Jet Me Outta Here
guess what! i’m going on an adventure! a VACATION. (i’m actually probably already gone!)
i am in my 18TH MONTH of recovery. did i think i would be 100% better by now? ABSOLUTELY. am i 100% better? NOT AT ALL have i come a long way since my injury? YES.
is going on a 3.5 week adventure to the UK the best idea? let’s look at pros and cons.
CONS:
navigating through unfamiliar places
visiting crazy busy cities that never sleep
getting off routine
lots of sensory stimulation, that i might not be able to control
decision making and problem solving on the fly
time zone change and potential sleep disturbance (jet lag)
nutrition/exercise might suffer
PROS:
great for my mental heath (vacation mode)
taking a break from constantly focusing on recovery
experiencing the world, new culture
strengthening me and my loves relationship
exposing myself to sensory experiences (tolerance)
get to speak french (for part of the trip)
cross another item off my bucket list
to be honest i was so excited about going on this trip, that i completely DISMISSED MY INJURY and potential symptoms. i really thought i’d be BETTER BY NOW and that my TBI would be a distant memory. well. it is still very real and VERY PRESENT in my daily life.
i mean, i’m going on a trip that we have been dreaming about for years, it’s finally happening. so of course my brain is going to be fine, right?? probably not. good thing my psychologist brought back down to earth.
realistically i should have planned a RELAXING BEACH vacation. but like i said i wasn't considering my injury.
so what am i doing to help regulate my symptoms?
PACE
i tend to try and do everything and see everything. we really had to PRIORITIZE what we wanted to see and do
ALTERNATE busy days and lazy days
take our time
PLAN
i WROTE everything down. times, booking references, locations, addresses
will help with planning ANXIETY
MINIMIZE the amount of decision making on the fly. not my idea way of approaching a vacation, but you do what you have to.
ADJUST for jet lag
sleep is my saviour. SLEEP DISRUPTIONS could make or break my experience
adjust sleep schedule prior to trip to align my CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS to the UK timezone
bring MELATONIN to help get into a new sleep routine
ALLIVIATE SYMPTOMS
bring ADVIL (headaches)
bring EYE MASK, EAR PLUGS, and headphones
travel PILLOW for sleeping on planes, trains and automobiles
COMMUNICATE
real talk with my partner
adjust his expectations
plan for the worst, hope for the best
<3













