Brain Injury fatigue can be so discouraging. It can completely inhibit you from doing anything you want to do. It can make you feel isolated and can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression, especially when you know you need to get things done but you lack the energy.
When fatigue hits, I'm so tempted to allow it to take over my entire mood... especially when it lasts for weeks and weeks and months and months (which is common when living with brain injury).
But it's important to remember this:
✨Fatigue is a symptom of my brain injury, and it is NOT a reflection of who I am.
✨Feeling fatigued does not in any way make me an inadequate person, and it does not make me a failure.
✨All it means is that my brain is injured, and it works a little differently now. My brain needs more rest than it used to, and I have to learn how to manage my life differently.
Remind yourself today that your brain injury does NOT define you!! You are MORE than these symptoms and emotions. You are NOT a failure. You are a survivor, which makes you incredible. You CAN do this!! I believe in you!!💚
-Cristabelle
Amanda McKinsey
I'm thankful that you brought topic up! The first three years of my TBI were probably the most challenging. I had never felt that tired regardless of not getting much accomplished for the day. You're correct, it certainly makes you feel inferior and a bit useless. It worsens if you were an individual who, before the TBI, got many things accomplished of a day. Fatigue is one of the symptoms that I struggled to accept. I was in denial about it and tried to push through, despite that backfiring. It was very different having to nap during the day whether I had done many things or not; often times, I would just drop from being so exhausted. I had to develop a routine where I learned to conserve my energy, yet still get done what needed most accomplished. It really was like charging a battery. A nap sometimes wouldn't even charge it half way, but it was something my body needed and had to be done. As time moved on, fatigue is still a problem, but it doesn't limit me as much and I no longer need to stop to take naps during the day. Thank God for his help on my recovery! The brain truly is an amazing creation.