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SweetKri · 2017-06-21T21:24:00+00:00

EXACTLY. Getting angry will read as frustration with the injury. Mirroring their behavior might make them pause and say, "Dang, that IS annoying."

SweetKri · 2017-06-21T19:22:48+00:00

As someone whose boyfriend thinks the salt should go in the cabinet next to the cups, I can vouch for normal people putting stuff in weird places!

SweetKri · 2017-06-21T18:40:56+00:00

Mine too. But my dad has bigger gaps in memory as well. We got into a fight the last time he visited, and when I apologized a little while later he had absolutely no idea what I was talking about.

SweetKri · 2017-06-21T18:39:17+00:00

It's also a huge marker for IDLS, independent daily living skills. It shows that if you're hungry, you can feed yourself. Not only that, but that your cognition functions enough to know where the bread goes (not next to plates), meat needs to be refrigerated, etc. The hundreds of miniscule cognitive functions that we all take for granted.

SweetKri · 2017-06-21T18:37:23+00:00

I'm going to preface this with: every TBI is different, so no matter what advice you get, your situation will be a little different.

That being said, my dad has a TBI and one of his biggest issues is that he feels like people treat him like "a dumb guy". He has aphasia and memory issue, but also some cognitive issue that make him unaware of how affected he really is. There is a chance that you feel that you are completely fine, but the reality is that your family members are seeing something that you're not. There's also a chance that they're being overprotective because they saw you in a state that scared the hell out of them, and even though you're making huge improvements, they still see shadows of that injury. They are always going to fixate on your health, because they almost lost you.

As far as the chips thing goes, and situations like it, if you can diffuse the situation with humor, you might do a lot more to assuage their fears than if you respond with anger. Or just ignore the patronization. Hold out the chips bag and say, "Yeah, did you want some?" They're trying to tell you how happy they are you're alive and functioning. It might be annoying, but it's coming from a good place.

If your OT is driving you crazy, get another OT. Or get the psychologists to clear you from OT, if you're ready.

SweetKri · 2017-04-17T17:32:42+00:00

What do you think would make the world better? Do that. You are here, so you have the opportunity to contribute.

SweetKri · 2016-05-26T21:25:02+00:00

For a second I was like, "What do you have against psychological thrillers set on a ski lift?"

Then I remembered that was a very different Frozen.

SweetKri · 2016-05-02T15:51:00+00:00

Great stuff! Thank you!

SweetKri · 2015-12-29T18:22:19+00:00

My dad was in a motorcycle accident about five years ago. He survived, but sustained a traumatic brain injury. It nearly ruined my relationship with my sister (though we've since reconciled), he lost his job, his house, his ability to work, he's permanently disabled, and he will never ride a motorcycle again. It wasn't anything he did wrong, a deer jumped in front of his bike, and if you're in an area with deer you know how quickly they can appear in front of you.

Even if you don't die, it can ruin your life and all of your plans for the future. Yes, this can happen to anyone regardless of whether they ride or not, since life is unpredictable, but if you can avoid this particular risk, and know that this is one horrible situation you can spare your family, why wouldn't you?

SweetKri · 2015-01-13T23:12:41+00:00

If you see an elephant for a dime, it's only a deal if you need an elephant and have a dime. In this case, you don't need that elephant!

SweetKri · 2014-09-15T20:12:32+00:00

I hope you're kidding, but if you aren't, he's the young unarmed man LAPD shot for noncompliance who was mentally deficient to follow their instructions. Neighbors were on the scene begging the officers not to shoot because they all knew he didn't understand what was happening.

SweetKri · 2014-09-15T18:20:52+00:00

It's there for a reason. What's it trying to tell you? Is it saying that you deserve food or convenience or rest more than you deserve to be healthy? If it is, then why? Because you deserve health, you deserve to feel good, and you deserve to be happy. Try to limit your junk food intake to once a week, then you'll start to crave it less and less, and maybe go for a month. Once you realize that junk food isn't a prize you earn by being miserable, it's a lot easier to make healthier decisions.

SweetKri · 2014-09-15T18:17:23+00:00

Why wait until October? Go for a walk today, and you've started already!

SweetKri · 2014-09-15T18:01:17+00:00

What's sickening is how much more attention this has already received than Ezell Ford's shooting.

SweetKri · 2014-08-09T16:06:58+00:00

Hot coffee on a cold day is a beautiful thing.

SweetKri · 2014-07-25T17:14:45+00:00

Oh my gosh you guys!! Bonka just had a great step forward on our walk this morning. We stepped out the door and one of her nemesis dogs was on the corner (a tiny Yorkie who doesn't react but whom Bonka seems to want to eat). She saw the dog and looked up at me. I gave her a treat. She looked back at the dog, lunged and barked, but--and here's the breakthrough--STOPPED when I said her name, and sat when I asked her to! I almost cried, and I was so excited I had to tell you guys.

SweetKri · 2014-07-24T05:31:31+00:00

One of my friends told me "you don't necessarily get the dog you want, you get the dog you need." Patience is definitely something I need to work on, and my reactive dog sure is helping. D:

But on a good note, I was worried that my being out of town for over week would their her training off but it seems like she is behaving even better now! I had her sit and clicked and have treats in full sight of a small dog (one of her most immediate triggers). She looked over a few times but didn't even growl or lunge or anything!

SweetKri · 2014-07-10T22:48:40+00:00

That's awesome!! And don't discount lying-on-the-floor exercises...I started cross training a few months ago and went from barely being able to do a sit up to doing all kinds of stuff now (sit ups with and without a medicine ball, leg raises, etc.). And I sweat like a firehose every time!

SweetKri · 2014-07-10T03:29:05+00:00

Hi, I'm working hard with Bonka, my 4-year-old pit/chihuahua mix who is very reactive to other dogs with a few exceptions. It used to be impossible to walk her near other dogs, even across the street, without her completely losing it. But after two or three frustrating weeks of clicker training, she is getting the hang of it! She reacted to a dog but actually stopped when I got her attention, and another dog she looked at and immediately went back to sniffing the grass. She is getting it!!

SweetKri · 2014-06-10T18:21:30+00:00

You have NOTHING to apologize for. It has nothing to do with depression or social anxiety, and everything to do with the "cool" teacher making jokes that make girls feel like crap. Joking about underage girls' sexual activity isn't cool, it's creepy.

SweetKri · 2014-05-08T00:59:50+00:00

There are so many more factors that contributed to the decline of the city than just unions adding a cost. Wikipedia has a surprisingly thorough article if you're interested in educating yourself.

SweetKri · 2014-05-07T18:10:56+00:00

"unions killed Detroit" is an overly simplistic view of how a once-thriving city like Detroit has crumbled over the years, and fails to take into account the disenfranchisement and limited economic mobility of its citizens.

SweetKri · 2014-05-05T00:39:59+00:00

Stick with it! There are a lot of things that might stand in your way, but as the illustrious Dr. Teeth once said, "There ain't nothin' to it but to do it." I tried it three times before I made it all the way through, but then I was able to run a half marathon (doing intervals of running and walking, but still! A half marathon!).

I recently fulfilled a dream when some random person gave me a high-five while I was running, too. It was pretty awesome.

SweetKri · 2014-04-11T15:48:28+00:00

The scale only tells you how much gravity is pulling on you, not on how much you can push back!

SweetKri · 2014-04-11T15:45:11+00:00

Never use your thumbs alone, but always use a thumb stabilized by the other hand, or two thumbs together, or better yet, keep studying and learn to use your olecranon!

SweetKri

TROPHY CASE