Living with Brain Injuries Taught Us Advocacy | Brandon Kidney Lauren Migliaccio | TEDxCSU
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- Опубліковано 21 бер 2017
- Lauren and Brandon each live with an invisible disability. They share their stories about the concussions they sustained and how they learned the power of advocacy.
Brandon Kidney and Lauren Migliaccio, founders of the student organization, CSU Brain Injury Community (CBIC).
Brandon is a senior at CSU studying Applied Computing Technology with a minor in Business Administration. He has sustained multiple brain injuries including second impact syndrome. Brandon currently mentors students who have suffered brain injuries through the Opportunities for Post-secondary Success program in the Department of Occupational Therapy at CSU.
On the other hand, Lauren recently graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Biomedical Sciences. After sustaining several brain injuries during college, she started working with the Opportunities for Post-Secondary Success Program (OPS) in the Center for Community Partnerships (CCP) on campus.
Lauren and Brandon are passionate about bringing together students and community members with brain injuries to help provide resources and support. They hope that their TEDxCSU 2017 talk will help shed light on the
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx
I’ve been living with tbi for 3 years. It’s hard. And I have no support. Yet I have God. And UA-cam. I pray for us all.
God bless you ❤
Same. No support- and the friends I still have, I know don’t understand. Or believe until symptoms are out of my control and it’s for all to see. Then easily forget because I try to hide it. Basically amounting to me just coming off as half the person I used to be is who I am now.
I’m in my 3rd year. I hope to find a support group.
These UA-cam videos are sometimes hopeful other times ptsd like- giving words to what has happened over time since the accident.
Thanks for sharing your story. “When you look normal it’s hard for others to accept that you need help” and accommodations to live.
This aspect can depress me deeply. I don't want to explain this over and over to my either deaf or uncaring family.
I understand why suicide rates goes up post TBI. This.
Is.
Hard.
I have not been telling the truth to myself, for decades. I was told by people who knew me that, after my motorcycle accident, "you're different." I asked how, each of them said, "I don't know...you're just different." My personality had changed: bad, worse or better, no one could say. I was just different. But depression now appeared to become the norm. I lost myself, and I would never find my self again. I am somehow both 67 years old and, 19 years old. Mentally, I have never grown up.
I'm 67, also, and was injured at 7. I did manage to grow up, sort of, but have never been a part of normal life. TBI steals your identity.
Me too. I’m 40 and 22.
Sorry for your experience.
PLEASE do some hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Even years or decades later it can make a huge difference.
@@EllaBella-76 ❤
I have a brain injury too. Thank you for sharing how it has affected your life. I felt very much alone until I saw your video. I was hit by a car when I was 5 years old and my head was cracked open on the highway. I am lucky to be alive.
me also i was 6 months fell down
I was 3 years old and split my head open falling off a chair. I've had severe balance,vision processing issues, emotion and attention issues all my life and all got was being bullied and yelled at by teachers and peers. I hate being alive. I'm 22 and still debate whether life is worth living everyday.
The first person to harrass me was my grade one teacher. She was fired half way through the school year. This was in 1971 so teachers may not have had any training to teach someone with a brain injury. With lots of hard work I managed to go to college and graduate. There was very little understanding from the education system as to how to assist me. I was on my own. I am currently 55 years old.
I sucked at sports. I have been harrassed by employers and fellow employees. Luckily I belong to a union at work. I am very good at complaining to my union representative. My short term memory sucks. My long term memory is awesome! I have 2 sons that are in there 20's. I am divorced and live on my own in my own house that I have almost paid off. Life is worth living but it can be a challenge.
Thank you for bringing light to invisible disabilities and being a voice for others so that they too might have the courage to advocate for themselves.
This is very validating. I so strongly relate to what Lauren experiences.
* "for us it wasn't a natural progression. One day, we were forced the change; and ever since then, we've just been trying to catch up and figure out who we are now." (5:30)
* "you don't have to have a brain injury to do that [...] it's the change. We don't think we're special, or different, or that nobody else goes through these things; it's the difference from then to now; that we didn't have these problems before but now we do." (5:30-6:00)
* "It's amazing how crazy and isolated you feel having a disability that no one can see and that no one else you know has it. You start to wonder if you're making this up; if 'is this really happening in real life?'"
Thank you for shedding light on how different and difficult life is after a brain injury; and how people, even those who care, very often just don't understand how life is like now.
I've recently begun to embrace self-advocacy and it truly is embarrassing and awkward, but yes, it is often rewarding. Acceptance is so hard, and I still struggle with it every day. But, I will find a way. Thank you for the hope.
