Embracing the Journey - ndbin.org · 1 Embracing the Journey Lessons Learned From TBI Amy Zellmer...
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1 Embracing the Journey Lessons Learned From TBI Amy Zellmer Author, Speaker, Advocate, & TBI Survivor @amyzellmer Today’s Agenda - TBI facts - My TBI - My Recovery - My Journey - Life Lessons OBJECTIVE: - Understanding TBI & how you can help better your patient experience
Transcript of Embracing the Journey - ndbin.org · 1 Embracing the Journey Lessons Learned From TBI Amy Zellmer...
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Embracing the JourneyLessons Learned From TBI
Amy ZellmerAuthor, Speaker, Advocate, & TBI Survivor
@amyzellmer
Today’s Agenda- TBI facts- My TBI
- My Recovery- My Journey- Life Lessons
OBJECTIVE:- Understanding TBI & how you can help better
your patient experience
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- Every 11 seconds someone in the United States will suffer a TBI
- Every single concussion IS a traumatic brain injury
- Each year a reported 2.8 million people will sustain a TBI
- Each year 52,000 die as a result of TBI
source: cdc.gov
Did You Know???
Did you know???- TBI is the leading cause of death in the US
for those ages 1-44 and third overall- Falls are the leading cause of TBI, followed
by motor vehicle accidents.- TBI is the #1 disability Veterans are
returning home with.- The number of unreported TBIs, or those
not seen by a doctor, is unknown
source: cdc.gov
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Understanding a TBI- No two TBIs are the same
- No two recoveries are the same- Every concussion is a TBI.
- Mild, moderate, and severe are “medical terms” and not indicative
of the severity of the patients problems or recovery.
Other Types of Brain Injuries
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)stroke, aneurism, brain tumor
- Neurological DiseasesParksinsons, MS, Epilepsy, Alzheimers, Dementia
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A Bit About MY TBI- Slipped and fell on an icy driveway
February 2, 2014
- Injuries included:severe concussionmajor whiplashC4/C5 damage
dislocated sternumtorn muscles
A Bit About MY TBI Symptoms …..
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Overstimulation
Light Sensitivity
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Aphasia
Flat Affect / Lack of Awareness
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Apathy
Headaches
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Neuro Fatigue
Dizzy & Balance Issues
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Visual Impairment
Cognitive Impairment
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Cranial Nerve Damage
Short Term Memory
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Anxiety / Depression
A Bit About MY RECOVERY
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Recovery is an Attitude
“have an attitude of gratitude”
Writing as Therapy
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Essential Oils
Cranial Sacral Therapy
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Talk Therapy (psychologist)
Yoga & Weight Training
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NeurologistNeuro Opthamologist
Neuro Psychologist
Functional Neurology& Vestibular Therapy
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A Bit About MY JOURNEY
A Bit About MY JOURNEY- Began contributing to the Huffington Post
February 2015- Created Amy’s TBI Tribe on Facebook
February 2015-Attending Brain Injury Awareness Day in
Washington DC March
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A Bit About MY JOURNEY- Advocating for TBI awareness across the
country- Washington DC for BIA Month (March)- Rotary Groups- Radio Shows/Podcasts
- - Featured in newspaper articles- Yoga Life & Yoga Today Magazine- Wagazine- The Challenge!- Guest Blog posts
A Bit About MY JOURNEY
- Published my first book “Life With a Traumatic Brain Injury: Finding the Road Back to Normal” November 2015- Crowd funded on Kickstarter
- Published the sequel “Embracing the Journey: Moving Forward After Brain Injury” March 2018
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A Bit About MY JOURNEY- Started “Faces of TBI” podcast series September 2015
- guests have included survivors, doctors, clinicians, NFL Super Bowl champ Ben Utecht, and Dr. Bennett Omalu.
A Bit About MY JOURNEY
- Partnered with Healing Boxes to create a “ready to send care package” specific to the needs of traumatic brain injury survivors
- ice pack- wellness journal- eye mask- ear plugs- meditation cd- soothing tea
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LESSONS LEARNED From TBI
Lessons Learned
“5 Things Every TBI Survivor Wants You to
Understand”
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Lessons Learned
1. Our Brains No Longer Work the Same
2. We Suffer From a Great Deal of Fatigue3. We Live With Fear and Anxiety
4. We Deal With Chronic Pain5. We Often Feel Isolated and Alone
Lessons Learned
“What I Wish I Had Known When I First
Hit My Head”
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Lessons Learned
“Please Don’t Think I’m a Flake”
Lessons Learned
“Lost: Life With a TBI”
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Lessons Learned
“Missing My Memory”
Lessons Learned
“Quit Using Your Brain Injury As An
Excuse”
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Lessons Learned
“Let’s Talk About Sex — After Brain Injury”
Lessons Learned
“Who Rescued Whom?”
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Lessons Learned
“The Many Personalities of Brain Injury — Why I
Sometimes Want to Throw In the Towel”
Lessons Learned
“Living in a Funk: Depression and
Apathy After Brain Injury”
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Lessons Learned
“The Downside of Functional Neurology”
Lessons Learned
“It’s Not Like You Have Cancer or Something”
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The Brain Health Online Summit
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Questions???
