Rehabilitation on Sunnaas Hospital
Week 8 at Sunnaas: The last phase: I'm not who I was, but I'm still me
I'm not who I was, but I'm still me
Everything has an end, and my rehabilitation stay at Sunnaas hospital has come to an end, for this round, it is with a kind of sadness, but also many good feelings that I leave with.
When I arrived here in late November 2024, I was skeptical and confused, unsure of why I was here, who I was, and what to expect.
This has changed, I now know why I needed to be here and I am so grateful that I was given this opportunity.
No, I'm not leaving here healed, I didn't get a new brain, I didn't get medicine, pills or other types of medication, but knowledge, knowledge about what has happened to me, knowledge about how a brain injury affects my everyday life, knowledge about how I myself can take measures that give me a better everyday life with a meaningful content.
Learned, found and understood the new me, I have starte putting the new me together, understand that some blocks are missing and some have changed, but I am still me!
I have learned to fly, again, I have understood that the flock I flew with before has flown away from me and that I must find a new flock that understands the new me, that understands and accepts that I can fly, again, but that I now flies with a broken wing, that I don't fly as fast not as high as before, but I'm flying, again!
I'm not who I was, but I'm still me
- My backpack has been filled with knowledge, information, strategies and new tools, I can use when I come home to re-start my life again, face the challenges stronger than before, I know that I have to do things differently, prioritise tasks differently. Accept that there are some things I can do anymore and that some people will no longer be part of my life, but also welcome new people into my life, new opportunities, do things differently, prioritise myself and my needs more. Life looks much brighter now with the knowledge and tools I have received at Sunnaas hospital.
- I have learned about how I can balance my everyday life, that brain fatigue means that I have to portion my everyday life in a better way so that I have surplus for the things that need to be done, get better to take a break, use meditation, breathing technique and or similar so that the brain can rest, avoid empty my energi completely, say stop, and take timeouts.
- I have learned about how communication changes after a brain injury and understand my challenges better, and that in order for me to become an active contributor in social situations, conversations and discussions, I must continue to practice communication techniques, that I must choose which places and arenas that work for me, avoid places with a lot of noise and unrest, choose smaller groups, rather than larger gatherings. Better a little, than all and nothing.
- By being with other patients, I have understood that I am not alone with my challenges, it gives me security in the face of those who do not understand what challenges I have, built new relationships with some of the other patients, agree to stay in touch going forward, support and help each other, is often simpler to talk to those who have been and are in the same situation.
- The social interaction with other patients has made me more confident in myself, and made me see that I can be active in a social life again, as long as I choose the right people, people who understand my challenges and accept them, some give you energy and some don't, learned that I have to make proven choices about who to be with as far as possible, got tools that I can use when I'm in unfortunate situations.
- My strategies going forward will be to work on and improve my communication skills, in order to be more confident in social situations again, to continue and train with a speech therapist and with people I am confident with.
- To train and work with what I have learned about balancing everyday life, avoiding and completely draining myself of energy, dividing tasks into smaller pools, taking breaks and saying no to things.
- Continue with my good structure that I have, which I have got confirmed to be sensible. So I can focus and use my energy to things that I need to do, shopping, cleaning, training be sosial, explore new opportunities for a more meaningful everyday life.
Now i'm finished with the first part of my stay, will be back in about 6 months for a recap.
Looking back at my stay I will first say a big thanks to the staff at Sunnaas, they compassion and competence is just amazing, they rock.
when I came here I was confused, didn't know who I was, staying here has put my puzzle back together, taught me who I am and given me the tools to move on with my life, Sunnaas has taught me to fly again.
The combination of the highly competent staff and the social interaction with other patients who are in a similar situation has been the key for me to rise and fight again and for that I will always look back at the stay and be grateful for all it have given me.
I take with me knowledge, knowledge about how damage to the brain affects the cognitive functions that I need to be able to function at work, at home and in social situations.
I have gained an understanding of my own situation, which makes it easier for me to adapt my everyday life to the new me, gained an understanding which makes it easier to inform others about my situation.
I have learned that I have to change my expectations of myself, learn and accept the new me, and when one door closes, another one opens.
I have got new tools in my backpack that I can use when I get home to re-start my life, face the challenges stronger than before, I know that there is things and people I have to say goodbye to, but also welcome new people in my life, new opportunities as well, so life looks a lot brighter now after my stay at Sunnaas Hospital.
I'm ready to fly, again!
Sunnaas Hospital, they learn people to fly, again. They Rock 🫶❤️ 🫶❤️