At times life seems complicated and everything one does just does not make sense. You get up and look in the mirror. You consider yourself fortunate that you’ve survived … sometimes! Because of the superficial society no one understands what life is truly like. You look good, must be nothing wrong! That couldn’t be any further from the truth!
Appearance is the one thing that most those who traumatic brain injury, aging, chronic illness, and mental illness can control. They take pride in their appearance when out in public. Often it is the only thing under one’s control.
How many have been told to look how much someone can accomplish after they have lost limbs or have some other physical injuries? Is the frustration with brain injury justifiable? Is losing a limb comparable to brain injury? Next two “Simple Tip Posts” is a situation from someone who experienced both.How can you help those who apparently need assistance when your own life is in turmoil? Helping releases good hormones in the brain: serotonin and dopamine among others enhance your life.
Simple tips to helping others
- Carry a bag of groceries
- Help unload grocery cart
- Get something off a high shelf at grocery store
- Hold a door open
- Ask how you can help them
- Offer doing a simple household task
- Change lightbulbs
- Dust
- Organize bookcase
- Clean the stove
- Clean a bathroom
- Take out garbage
- Simple telephone call to say “Hello!” weekly or monthly
- Check on health status with inclement weather
- Leave your telephone number to call when they need special help
- Take someone to the store
- Take to an appointment
- Take something to post office or pick up postage stamps
- Run a simple errand while you are out at your appointment
- Offer to take them along to the bank or hairdresser
- Don’t hold on to them when walking, let them hold on to you if they need minimal support
- Change the sheets on the bed (they will wash them) but lifting the mattress and moving around the bed is difficult
- Install handrails or safety bars in the bathroom, outdoor steps or porch
- Pick up items while at grocery store and deliver
- Pick up postage stamps while at post office
- Take newspapers in to house
- Take in mail
- Spend an hour visiting and just listen
- Take a home made meal or bakery
- Leave a number you can be reached at
- Offer a ride to any appointment at your convenience
- Offer to walk the dog
US Navy 080804-N-0000X-001 Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Joe R. Campa Jr. pins petty officer 2nd class crows on Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Anthony (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Set boundaries and don’t let others take your energy or time. Know your limitations. Don’t let others take advantage of you, your services, your kind nature, or your financial status. Don’t give anyone money unless it’s approved. Learn to say “No” if the person takes advantage. You are doing these things because you can, and WANT to! Not because you feel you have to.
What did you do to help another within the past week? It may be something you haven’t even thought of and helped without realizing. How do you feel when you help someone even with the simplest tasks?
Related articles
- Everyday (braininjuryselfrehabilitation.com)
- New hope for survivors of stroke and traumatic brain injury (medicalxpress.com)
- The Brain Injury Attorneys at De Caro & Kaplen, LLP, Reach Out to the Public with Important Information about Traumatic Brain Injury (prweb.com)
- New Technology Helping To Treat Veteran Brain Injuries (pittsburgh.cbslocal.com)
- Hunting neuron killers in Alzheimer’s and traumatic brain injury (medicalxpress.com)
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buckwheatsrisk
November 16, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Oh my gosh i so know what you mean! I have even been told that by my own family. “You look fine so you need to get a job.” This was soon after major surgery to have my bladder removed. Add in I wasn’t fine in any sense of the word aside from that…the guilt that places on one is unbearable as I’m sure you know! xo
brain injury self rehabilitation (BISR)
November 17, 2012 at 8:44 am
It’s such a common scenario when others are superficial! We can’t change them, but we can change ourselves! Know that others do care. Remember the saying “Friends are chosen family!”
buckwheatsrisk
November 17, 2012 at 10:56 am
yes for sure, the family is out of my life to stay!
Tanveer Rauf
November 18, 2012 at 1:42 am
you are a great human being 🙂 always trying to uplift the moral enhance courage of others. thank you for being there and providing so much knowledge about health both physical and mental:) God bless you
brain injury self rehabilitation (BISR)
November 19, 2012 at 5:34 pm
There are so many beautiful people in this world, and if it weren’t for this site I would have never met you! You always have kind words and I encourage others to visit your site. I love children, and you have the best writings and help children think! It helps me keep thinking too! Blessings, Take care and stay safe.
brokenbrilliant
November 25, 2012 at 11:01 am
Opportunities to help others can come in may disguises – this past week, I helped an elderly friend of the family feel less alone and bring joy and laughter to their life, just by spending time talking about this and that, and really listening to what they had to say. I also helped young nieces and nephews feel better about themselves by giving them compliments and paying attention to them. I helped carry and move heavy things. I helped walk the dog. I did what I could – without depleting myself, which was a major accomplishment.
Not only does it help others, it helps you as well — keeps the “pity pot” at bay, which is always important for folks after TBI. It also reminds us that we are still valuable, that we still matter, and we can still be a part of things.
Thanks for writing this – it’s important.
brain injury self rehabilitation (BISR)
November 27, 2012 at 10:02 am
You have such positive responses for helping others. It does remind us we are Valuable, still can have a positive impact on others as well as help us feel good about ourselves. As simple as this is, we overlook all the things that contributing to this world!
brokenbrilliant
November 27, 2012 at 8:43 pm
Thank you – this is something I really try to do. It is easy for me to get negative and just quit trying, so I make an effort when I can to keep positive. It is well worth it!
freshnewblog
December 6, 2012 at 11:11 am
What if the brain injured people keep ignoring that they are indeed brain injured. Is that okay too or the path to insanity?
brain injury self rehabilitation (BISR)
December 8, 2012 at 7:18 am
Be aware of your limitations. Listen to what others are saying and decipher what is important to you and what you can change. Don’t let others tear you apart and spit you out. Avoid situations and environments when you feel overwhelmed. You are a valuable person and you will come out of this stronger than you were before … it’s time consuming but you can do it! Knowing your limitations will help you improve on your weaknesses.
freshnewblog
December 8, 2012 at 7:45 am
Yeah. I guess that is pretty much what we have been doing. Psycho meds made me worse. He did not try them, but that was the only time that I could not fend for myself when I was on those.