How Can I help friends and family Understand?

peacheysncream · 08-15-2012, 04:08 AM

I posted a thread on here called I am frightened.
Now it's more I am frustrated.

No one wants to hear anyone moan.

However since my TBI 2 weeks ago, I cannot focus my sight, cannot think, cannot put words together, cannot cry or laugh or express myself or feel alive.

I don't want visitors, but I feel alone.

Last night husband invited friends for dinner.

Didn't tell me.

They expected me to react as I always do and get on with it so I did.

No one can see what is happening inside.

-Exhausted
-In pain
-Frustrated
-Angry I tried to explain to my husband and friends how bad this is. They laughed at me and told me to go to bed because I was moody and clearly tired!!

I cannot cry, yet feel so alone and sad that even my closest friends will not listen.

I tried to tell my husband this morning how I feel but he says I am an embarrassment.

Today I am left alone to "rest", without my baby daughter again.
Please someone help me I feel like I am falling into a hole that I cannot climb out of.

Mark in Idaho · 08-15-2012, 04:22 AM

peachy,

I am sorry to hear you are being ignored. There is a video online that may help your family understand if you can get them to watch it.

It is on YouTube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9Xso...ature=youtu.be

There are six segments that take about an hour total. It is called "You Look Great" and is about how somebody who has had a concussion can look great but have serious symptoms.

I hope you can get someone to watch it.

My best to you.

peacheysncream · 08-15-2012, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

peachy,

I am sorry to hear you are being ignored. There is a video online that may help your family understand if you can get them to watch it.

It is on YouTube at

There are six segments that take about an hour total. It is called "You Look Great" and is about how somebody who has had a concussion can look great but have serious symptoms.

I hope you can get someone to watch it.

My best to you.

Thank you Mark x

peacheysncream · 08-15-2012, 08:38 AM

Mark I just watched the video link u sent me.

Thank you so much

MollyShadow · 08-15-2012, 03:47 PM

I had a stroke in November and the hardest part was dealing with my friends who expectd me to be normal. I was let go from hospital and they thought that since I was out I was ok. They didn't get that I could not speak right, slurred everything couldnt' walk and couldn't understand anything they wer saying becuz my hearing was bad to begin with but when my brain stopped working I couldn't "figure out" what they were saying like I used to. They thought since I LOOKED like me that I was still me. The trick is to sit them down and tell them, "You have no idea what I'm going through. Let me share." Tell them what is happeing. If you have to, print stuff off the internet so they can read it for themselves. I had to. It really helped because they couldnt undrstand me.

I lost a great deal of my "friends" but the ones that stay by are the only ones you need. They are the most important. I was given a dog by my husband and have been putting my life back together with Shadows help. A therapy animal might help you too. If you can't handle a dog, get somethng you can. I wuldn't be as well off as I am if Shadow hadn't needed me. Unconditional love is wunderful.

xanadu00 · 08-15-2012, 08:50 PM

This article might help. It's not as thorough as the video series Mark posted to, but it only takes a few minutes for a family member to read it.

http://www.brainline.org/content/201...u-to-know.html

peacheysncream · 08-16-2012, 04:21 AM

Dear Molly

Thank you so much for your kind reply.

I have always been a person who works hard. Thats what others are used to. So i sympathize with them, it must be hard for them not to have the me they are used to.
But its a lot harder for me.

I will take on board your pet idea.

Many thanx

peacheysncream · 08-16-2012, 04:26 AM

Dear XANADU00
Thank you.
I looked the article up. It is very pointed.
My family are struggling with the changes, today I was meant to keep my daughter home, but this morning was like a relapse.
I'd gone to bed with pain in my head, this morning I couldn't walk in a straight line and felt completely fatigued.
My husband did say he understood and arranged childcare.
I cannot cry tho I feel like bursting.
Anyway, tomo is a new day and I look forward to it, today I will rest well.

Many thanx