The topic for this blog is
traumatic brain injuries. The reason I am interested in this particular topic
is because I know two people who suffered from a brain injury due to a car
accident and running into a wall while playing in gym. Both of these
individuals have had a life changing experience. Brain injuries are “caused by
a bump, blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the
normal function of the brain” according to the article Traumatic brain injury written by the center for disease control
and prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/TraumaticBrainInjury/index.html,
(2014). The article goes on to say that not all injuries can cause TBI and can
be mild as in a slight concussion or severe which can cause a change in their
mental state (2014). The two individuals that I am associated with have had
severe brain injuries and had to re-train themselves to walk, talk, and eat,
among other daily routines. According to the article traumatic brain injury, individuals with TBI's may also experience
difficulty with thought process, memory, and sensations (2014).
What many people don’t realize is
that often times when a person has had a severe head injury it alters their
personality and they can become impulsive. My friend whose son had the injury
had at times experienced her son just running away when he became frustrated.
Once even while she was driving he opened the door and jumped out of the car.
The pain that these individuals
experience is more emotional than physical because they realize that life is
more difficult for them and they are limited in certain areas of their life. As
a wellness coach the best thing that we could do for these individuals is to
encourage them to focus on their strengths and to not look at the past. For
individuals who have had a severe head injury, it is also wise to have
family members come for coaching because they will be dealing with the
frustration and will need some encouragement for themselves.
The Bible says that we are not
always going to have an easy life as we read in John 16:33, “I have told you
these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have
trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (NIV). We may
experience pain and frustration and even have our lives altered permanently but
our focus should be on the future where Jesus promises that, “In a flash, in
the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the
dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1Corinthians 15:52, NIV).
The body that we have now is only for a short time but for those of us who are
Christians, we will have a heavenly body for eternity where “He will wipe every
tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or
pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). To God be
the glory!
References
n/a, Traumatic brain
injury, retrieved from:
Holy Bible, New International Version, Zondervan Publishing
House, Grand Rapids, Michigan,
1985
