The brain is an amazing and complex organ. In fact, doctors and scientists will admit they have barely begun to tap into the capacity and functions of the brain. As a result, when the brain suffers a traumatic injury, the consequences can be devastating and irreversible.
One critical function of the brain is memory. You may not have realized how much you rely on memory for your daily life until the day when you suffered a traumatic brain injury that affected your ability to learn and remember. If doctors have told you that this damage is likely permanent, it will be critical for you to learn as many coping mechanisms as possible.
4 kinds of memory
The brain does not use only one kind of memory. You have brief memories that your senses perceive, short-term memories of recent events, long-term memories from past experiences and procedural memory that allows your body to move instinctively, such as walking, driving or writing your name. Different parts of the brain control each of these types of memory, so the location of your injury determines whether you will suffer any memory deficits.
Even minor memory problems can be frustrating. You may not remember large chunks of your past, or you may have difficulty remembering how to get home. Your family and friends may find it hard to have a conversation with you if you can’t remember what they have told you.
What can I do about it?
Unfortunately, there is no clinical proof that any kind of cognitive exercises improves memory after a traumatic brain injury. Therefore, it will be important to learn as many methods as possible for compensating and coping. This includes setting reminders on your phone, writing things down or leaving notes around the house. Your family can help you make this process a normal part of life.
You can also be certain that you keep your body healthy and well rested. Stress and fatigue create memory issues even for someone who has not suffered a brain injury, so it is important that you take special care to maintain a regular sleep schedule and take time to relax.
These changes in your life may seem overwhelming and frustrating, and you are right to feel the unfairness of this, especially if your injury resulted from someone else’s negligent or reckless actions. You may feel you deserve some compensation for the major life changes you are enduring since your injury. Speaking with a Texas attorney may provide you with options for claiming what you deserve.