it changes your life. A concussion ages you.. I was watching on youtube where this woman had a concussion and her accent changed. For example. She had her own accent, and it completely changed to something else. And then there was another example of the same thing with another person.

[geraldinesera]

Sad there is no commentary from heloful medical practitioners. The stories are truly sad, but they DON'T lead anywhere. CBC should do better for viewers.

[CaviteñoCavalrymanChe]

Concussions are not covered in Canadian universal health care?

[JoeKlunder]

How do we differentiate between a typical concussion and a severe concussion? I often get them when I sleep and bump my head, etc. How were these people different?

[florai]

I read the title coronavirus instead of concussion

[locorico]

i ad 10 concussions 1 brain trauma and 1 hit that put me in a 3 days in coma, i am sure to have cte and i have no help from the canadian médical care.i live now alone with my 2 dog and isolated for now 6years all this for my passion motocross i scared myself today for how unpredictable i am .it not for the lack of effort to get help by my part, there is no help in quebec for helping me and it suck big time, i am a time bomb and nobody care