I was injured frequently as a result of multiple and hard impacts to my head during a boxing career, when I was of school age and into my early 20’s. I did not have the knowledge as to the severity of the injuries at the time or the importance of proper recovery and coping methods during and after a concussion or receiving multiple blows in a shorter length of time.
I fought on a simple boxing card in the mid-1980s, years into my athletic career. I was still recovering from blows to the head as a result of hard sparring sessions leading up to the match. I took too many punches to the head during that match, and was ultimately knocked unconscious. I did go to the hospital afterwards, but to get stitched up as a result of a cut to the chin. My brain health status was not evaluated. I was, however, suspended from competition for a month. I continued to participate in hard sparring to make up for the lack of competitive bouts. I took multiple and severe hard punches during the nearly daily sparring sessions, shortly after the bout, and during my suspended period. At that time, “taking it easy” during a sparring session was not an option. I would dare say, that idea remains unchanged today. My boxing career, along with the rigorous training regime it demanded, continued years after that one particularly horrific head injury, and others similar to that.
When I finally came to the realization that I may be limited in some capacities–after my denying any weakened ability to do anything and fight through any barrier–I became very open-minded toward strategies recommended by my medical supports. The competitive years bring significant happiness, joy and pleasure, while the experience and commitment to the sport as a whole is greatly valued. However, the price eventually gets paid from injuries and when age creeps in. I became willing to try remedies which could potentially work, based on my own best interests. I would emphasize the importance of allowing for significant time to heal a brain, as healing time and the length of time taken is significantly more than that of a broken leg, for example. Moreover, given that the brain is the most important organ in the body that controls everything, taking as much time as necessary is of utmost importance.
These days I experience memory gaps, especially when speaking in conversation. I will forget words, and my entire train of thought can be lost suddenly. I find that I overcompensate now by speaking quickly in order to get to the point, so I do not forget it. I also have impulse issues that are damaging to my own safety and assurances. I have impulse control issues despite not drinking alcohol or taking narcotics, nor gambling, as those activities are counterproductive to the efforts of my medical supports, and the methods they bring in order for me to function without concerns.
I was able to find different healthy activities that I was motivated to pursue. When I was an athlete, I demanded excellence in conditioning and stamina. Coming to the realization that my competitive days were over, but still enjoying working out, the need to step back from intense sessions became clear with challenges like fatigue and vertigo to contend with. Instead, I found that the efforts I make when writing (journaling, blogging, drafting a book) resulted in the same productive feelings I experienced after a physical workout. So I joined an online writing group that is international and conducted through Zoom. I participate in a full hour of focused writing from 8:00am – 9:00am Monday through Friday, with a group of dedicated writers who support my efforts, along with me supporting theirs. After each session of writing every day, I am amped up and ready to take on that day’s challenges. I also participate in online support groups with others who have brain health issues. I enjoy the hour of support we all offer each other, and the convenience of the sessions being offered via Zoom, along with the efforts of the facilitators when bringing us together, offering patience and kindness, along with prompting us with discussion topics.
