Enduring a traumatic brain injury is challenging but you made it through, and that in itself should make you feel proud! Still, on the road to recovery, there may be times where you feel overwhelmed and slightly discouraged.
Fortunately, reading motivational quotes can help give you the motivation you need. For caregivers it’s especially helpful to read quotes about understanding brain injury to help develop empathy too.
Quotes For Understanding Brain Injury
Knowing what to expect after a brain injury is important to help survivors during the rehabilitation process. Here are some of our favorite quotes to help family and friends understand brain injury survivors and develop empathy for your loved one.
“Brain injury survivors may require more time to think or speak, and it does not mean we have lost our intelligence. It means our brains are recovering, please respect us.”
There are a variety of secondary effects survivors may experience depending on the location and severity of the injury. When the language centers of the brain are affected, survivors may struggle with speech and that’s okay. Please respect survivors and allow them the time and space they need to recover.
“It may not be easy and it might take sustained effort, but we have the ability to ‘remodel’ our brains at any age in ways that can help us to function better.”
The brain is a complex organ but it’s also incredibly resilient. It has the ability to rewire or ‘remodel’ itself through neuroplasticity and help survivors maximize TBI recovery at any age. Whether it has been two years or two decades, the brain is capable of reorganizing itself, and survivors can always pick recovery back up no matter how much time has passed.
“Daily activities take more energy to accomplish after brain injury, so I tire much faster. When I want to rest, I am not being lazy, I am healing.”
After a brain injury survivors may experience post-traumatic hypersomnia, or excessive sleeping. This is often perfectly normal, and rest helps the brain recover. Encourage your loved one to rest as much as they need (as long as it doesn’t interrupt nighttime sleeping).
“Make eye contact with me. I am in here – come find me. Encourage me.”
Jill Bolte Taylor is a stroke survivor, and like a brain injury, a stroke caused many secondary effects that interfered with her life. Still, she makes it known that she is still the same person and should be treated as such. Respect survivors and don’t make them feel inferior or different for the struggles they are experiencing post-TBI.
“The next time you’re tempted to imply we’re making excuses, understand that most TBI survivors will be left with a combination of symptoms.”
Survivors may experience many physical and cognitive effects including fatigue, dizziness, and loss of balance or coordination. They may also struggle with attention, short-term memory loss, pure alexia, and aphasia. Psychological effects such as anxiety or depression may also occur after a TBI. It’s important for loved ones to understand the effects and learn to be patient and compassionate with survivors.
“A new challenge keeps the brain kicking and the heart ticking.”
This is one of our favorite brain injury quotes! Sustaining a traumatic brain injury may bring new challenges to overcome. Thankfully, obstacles often double as therapy. Caregivers should be mindful not to do too much for their loved ones because it’s important for survivors to do tasks as independently as possible during recovery.
Most Inspirational Quotes For Brain Injury Survivors
There may be days our motivation is through the roof, and lost the other days. The road to recovery is not easy or simple, but you have made it this far. Do not give up! Here are some of our favorite quotes to help you stay motivated during your TBI recovery journey.
“Brain injuries are like snowflakes and fingerprints. NO two are the same.”
Every brain injury is different which means every survivor will have their own, unique experience. Therefore, don’t compare your progress with someone else because the effects and corresponding treatments for TBI vary for everyone. You are doing the best that you can for your situation and that’s all that matters.
“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
Recovery can begin when you decide to take that first step. And every step thereafter.
“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.”
Small steps can lead to something great, even when you feel progress is slow. During the brain injury recovery stages, you may get stuck or plateau in certain phases, but it’s important not to give up and continue taking small steps forward. By sticking with a consistent rehabilitation program, you can maximize your chances of recovery.
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.”
Just like we need to bathe daily to keep ourselves clean, we need motivation everyday to help us accomplish our goals and continue forward.
“In the most dismal place, at the longest point of night – just before sunrise – the morning star shines its glimmer of hope.”
When troubles come, hope may be lost along the way. Thankfully, we can find hope again and again at any time after brain injury.
“Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it.”
When we think about how long it will take to accomplish something, it can be discouraging and we may never do it, no matter how badly we want to. Don’t let this same thought process interfere with your TBI recovery.
For example, if one of your goals is to restore hand function, don’t focus on how long it will take to regain function but rather focus on practicing your motor skills everyday. Plus, if you do want to take charge of your recovery timeline, you can put your energy into clinically proven recovery tools like MusicGlove, which helps improve hand function within 2 weeks of use.
“I may not be there yet but I am closer than I was yesterday.”
It’s easy to become frustrated when you’re not where you want to be just yet, but it helps to remember that you are one day closer to reaching your goals. Try not to be too hard on yourself and give yourself some credit.
“Life is about accepting the challenges along the way, choosing to keep moving forward, and savoring the journey.”
We can’t control life and its many challenges that it brings us, but thankfully we can control our perspective and focus on the actions we can take to obtain a different outcome.
“The question is not how to get cured, but how to live.”
During TBI recovery, survivors may become so immersed in recovery that they forget to have fun too! While the brain is healing, it’s important to take breaks and enjoy some of your favorite activities such as listening to music or spending time outdoors.
“If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can’t survive.”
Survivors may often feel shame or guilt after sustaining a traumatic brain injury, which can make them feel discouraged during recovery. However, sharing your unique story with another survivor or a friend can help you release some of these feelings. It can also help to read severe brain injury recovery stories to obtain more motivation.
“Brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared . . . it means you go on even though you’re scared. And you’re doing that.”
It’s understandable to feel scared after sustaining a TBI and returning to your daily or ‘normal’ activities. But don’t let fear get in the way and do these things anyway. You’re braver than you may think!
“Troubles are part of life, overcoming them is the joy of triumph.”
Obstacles are a part of life but there is something about overcoming them that can make one feel great joy. Though it can be hard, try to see a TBI as another obstacle to face in life, and do not allow it to take away your joy.
“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.”
In the moments you feel at your lowest and hope seems to be lost, keep going.
“Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.”
Lastly, always remember that you are stronger than you believe! In spite of the challenges a traumatic brain injury may bring, you are doing your best, and that takes a lot of strength.
We hope these quotes about understanding brain injury have encouraged you to keep going and stay motivated during recovery. For additional motivation, check out our TBI recovery tips list to help boost the rehabilitation process.