I really appreciate hearing this injury explained. I have a severe traumatic brain injury which I got in December of last year. I got in a car accident where everyone else’s airbags went off but mine. I was in the hospital for two months and in a coma for two weeks. Yeah it’s hard living with a disability no one can see. It’s very isolating and difficult. I get really lonely even when I’m with my whole family sometimes. I will now try to meet someone with my brain injury
My husband was recently diagnosed TBI from a car crash 50 years ago. We have been struggling to cope with his inconsistent and confusing behaviors. Your talk has helped me understand so much of what he is going through. Thank you
How is everything these days? God bless
@@elpimpi7135 with the right medication, one of which is an anti anxiety/antidepressant, different type for each of us things have improved tremendously and researching the helpful information so many wonderful specialists have shared online blesses us to educate ourselves and understand these issues so that we can work on them successfully without the previous emotional confusion and destructive behaviors.
@lifetools-help8017 Thanks god. My wife recently survived a tbi and its very painful to see someone you love go through this. Our lives did a 360 on us..
Thank you for sharing your story. Have had many concussions dealing with post concussion syndrome from car accident in 2015 it's a hard rough road . Going thru a divorce because of part of it wife told me I'm crazy, demon possessed, just don't want to work anymore. But everyone is allowed to have their opinion but we who have a concussion know if what we're doing is laziness, craziness or real.
My brain injury has kept me from doing the things that I love.I used to go to chorus at a college for 37 yrs and then some.I have vertigo and photosensitivity thank God for virtual choirs. Its so hard dealing with it!!!!!
Thank you two for having the great courage speaking out on Ted talk for us that do not have a voice ! I have had one for 3 years now after being shot in the head. I didn’t see a neurologist or a psychology doctor or help. No one told me or my husband to be aware of certain symptoms and what to except. They haven’t asked me how many concussions that I had in the past. It’s sad but my husband and two boys are the only family members that actually understand and see what I go through each day. I have become so dependent that I have not been alone for no more than an hour in 3 years. I can’t drive, finish college, work. We are still looking for help and answers still today. Of course we pray everyday for answers. It is especially very stressful and difficult for my husband. He has taken on a lot of my roles and duties. It just shocks me the many doctors that I encounter that have no clue about TBI and what to except from a person with it! I hope to one day be able to get the word out and help advocate for others, so they do not have to struggle like me.
Fantastic!!! Great for high schoolers to address their own advocacy.
3 years later still dealing with my symptoms thanks for sharing the importance of brain injury’s
This was a great presentation and I am going to ask my family to listen to it. “An invisible disability”, how true! Thank you for sharing your experience, I can so relate to it. Loved your joke at the end but will have to replay it because I can’t remember it right now.
Had aneurysm 2/29/16 life changing but the magic of life I’ve been shown since reminds me how blessed I am... ...... ......... JUST KNOW YOU ALL CONTAIN DIVINE POWER WITHIN YOU
wonderful presentation, so open and honest about their experience and their relationship to people around them, I can relate to every word of it. I had brain surgery 2 and half years ago , am still dealing with ongoing neurological issues, facial paralysis, balance and hearing loss on the left side. What I find most difficult is the lack of understanding and sensitivity from those around me. I'm trying to adjust but everyone else can't !!
Exactly! It is others who struggle with adjusting.
Yes that’s how everyone is with me , some think it’s funny . It’s not funny at all .
I had a skateboard accident two years ago and was depressed at the time because of my vegan diet. Now im eating normally again and can feel my brain heal i could feel my feet again and that was the best day of my life by far.
I am 43 years old. And in 2013, I discovered I am suffering from multiple TBIs. Since the age of 4-5, until around 2010. I estimated I suffored from 20 concussions (which doesnr include the repetition of playing football). I got them all from football to just being clumsy and not paying attention. My friends no longer want to believe me and just think its just a part of my personality. I have always behaved that way is what they wish to believe. This year is my first step in seeing Drs to get a better understanding and support I need. With my wife and family, I pray it doesnt get worse.
much love to you, Anthony and healing on your new journey to healing.I had brain surgery 2 and half years ago and it does get better not worse, just stay engaged in the healing process.
Best wishes, Anthony, being disbelieved is nearly universal with us. We must persevere.
