Navigating the Uncertainty of Concussion Recovery

t’s such a scary feeling when you can’t rely on your body anymore like you used to.

When you have a concussion, your body and mind don’t react the same anymore, and every aspect of life is affected. This isn’t just a small change; it changes everything.

You feel lost, having to figure everything out on your own. You don’t know what’s going on in your body, and every situation feels different and new.

You can’t do the same things anymore, but what are your limits? Are they changing? It made me sad to feel lost and not know myself anymore.

Even when I tried to get help from a doctor or psychologist, I felt like they didn’t get me, and I felt even lonelier afterward.

I had to get my life on track – but how? Feeling that lost had such an impact on my emotional well-being. You grieve for the person you were and don’t yet know the new version of yourself. You are somewhere in between, and that was the hardest part of my recovery.

My mind still wants to do the same things I always did before my accident, but my body didn’t allow me to do those things. Should you listen to your body? Your mind? Both?

I lost confidence in my body, making me scared to make any plans for the future. I couldn’t rely on it anymore, and it scared me.

But without bad days, there wouldn’t be any good days. Without rain, there would be no rainbows.

Think about this example: What if you had all the money in the world ever since you were born? You wouldn’t feel the same as a person who grew up poor and became rich by themselves. Who do you think is more grateful and enjoying it?

I try to look at it this way, which is helping me.

Remember, every step forward, no matter how small, is progress. Embrace the journey, even the difficult parts, because they shape who you become. And know that you’re not alone. We're in this together.

Stay strong and keep going.

Warm regards,

Dr. Gary Dennis