Though many people suffer from concussions, I personally think they are one of the most underrated injuries. I got three concussions during my junior year of high school, and it affected my life more than I ever thought it could. I have chronic headaches, I can no longer play sports, my memory has worsened, the list goes on... However, I learned new things about myself. Not being able to play sports forced me to find other ways to spend my time, which ultimately gave me a lot of good experiences and made me more well rounded. That being said, the hard times were just as prominent. Not being able to play on my sports teams with my best friends hurt my heart more than I had anticipated. Now that a year has passed, I wanted to reflect on what I learned and share it with anyone who may go through the same unfortunate situation. So, here are some things I took away:
1: SLEEP IS KEY
Sleep is your best friend. My sleep patterns have changed from so many hits to the head - I now can sleep until 2 in the afternoon if you let me... (so don't become like me and sleep that absurdly late, but SLEEP A LOT!)
2: DISTRACTIONS
Distractions will keep you sane! Since I lost sports, I got a job, was manager of the field hockey and lacrosse teams at my school, tried and quit modeling (that can be a different article), volunteered at a school, etc. Make the most of it and try to discover a new love!
3: KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE
This was extremely important for me. While recovering from/dealing with the side effects of concussions, it's easy to feel on the outside. Make sure to keep engaged with your friends as much as possible!
4: DON'T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF
Academics may be a struggle right after a head injury, so try not to let it affect your confidence too much if you don't perform like your usual self.
5: FIND AN OUTLET
Whether it be taking a bath, writing, playing an instrument, exercise (for me it's running), etc... Find a good stress reliever that makes you feel good!
6: KNOW THAT YOU WILL GET THROUGH IT!