Hey Anthony,
I have a TBI. I was in a car accident and my head did not hit or make contact but the force of the impact was enough to concuss my Brain. Somewhere around the 5th month, I did some research and discovered that I was self-medicating by going to the movie theater by myself sitting in the dark and drinking Coca-Cola. The brain does not metabolize glucose the same after brain injuries. It is starving for energy. I realized after more research that the ketogenic diet is ideal for the brain. I tried it out, within the first week I noticed improvements in my condition, was sharper. yes I still have memory issues and cognitive issues and some days are better and some days are not much fun at all.... I become stress very easily from too much stimulus or trying to keep up with conversations. But the ketogenic diet along with a 16-hour intermittent fasting is super helpful. Food tastes good, enjoyable and allowed me better quality of life. I'm also very sensitive to blue Light so I wear lenses from "shemira"...so working on the computer or walking into a store like Target or the grocery store doesn't blow me out with all the fluorescent lights, or blue lights. I also did hyperbaric oxygen chamber that helped too. Did not cure me but definitely made and improvement. God bless you.
@@thebetterwave1625 Thanks for sharing, I had two car crashes when I was 28yrs and developed PTSD , always felt that something in my brain wasn't right, now from reading your story I'm beginning to think that I had repeat concussion from the car crashes
@@katinss9983 neurologist are not that helpful they usually send you to a psychiatrist so they can prescribe drugs for depression. I am very different than I was prior to this brain injury I used to have a lot of positive spirit and energy. I I don't want psychiatric drugs. I don't trust that. exercise is helpful getting your oxygen levels up higher keto like I said before is very helpful and then there's a lot of just trying to get through the day and stay focused and being mindful of what's happening in your activities and mood throughout the day. I do often feel that I'm wasteful with my life since this accident. I would also take a look at Dale bredesen work he's a neurologist out of UCLA has gone around the country explaining that dementia TBI and Alzheimer's are a whole body issue. in my case my thyroid was affected so I took natural thyroid support and pituitary support because the pituitary and thyroid apparently we're not communicating that great. I know that sounds odd but there's a real dysregulation with the endocrine system and even the digestive system sleep disorder and host of things. there's a checklist of things to look at everything from the endocrine system vitamin D levels thyroid even testosterone levels... Women obviously progesterone and estrogen. these can be supplemented with non-pharmaceutical means through a bioidentical hormones which are far safer and recognized by the body as similar molecules rather than synthetic because they're plant-based. you might seek out a functional medicine doctor there's a website that will list functional medicine doctors in your area and then read their files to see if they have cognitive decline training.
Been on a journey since 2018 and it's been extremely difficult but I am trying to stay positive.
Oh my, I heard everything you shared from the obstacles you faced to those on the road ahead! I had a TBI appx 40 years ago, then seizures! I scraped the sidewalk with my face as I went head first over my 10 speed bike. My short term memory challenges me everyday and I find myself wanting to explain, struggling to know how to even explain! But because you had the courage to do a Ted Talk, I realized I simply need to Fight Back! I feel as if I somehow crossed over an invisible line that was holding me back! Thank you and God bless! 💞🙏💞
I have a brain injury . I remember most things but not everything. I get very very dizzy . I'm not sure if it's due to My nerves. Or I need to be seen or referred to a Nerologist I know I'm not the only one who is going through this. Though I dont know anyone who has similar symptoms. Literally anyone . I have fatigue. And literally feel tired 24/7 especially when I dont get enough sleep. I do feel alone in this cause I dont know anyone who has the same symptoms as me. My balance is off most times when I am walking or doing things.
Hi! I also had a brain injury a few years ago. I’m no doctor but I recommend physical therapy and a neurologist. Physical therapy early helped me become not as dizzy and helped my eyes function better. My neurologist sent me to physical therapy and to different specialists (eye specialists) All of this has helped a lot! I hope you feel better :)
Did you hit the front of your head . The frontal lobe ? I hit that part and have had balance issues my whole life and dizziness .
I have a serious head injury while doing parkour precision jump when i jump i hit the sharp rod above me land on ground with blood coming out from my head, after that i trying to get back on track but headache become big problem for me now ,but i don't give up
Thanks for sharing. Indivisible disability is overlooked much in today’s world. I have a brain stem deformation from a Traumatic brain injury at age 5. I’m now 46 and I’m glad someone is sharing truth
I told my supervisor when I got the job that I had a brain injury from a near fatal car wreck 4 years prior. She didn’t bring in the HR people, but did take Moe time with me, didn’t pressure me and didn’t make a big deal about mistakes, even “bad” ones. Then I got a new supervisor. The first time I explained the brain injury she immediately wanted me to get accommodations - I explained that I was already doing everything that I could do and that going thru the machinations of getting accommodations wouldn’t make a difference. Two more time so this conversation, especially after making a couple of “bad” mistakes, and I had to go thru the process. I’ve been poked and prodded by more and more doctors just to check the company’s boxes. The result has been the same. But now I’m so stressed out, my supervisor is making little dogs here and there that no one else sees or hears, and I just don’t ant to work there anymore. It’s bad enough that I can’t do what I used to do because of the brain injury, but the anxiety from the wreck coupled with not knowing when the next show is going to drop at work, has made my life miserable for those 8 hours every day.
