Brain Injuries and Self-Awareness

A brain injury can make it very difficult for sufferers to understand their impairments and limitations. Often a lack of self-awareness is a form of denial but it can be much more than that too.

Self-awareness is the ability to understand the difference between the deficits they now have and their pre-injury self. A lack of self-awareness makes it difficult to understand what their current deficits mean to their future and to the goals they may have once had.

It is the ability to monitor and correct behavior; self-awareness is not only the ability to recognize and understand their cognitive deficits but their physical and social behaviors as well. Those with this deficit cannot perceive themselves in an objective manner, often not realizing that they, in fact, have any limitations or impairments.

This lack of self-awareness will cause them to be unmotivated and they will see no need for their therapy and rehabilitation. They may lack judgment or make unrealistic goals which will make rehabilitation difficult. A lack of self-awareness may appear to be a denial of their deficits.

Those with more self-awareness will be willing participants in their rehabilitation and therefore, will be more successful in coping with their deficits and becoming integrated into the community. However, with self-awareness there is the possibility of depression when realization of their disabilities is fully recognized.

Many with brain injuries are more aware of their physical disabilities than they are of their social and emotional ones. Memory deficits can also affect the ability to be self-aware because they may not remember their behaviors and think of themselves as they were pre-injury not realizing there's a difference.

To help someone who may be suffering from lack of self-awareness, allow them to do what may be beyond their capabilities, when it is safe to do so, giving them the opportunity to learn through trial and error situations. Give them realistic and supportive feedback in a non-judgmental way, help them to set realistic goals and develop plans towards accomplishing these goals, and have them keep track of their progress.

When lack of self-awareness is a problem, making mistakes and looking for others to blame is common. Failing in their job performances may be another example of their lack of awareness. Therapists will try to get those lacking self-awareness to see the difference between their perceived levels of functioning and their actual levels of performance.

The deficit of impaired self-awareness is the most difficult to overcome and can take a long time before improved self-awareness will be noticeable in brain injury survivors.

Memory Strengthening Techniques

Our brain's memory improves with mental and physical stimulation. With this stimulation we are protected against cognitive decline.

The ability of our brain to adapt and rewire itself, growing new neurons, will continue even into old age by constant mental and physical stimulation. The old adage, 'use it or lose it' applies as much in the case of our brains as with anything else.

It is important to retain a lifelong curiosity and to accept challenges such as learning an instrument, a new language or any other new skills. To force our brains to think differently and therefore create new neurons, do activities such as switching hands to do things like dialing the phone, using your computer mouse, eating, brushing your hair or teeth, applying face cream, setting the table or even while doing physical exercises.

Working with modeling clay encourages our brains to grow new connections by promoting agility and hand-brain coordination. Learning to play Scrabble, chess or a complex card game such as bridge, where strategy is involved, will help too. Travel also helps to expand the brain because we are seeing and learning new things. Everything new we expose ourselves to and learn not only protects us against cognitive decline but helps to strengthen our memories as well.

Using both our physical and emotional senses at the same time in unexpected ways is another technique that will help to strength and grow new brain cells. An example of this could be doing familiar things such as getting dressed and eating, with your eyes closed. Or perhaps listen to classical music and write poetry.

Other things that will help stimulate the brain and assist with memory are to watch less television and read more, on a daily basis. Physical exercise also stimulates the brain. Walking is extremely good for the brain because it increases blood circulation and the flow of oxygen causing cerebral blood vessels to grow. This improves memory skills, learning abilities and concentration. Studies indicate that walkers are less likely to experience age-related memory loss. Running is also an extremely good brain boosting activity but may not be particularly suited to most seniors.

Other techniques to boost memory is to memorize a series of numbers and then repeat them backwards, increasing the speed of repetition each time. Or make lists of things and memorize, i.e.: shopping lists and things to do lists. It is important when memorizing, or in everyday situations, to involve all of your senses. The more senses involved, the more likely and easier it is to remember. Studies indicate that the brain will become stagnant if it doesn't continue to learn new things. There is no threshold for what the brain can learn as it can keep rewiring itself with each additional piece of information it learns.

Additionally, studies show that those who are socially active have slower rates of decline in memory and cognitive performance. Connections with others opens up avenues for learning.

To keep our brains agile, the techniques of continuous lifelong learning along with mental stimulation and physical activity will help prevent cognitive decline as well as memory loss.