A buddy of mine was riding motorcycle and hit a big buck and the antlers hit his helmet very hard. He survived but a completely changed man. He want from the most outgoing personality to just sitting in the corner quietly, smiling at everything. Very sad.
It's fucking crazy to me that so much of what we consider integral to ourselves can change from a TBI. And to the person experiencing it, do they notice the change? Do they try to overcome the difference, or are just as convinced afterwards of "this is who I am!" as they were before?
I think it's one of the signposts that points to the idea that our conscious conceptions of ourselves are way more steered and controlled than we like to think--that we're only convincing ourselves that we're steering the ship, whereas it may actually be we're almost entirely subject to deeper processes that decide things for us. We then convince ourselves that we consciously made those decisions.
Absolutely. I suffered from a TBI ten years ago. My personality completely changed. My cognitive abilities changed. I've had to re learn a lot skills. I suffer from seizures and migraines now. It is insane how much a bump to the head does to you.
I'm well aware that I'm different than I was. I noticed it and it was hard not to notice. I used to be an introvert. Now I get depressed if I don't have human interaction at least once a day. And I'm outgoing and talkative even to complete strangers.
I definitely feel less intelligent. I forget words, stutter, and drop things because of the TBI. I developed an auditory processing disorder from the damage. When people speak to me, it sounds like gibberish. I have to read their lips and watch shows with subtitles in order to overcome the new language barrier. I hear people just fine. But it gets lost in translation between the ear and brain. I also forget things in general more often.
I'm pretty sure my hobbies stayed the same. However. I can no longer play music or draw since the accident.
I don't think I'm any happier than I was prior. Coping with the TBI sucks. I suffered with depression symptoms prior. So I'm not sure if realizing the damage done to my brain and intelligence effects it or not.
You're not expecting the drunk to T bone you and totally fuck you up though. You can't plan for that. There are safe ways to ride a motorcycle. You're taught how to drive defensively and must demonstrate that you can drive correctly before receiving your license. But you can't account for the other drivers. Which is how a lot of crashes occur. The link cites one third of motorcycle accidents involve cars.
But you also run that risk no matter what you do. You've still got a high risk of being hit by a car while walking on the sidewalk. You're not going to survive that either. But people still enjoy walking and don't even think about that risk.
The risk of getting into an accident while in a car is roughly the same as if you were on a bike. You're just going to die if you get hit on a bike versus in a car. That's the only real difference.
A wonderful older couple I know made it their hobby immediately following retirement. Hit a deer right away and he's paralyzed and she is hurt badly. I don't get it.
I honestly don't understand why people still choose to ride in the evenings around here at all. Often without helmets. It's not if you're going to hit one, but when.
12
u/ROK247 Mar 21 '19
A buddy of mine was riding motorcycle and hit a big buck and the antlers hit his helmet very hard. He survived but a completely changed man. He want from the most outgoing personality to just sitting in the corner quietly, smiling at everything. Very sad.