List of the most popular hashtags for theme #CONCUSSIONS

Type "me" if this resonates with you There is a stigma with disability, especially for injuries that the general population can't readily see or understand. I was prepared for this to a certain degree, but I underestimated how emotionally attached people are to narratives surrounding disability. I have yet to meet someone who has an accurate understanding of the disability process or statistics unless they (or someone close) have been through it themselves. To be clear, it doesn't mean we can't have different opinions on how to support (or not) those going through recovery. . ...BUT it does mean that one snapshot, of one moment, on one day is NOT representative of that person's reality. Nothing takes good people out of their integrity faster than false assumptions made with minimal information about something they have never experienced. Let's be real... we all do this to a degree. Our minds make up stories around situations while our brains confirm our biases (often subconsciously~ why awareness and critical thinking are important). . So.... here's the deal, going out to lunch and looking like you got dressed that day does not mean you are "okay." . The most popular post on this page is the one where the person builds up energy for days trying to go to lunch, feels like complete shit during it, and then has to rest and recover for hours-days. Why?  Because it's accurate AF . It was recently suggested in the US to troll social media pages of those on disability in order to use any "happy" pictures as evidence against them to reduce or remove the already poverty level benefits. This shows a profound lack of the most basic understanding around disability . So, for anyone wanting to have a more accurate understanding, start here~ 1. TALK to those going through it. Try podcasts or social media if you dont personally know anyone. 2. Ask yourself where your narratives about disability come from? Are they true? If they weren't true, how would you know? Ultimately, we are each accountable for how we treat people. To those who only see the negative 1% that suits your narrative, perhaps it's time to look in the mirror.

@pirates catcher @fran_cervelli says he is done catching after his sixth diagnosed concussion. He told @yahoosports he hopes to move to a position where he is at less risk for another concussion.

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury induced by biomechanical forces. This video beautifully demonstrates how the brain moves within the skull upon impact. It's this acceleration/deceleration of the brain within the skull that creates stretching/shearing of the brains' gray and white matter, resulting in a concussion. This is why helmets do not prevent concussions, because they do not prevent the acceleration/deacceleration of the brain upon impact. . ...BUT, helmets DO prevent skull fractures. So it is important to wear a them and be sure they are a good fit. Remember, concussions are treatable. If you suspect a concussion see your local healthcare provider with current and advanced concussion training. . . ️Original video from UCLA's Dr. Christopher Giza Follow@mollyparkerpt ❤Like it? Share away

It's time to talk about exactly HOW to identify triggers within your nervous system in order to recover from persistent pain and symptoms. . Let's start with a few important concepts to understand: Acute pain is our protector. Meaning, it keeps us safe. Persistent pain is processed differently by the brain than acute pain. In persistent pain our nervous system has become oversensitized. Meaning that hurt no longer necessarily equals harm or tissue damage but an over sensitized nervous system . Ok, I get it, but HOW do we desensitize the nervous system? . Introducing SIMS and DIMS. According to the NOI Group: ️a DIM (danger in me) is anything that is dangerous to your body tissues, life, livelihood, job, happiness, and day to day function. ️a SIM (safety in me) is anything that makes you stronger, healthier, happier and more confident. . You will notice that SIMS and DIMS aren't just the activities you do but your thoughts, people you spend time with, places you go, etc... this is because each person's experience of pain is multifactorial and unique. . Using the protectometer app created by the @noigroup or a journal we can begin to identify each person's "personal pain formula" in order to reduce pain and symptoms. . Here is your mini crash course: •List the SIMS and DIMS in your life for each category using the protectometer app or a journal •Modify or remove DIMS using the protectometer app or with the help of a trained healthcare provider and strengthen SIMS •You want more SIMS than DIMS in a day for a happy nervous system. . Take home point:  Persistant pain does not equal tissue damage. Learning how our body and nervous system processes pain/danger can help restore our bodies alarm system and reduce symptoms. Yay! . ‍Resources: HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS: Check out the book "Pain Supercharged" or attend any @noigroup or @greglehman course. . PATIENTS/LOVED ONES: Check out the "Explain Pain" book or protectometer app from the @noigroup to learn more . . Follow @mollyparkerpt Like this? Repost it

Laughter is medicine . Tag a friend or tell me your favorite! . Sometimes the best way to get through difficult circumstances is to laugh. . I could not stop with the memes. Thank you to everyone who submitted your caption. I laughed out loud at each one! . . Credit: Panda @explorerfever Hula hoop: @people Meme #1 @dreammkeeper Meme #2 @supersupermoe . . . Follow @mollyparkerpt for all things concussion . . . #mollyparkerpt #concussions #postconcussionsyndrome

