Feltina L Holmes

Managing a Concussion Feltina L Holmes

I didn't have an illness, disorder or a disease. It was an accident. It's not who I am. It's called a concussion--a result of a brain injury. The thoughts that flooded my mind. The pain that overwhelmed my body, uncontrolled movement of my hands, my feet, and the shaking of my knee. The headaches that would not stop. Why would I want to make this up?


I wasn't in control of how my body and mind had rapidly changed because of the concussion.


The non-stop cycle of "what ifs" had to end. The feeling of "my life is over" had to stop. It was no longer a matter of who didn't understand me or reaching the limit of medical assistance.


It was my decision to choose to acknowledge the impact of the injury and manage my responses to the physical and psychological changes (the physical pain, depression, and anxiety) and stop them from redefining who I am.


The recovery path of a traumatic brain injury is parallel to personal salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."


I am not the same person I was prior to giving my life to Christ, and my life is not the same as it was before my injury.


I'm ready to get back to living my life. My injury was only a small part of my life. The doctor appointments and therapy have come to an end, and my injury is no longer my center focus.


My faith and counseling proved to be the winning combination to finding my path to total healing.