Yoga Brain’s Concussion Story
I am a 27 year old from Niagara Falls. I attended Ryerson University.
| Sport | Years Played | Highest Level of Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball | 8 years | Travel Team |
| Soccer | 9 years | Travel Team |
| Cross Country | 10+ years | High School |
I have had 5 diagnosed concussions and one undiagnosed concussions with my longest recovery being 12 months or more.
The Story
I sustained my first concussion, 10 years ago, during a basketball game. After the ball was tipped, I was cross checked from behind and other players landed on me. The whiplash motion caused tearing in the brain tissue. My more recent concussions were sustained in my workplace in various ways such as hitting my head on a desk, lockers being opened into my head, etc. My brain injury is permanent so recovery is always ongoing and I’ve had to recreate my life more than once to accommodate new symptoms. Being diagnosed, getting treatment and accommodations in school/work have always been a struggle. One of the most helpful things I’ve done in my recovery is taking up yoga. I found the rehabilitation I went through to be helpful for managing cognitive and physical symptoms but not the emotional ones. There were always questions about depression and anxiety but those big words didn’t fit what I was experiencing. Yoga has helped with all of my brain injury symptoms including balance, mood, anxiety, concentration, fatigue, etc. I started the @_yogabrain account to talk about how yoga has helped me and hopefully to help others.
What has been the most frustrating aspect of your recovery?
Feeling helpless – not being in control
What I Would Have Done Differently
I’ve learned that my health needs to come first. I pushed myself to do so much including getting back to sports, working, school, etc. I learned that self care is so important and needed, especially after a concussion.
Advice I Would Give To Others
You are so much more than an athlete and your value as a human being is not solely based on your ability to contribute to an athletic team. Make your recovery goal to be well, not to return to sports and how things were the way before.
Back to other Student-Athlete Concussion Stories.