This is awesome! Thank you so much for spreading awareness!
I usually say "Remind me of your name again?" Haha
Proud of you both keep going doing amazing things xx
Thank you for sharing, Touched on some important and overlooked aspects. After my TBI I bought an elf on the shelf and kept moving it on myself. Just a way to have a laugh about my memory problems haha. If you're not laughing, you're crying.
Oh my goodness thank you so much for this empowering inspirational gift of awareness and such a source of positive energy and understanding and affirmation that I've been struggling to express to so many people and systems that have definitely made me feel like nothing! This is amazing and uplifting thank you
I needed this so much right now . Thank you for sharing this I felt so alone in this but I related to all of Brandon said and
You helped save my life. I have a story to tell and a TBI injury since March 29, 2022. I now will be an advocate for invisible disabilities. Thank you for giving me peace understanding and a new reason to fight for people like me.
I love using humor and i love sarcasm. I made a promise to myself to not lose my humor and not become bitter. There are absolutely so many milestones in tbi recovery. Each one is met with ignorance by most doctors. Having all these huge victories and doctors shrug at them is really absolutely crazy. You have to fight for yourself.
I am also a brains injured person. Thanks for educating others and me.
What symptoms do you experience?
That was good! Thanks for sharing. You're gonna have to tell us how we can help you as this goes on for you.
Thank you. Dealing with PCS now (2 years) and this is something I will be sharing with people that need to know how I'm feeling
This is so inspiring, gives hope for survirors
The joke was great and needed at least for me. I have TBI also and your Ted talk was well needed because I needed to connect. Thank you
Thank You
Thanks for sharing I have hypoxia brain injury I died 26minutes spent weeks months in coma rehab hospital learning talk walk again been a recovery massive discovery never ever give up on yourself many will never yourselves keep going doing amazing things amazing sending luck hugs love from headway Nottingham UK takecare xxx
Wow…I’m not alone. Thank you so much
I have finally grown to accept my brain injury, because of getting encephalitis as a child I have a lot of issues that exist to this day, these videos give me so much comfort
Great video
We are survivors stay strong stay positive well done xx
I'm 7 yrs out from a TBI and this is hopeful knowing I'm not alone with these struggles
Awesome!
I can relate! I have had many concussions! Why do some of us have many? Probably because we seem normal but aren’t!
Uh because having one makes you more susceptible to having another
Guys. I think I speak for all of us when I say, please be more careful with your brains 😂❤
I've had brain damage since 1989, and I didn't have a whole lot of medical therapy. I had a lot of tutoring growing up and had to read with an index card under each line of a book so I wouldn't get the lines mixed up because of double vision. After some time, they decided I was an exceptional child, and I fell through the educational cracks and didn't even request accomodations until nearly my senior year of college. I don't even know what kinds of accomodations I need because in certain ways I perform well. There are other ways I don't perform well. I don't do well having to read a lot of lengthy books in a short period of time, and I'm in graduate school working on an MA in history at 37 years old, not even sure what all ways I need help. I'm having to have extra time for some assignments. I made mostly B's my junior and senior years and had to write numerous lengthy essays. Now I'm moving on.
I'm so sorry for your injuries. I'm not sure how bad my concussion is right now. Somedays it seems terrible and sometimes it seems better. Is there any way you can please help me?
What symptoms do you experience?
@@InvinciblePepe My concussion has completely healed. Thanks
Each day is a roll of the dice- how many spoons will you have - and if you push it what kind of repercussions will come to be
TBI'ers try so hard to do their best. It's unfortunate that people don't understand.
I have cte .im living with it
I don’t understand why things are the way they are .
Thank you🤯I have 4 severe untreated brain injuries since I was 6 yrs old🥳I am now successfully restoring my own brain health & wellness! PEMF/Rife therapy💛And plant medicines are working miracles in my body.
I have been bullied online by people who are supposedly friends because my traumatic brain injury was showing and they thought that it was I don't know me seeking attention or something I was taking attention but I was seeking attention for assistance not so people could say oh boohoo poor you I wanted instruction and help I got bullied put down basically made to feel like my life doesn't belong here. since I don't know how to do the things everyone else does
CBIC
There is only help for those with money.
They aren't doing it. No relating..., not funny even with my anoxic injury. I can do this so much better. I just don't see your point.
So if we don't look normal... it sounds like you two wouldn't try to understand
Hints
A person standing on the corner that's not at a Ted talk.