impulsive Archives - Jumbledbrain https://www.jumbledbrain.com/tag/impulsive/ Discover - Empower - Thrive Thu, 15 Sep 2022 01:21:26 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://i0.wp.com/www.jumbledbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/cropped-tab-logo.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 impulsive Archives - Jumbledbrain https://www.jumbledbrain.com/tag/impulsive/ 32 32 115417566 Heat exhaustion compounds symptoms of brain injury https://www.jumbledbrain.com/brain-injury-heat-compounds-symptoms/ https://www.jumbledbrain.com/brain-injury-heat-compounds-symptoms/#comments Mon, 10 Jul 2017 11:52:11 +0000 https://www.jumbledbrain.com/?p=2295 Here in Britain it has got really quite warm with very little rain. I know that as it is July, and therefore summertime, I shouldn’t be surprised. But the seasons for this little island are not that predictable. So actually to have weather that could be described as summer, is almost unusual. But whilst this […]

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Here in Britain it has got really quite warm with very little rain. I know that as it is July, and therefore summertime, I shouldn’t be surprised. But the seasons for this little island are not that predictable. So actually to have weather that could be described as summer, is almost unusual. But whilst this is lovely, it is playing havoc with my brain injury symptoms.

How summer is a blessing and a curse for me now.

My biggest problem is the heat. Rather than a shearing heat, it’s very muggy. Even in shorts and T-shirt I feel like I’m being wrapped up in a blanket all the time. I explained before in Irritating temperature struggles after brain injury, how my body is much more fussy about what is a comfortable temperature. So at the moment I am sweating like crazy. (It’s a shame sweat has salt in it, or I could help top up the local reservoir. We haven’t had a hose pipe ban yet, but I’m sure it’s coming.)

But the most frustrating part is how that impacts my cognitive symptoms. It’s probably a combination of dehydration, and the extra work my nervous system is in going though. Together it leaves me in supper slow mode. Even though I have learned from previous summers (Pathetic holiday catastrophe, brain injury fail) I’m still finding it hard.

Oh what’s it called…. the thingy.

I know many survivors, like me, find aphasia a problem. Usually I can style it out these days, so most people wouldn’t think anything of it. Yes I will forget a word, but so does everyone, so as long as I don’t focus on it, nor do they.  But in this heat I can barely make a sentence at times. Or begin to describe the thing so they can help me with the missing word.  Seeing as most of my conversations are with my partner James, we just laugh at it. But I am avoiding speaking on the phone as much as possible at the moment. Otherwise the person on the other end thinks there’s a fault with the line. If you want to read more about aphasia go to Aphasia from brain injury.

How hot weather can make brain injury symptoms worst

Too many ideas, little action

At the moment, as my brain is working overtime, thoughts and ideas keep interrupting my day. I will start one thing, and then suddenly remember something else I was going to do. Instead of completing one thing first, I immediately move on to the newly recalled task. But having realised this isn’t the right way to handle things, I divert back. Leaving the recalled task abandoned, and forgotten again. Which only leads to the process starting again later.

I know it’s not just brain injury survivors who can find melting in humid weather a problem. A fellow Brit, Emily Nemchick wrote a useful post about it after moving to South Africa. In How to Survive in a Humid Climate, she has some practical suggestions to try to overcome it. Whilst I’m not suggesting it’s anything like South Africa here at the moment, when you have a brain injury the effects can be devastating. But I’m hoping that by following her tips, I might live to see another day.

Other related articles:

Does hot weather affect your symptoms? What tips work for you?

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]]> https://www.jumbledbrain.com/brain-injury-heat-compounds-symptoms/feed/ 10 2295 7 Executive dysfunction challenges after brain injury https://www.jumbledbrain.com/tbi-executive-dysfunction-after-brain-injury/ https://www.jumbledbrain.com/tbi-executive-dysfunction-after-brain-injury/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2016 11:23:38 +0000 https://www.jumbledbrain.com/?p=348 We all have that friend who is really indecisive and just goes along with your suggestion, but you are never really sure it that’s what they want.  Yes, that’s right, it’s me with my executive dysfunction. Before my brain injury I would have described myself as opinionated. However I would be open minded enough to […]

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We all have that friend who is really indecisive and just goes along with your suggestion, but you are never really sure it that’s what they want.  Yes, that’s right, it’s me with my executive dysfunction.

Before my brain injury I would have described myself as opinionated. However I would be open minded enough to consider others views, and still tactful even if I didn’t completely agree. Well that person is still in there, just took a wrong turning. (I always did have issues with my left and right.)

The frontal lobe, which is directly behind the forehead, is responsible  for the brains executive function. Due to it’s position, casualties of falls, road traffic accidents and sports injuries, commonly sustain a brain injury in this region as it impacts with the skull.

Some of you might have come to realise that supermarkets have become my nemesis for a variety of reasons. But being bombarded with choices is definitely one of them. Executive dysfunction makes those choices feel more like a trick question. The supermarket visit has become a very regular activity of modern life. But it challenges those with brain injuries in ways other people wouldn’t expect.

  • Low motivation/ability for completing tasks 

    Sometimes it can be hard to even write the shopping list because you have to decide what you need. If it’s not in front of me, I might not remember it’s missing! So I just don’t want to do it.

  • Disorganised

    In some UK supermarkets their trolleys are chained together and can only be released by putting in a pound coin (you get it back when you return the trolley). But so many times I have spent my last pound coin without thinking, and not realised until I’m at the Supermarket.

  • Rigid ideas 

    I always think I’m in the way and trying to get out of the way. But actually maybe the other shoppers are just busy in their own world. They haven’t even noticed me, let alone be bothered about where I’m standing.

  • Impulsive behaviour 

    Supermarkets are designed to harness the power of the impulse buyer. When you have a brain injury it can be torture. I’ve never used it before, but what if I’ll need it soon for something? Even though I don’t know how to use it I better buy it, just in case!

  • Controlling emotions

    I think most people at some point have got frustrated during a Supermarket visit. However when you have a brain injury it can feel like the world is ending. So many times I have had to just abandon ship, and get out!

  • Struggle to socialise 

    Usually the staff try to engage in some polite conversation as is customary. But a brain injury can mean you can’t read the situation properly. What to you mean, “Do I want any cash back? I haven’t given you any yet to give back to me?”

  • Short attention span 

    You struggle to concentrate, and there are so many things in one space demanding your attention. Making you miss things all the time. I have walked marathons looking for things as I just never saw them!

After a brain injury executive dysfunction can lead to decision fatigue. This is more than just being indecisive. Here's the 7 ways it can affect a person.
My blog on living with brain injury: This is why everyday activities such as shopping can be so difficult for brain injury survivors.

All of this can lead to decision fatigue. This makes your brain is so overwhelmed you are more likely to make a bad decision.

So try not to be too frustrated with that indecisive friend who has a brain injury. Sometimes you have to choose your battles in life, and for us that can mean trusting someone else to decide. It’s a compliment really that we chose to leave it with you.

But it can get better. You can read why sometimes it is better to try in Avoiding problems: I must stop burying my head (inc injured brain) in the sand.

Other articles you may like:

Do you struggle with executive dysfunction? What other "normal" activities do you find a strain?

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