Written: May 29, 2017 (3 days after the impact)
I recently received a concussion. It sucked. A lot. Memory loss, headaches, and nausea are a few of the symptoms I experienced. The doctor told me that all concussion cases are unique to each individual. Someone in the same situation may experience a completely different set of symptoms.
Written: June 1, 2017 (6 days after the impact)
What is very similar in nearly 100% of concussion cases is the treatment. A minor case requires the person with the injury to avoid physical activity for a minimum of a week. The reason is because when a person does an activity that raises their heart rate; the rise in blood pressure is immediately felt in the brain. A major case will most likely require the injuree to avoid nearly all activity, both mental and physical. In addition, anybody with a concussion regardless of the intensity is told to avoid electronics for at least a week or more depending on the severity.
I was fortunate to only receive a minor concussion. My symptoms included memory loss of around 15 minutes before the impact, and 50-60 minutes after the impact (at least that’s what I was told). At the time of this writing, it has been about six days since the impact and I still have memory loss. I’m also battling headaches and random nausea, however, it is getting better.
Despite my injury, I was able to turn a horrible (and boring as hell situation if I am being totally honest) into a positive one. I have gone without most technology for nearly a week now and it has been invigorating. Netflix, programming (my hobby), social media, or reading on a tablet. I have traded them all in. I have been playing board games, completing a puzzle (Rue Francis), reading physical books (which I like better anyways), and even coloring (yes I get it-I’m acting like a little kid). It’s funny though because doing these activities which are technology free, I have been far more relaxed and it has helped me escape the stress of being injured.
Anybody who is reading this and relates to being worried or stressed about something that we cannot control should take a tip or two. If you’re getting headaches, discomfort, or you’re bored then change-up what you are doing in your free time. Instead of bingeing on the latest episodes of “13 Reasons Why” or catching up on “Game of Thrones,” how about picking up the actual book? Grab a puzzle (they are actually pretty cheap from Barnes and Noble), go for a walk, draw in a coloring book (my favorite). I am confident that these will all have a positive influence on your overall well being.
If you need a book recommendation check out our other posts:
- Titles of the Souls: Parsec
- Titles of the Souls: Buzz
Or feel free to email us at oldsouls100@gmail.com.
I hope I’ve convinced you (yes I am trying to make you do something) to use a little less tech for an hour or two! If you have anything to add, please drop a comment below.
– Buzz
Did the doctor specifically say why you needed to avoid electronics? I’m curious as to the medical reason.
Are you concerned about the long term effects?
“Unplugging” is often very difficult for people to do. I think that this is because electronics (especially smartphones) have become our on-demand sources of entertainment.
I enjoy puzzles and they are a great family activity. They can also be mildly addicting. How do you go about doing your puzzles? My wife insists on finding all the border pieces first. I’m not that stringent.
I went through a period of several years where I did not read a book. Yes, I read news and articles online, but nothing of substance. Then I started listening to audio books which I love because I can essentially read while driving to work (when I have most of my uninterrupted free time). I’ve since started actually “reading” a few books. I encourage everyone to start reading a book especially if you are not in school anymore. There is so much knowledge out there in books – they might very well change your life.