Amy Zellmer, Editor-in-chief
After spending a week in Washington DC for Brain Injury Awareness Month, I took some time for myself in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Throughout the entire trip, I kept a close eye on the pandemic that was unfolding in the US.
I decided to extend my stay in Myrtle Beach to give me a full 14 days between being in DC and arriving home, where I live with my 82 year old parents, one of whom is going through chemo for multiple myeloma. I felt my greatest risk of exposure had been in DC where I was around large crowds of people, and the recommended self-isolation period was 14 days.
Upon returning home I created an online TBI Tribe meetup via Zoom and over 80 members joined me on that first call. The topic most discussed was how TBI survivors were already prepared for self-isolation, as we have been doing it, sometimes for years, since our injuries.
However, we also agreed that choosing to stay home is a whole lot different than not having a choice to leave whenever we want. In the early days of my recovery, I took solace in walking around Target for an hour or two . . . just to get out of the house and get in some steps (my accident was during the winter months in Minnesota: walking outdoors wasn’t an option).
The moral of the story: it’s ok to feel all the feels during this time of chaos. Our lives have been disrupted in ways we have never experienced before. Your feelings and emotions are yours to experience in whatever way you need to. It is important to take care of your own mental and physical health during these stressful times, and it is always OK to reach out for help and support when you need it.