Social support is a factor in optimal recovery outcomes. BUT in concussion recovery, it can be difficult to recognize support is needed or know how to provide it. The goal is to put energy towards healing vs regularly explaining any limitations. The first half of my recovery, I was surrounded by deflators and had little support. Now I spend the majority of my time with keepers, protect my energy around the well-intended and hold my boundaries like a motherfucker around deflators. Here is a guide to help you consciously assess your support system... . THE KEEPERS These people are worth their weight in gold! . This looks like: •A friend who sets up time together in a way you can participate. It's more important for them to spend time with YOU rather than doing something "more fun" at your expense. •A spouse/parent who drives you to an appointment and makes you feel like they want to be there. THE WELL-INTENTIONED These are the people who mean well but make clueless comments. When they're in your inner circle, communication is key. Acquaintances may not need "the talk," but it will be important for you to share (or not) in a way that protects your energy. . This looks like: •When I was bed bound a family member suggested that since I was "bored" maybe I should go visit my aunt in New York (most stimulating city ever). I could barely dress myself. •"You're so lucky you could have been really hurt"... (after stating otherwise) THE DEFLATERS No one made me feel more hopeless or defeated than this group. . This look like: •Reguarly dismissive comments... "You're fine (eye roll), just go back to work." •Flip-floppers... someone who helps/supports one day and dismisses the next. Rinse and repeat •Uses any help they've given you as a justification to treat you poorly or dismiss symptoms when they become inconvenient These relationships are toxic. Decide if you want to help them learn (if able), let go of or reassign the relationship... must have clear boundaries and expectations here. . . ️️Take home point: A healthy social circle should feel supportive. Be aware of the amount of emotional resilience and bandwidth you have when giving your time and energy

After yesterday's post, this felt appropriate . The inability to articulate how concussion symptoms feel can be frustrating, isolating and lead to a sense of disconnection. . Ironically, there is a word for that. Alexithymia refers to the difficulty finding the words to explain how one feels. To this day I struggle to articulate many of my symptoms and the experience itself. . This is in part, due to the abstract nature of brain injury itself. In trauma, there may be a basis for this within the brain in which we will see areas that produce speech decrease in function in the brain of a traumatized person. Healthcare providers/Loved ones: You don't have to understand everything the person is going through, but you do have to BELIEVE THEM. Be mindful of comparing your healthy person symptoms to that of a brain injury patient. They are not the same. Rather, validate their experience. Patients: You are not alone in your frustration and difficulty communicating your experience to those around you. Having family and friends read about others' concussions, attend appointments with you, and practice active listening during conversation can improve this barrier. Seek out professional help when needed. . . . ️️Take Home Point: Concussion symptoms can be hard to explain, furthering the sense of disconnection and deepening the impact of the experience. . Follow @mollyparkerpt for all things concussion

Mom recently saw “Concussion” on Netflix. ‘It is set in 2002, the film stars Will Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu, a forensic pathologist who fights against the National Football League trying to suppress his research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) brain degeneration suffered by proffessional football players.’ - wikipedia Will Smith was actually surprised that this movie was a flop when it showed. “ I thought Concussion would have a bigger impact. I knew it would be hard because people love the game, but the science is so overwhelming, and it’s something that we really need to take a look at. I thought people would get behind the mission of that. I was surprised that people were absolutely like, ‘Nope, I’m not stopping watching football , so I don’t want to know.’” Mom was also very surprised that it did not get much publicity when the topic is so controversial and informative. Very interesting from beginning to the end! #poodlesofinstagram #poodlemania❤️ #standardpoodlemanila #moyenpoodlemanila #poodlemanila #moyenmanila #concussion #concussionsinfootball #concussions #drbennetomalu #dromalu #nfl #chronictraumaticencephalopathy #cte #catchthewoof

All the feels . I posted this quote from @jayshetty in my stories a little while back and man did it resonate with so many of you! . I received sooo many DMs on this one that I felt it needed to be posted on the main page. . Does this resonate with you? Type "YES" in the comments below . It took me longer than I care to admit to understand this. I LOVED my life pre-accident and held on with a death grip to keep it. . For the first several years I kept trying to get back to "the way I was." . Finally, I reluctantly began to understand and embody this quote. . Now when people ask if they're going to get back to the way they used to be, my answer is... . ~Can you fully recover? ABSOLUTELY! ~Will you be who you were before? NO . And nor should you be. That is not a bad thing, in fact I think this could be one of the greatest gifts if we only let it. Life moves forward, we move forward, we are always growing and changing, especially after experiencing an injury that so deeply impacts our health and wellbeing. . So, are you ready to reinvent yourself? Who do you want to be? . . What do you think? Join the conversation . . . Follow@mollyparkerpt for all things concussion