ABSTRACT: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) survivors often have a higher risk of suicides, especially Veterans, as they are told that they mainly recover within 2 years and need to settle for less. That is not true. Many survivors can regain their key cognitive function through a new technology and pursue their dreams again. Billions of healthcare costs can be saved. The author will share with you her recovery story and her patients’.
I am astonished that Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) affects 450,000 veterans, per CDC, and 22 commit suicide each day. In fact, many of them can regain their key cognitive function and go back to work through 6Q cognitive rehab.
How could this happen? Many TBI survivors have been told that they can achieve maximum recovery in 2 years (called 2-year plateau), should accept the next level of placement, and TBI is a chronic illness. The conclusion IS NOT TRUE as their uninjured brain cells have the same DNA and NO 2-year plateau, and many “post-injury illnesses” will go away or be easily corrected if survivors know that they can regain their key function. However, not many people know the latest technology. Nothing can ensure individuals’ rights, freedom, opportunities, and justice better than their brainpower. Those refuse to settle for less often commit suicide, such as veterans. I know the pain as I was almost there.
I suffered Traumatic Brain Injury due to an auto-accident in 1997, and most experts predicted that I had a remote chance to recover. However, it was too painful for me to settle for less. Before jumping into the ocean, I told myself, “why not try something new since you are not afraid of dying? You are a doctor yourself!” Then I decided to apply for a medical license and train my uninjured brain cell with new tools. Thanks God, I made it. I passed 3 steps of medical license exams in 2001~2003, and receive excellent letters of recommendation at the clinics. I have helped every TBI survivor I met at the clinics, who were 5-12 years beyond their 2-year plateau, and all achieved significant results, including their “chronic issues.”
WHAT IMPEDES THE RECOVERY FROM TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY?
Both tools and human beings. Somehow, traditional approach contributes to the 2-year plateau.
1. Limited Cognitive Restorationa. Limited Tools:
What is missing in today’s TBI rehab is full cognitive restoration. Most cognitive programs use limited IQ, behaviors or Psychology tools and prepare TBI survivors to accept “the next level of placement.” However, nothing can be more painful, frustrating, depressive, and stressful to individuals than unable to be who they are and do what they need. Then various post-injury illnesses emerge.
The brain rehab I went to mainly helped me stay alive, no fall and no choke, which was essential but did not help me regain cognitive function and get back to who I was. Doctors mostly knocked on my knees and elbows (reflex check) during follow-up visits. Psychologists mainly let me express my fear and struggle and then advised me to accept my “new life.”
However, TBI victims need to be who they were. they need to find missing tools, learn fast, and fully utilize Eastern and Western medicine and non-healthcare 6Q tools, which is the 6Q approach. First, poor IQ performance can have non-IQ causes as each person is an integrated system of 6Qs: IQ, EQ, Learning Q, Adversity Q, Public Influence Q, and Health Q. Cognitive training and stimulation have limited impact. Behaviors or Psychology tools mainly reflect the 6Q system. Second, it is critical to make learning easy as the learning can be massive, and TBI survivors need to see results quickly to stay motivated. Western medicine has limited power at the chronic stage.
Once TBI survivors know that they can regain their brainpower, many secondary issues can be easily corrected or go away. Here is one example.
A business owner often called 911 to go to the Emergency Room (ER) to yell at doctors and nurses. His ER visits lasted for years. I happened to do a rotation in ER that day and learned he did so since he was too frustrated that he had to relearn everything. I understood him, talked to him about his progress, and share with him my live sample of success. I told him that not everyone has a chance to go back to who they were, and her at least had a chance. If I could make it, so could him.
We talked for about 10 minutes. The business owner thanked me in the end. ER nurses later told me that the ER visit was his shortest and most pleasant one. He soon went to work and never came back to the ER. I could change his behavior in 10 minutes because I got the root cause of his behaviors.
b. Limited Focus
Years of studies have found that injured brain cells have 2-year plateau. However, uninjured brain cells have NO 2-year plateau but have the same DNA and learning capacity. Other studies have also found that most people only use 10% of their brains. Many TBI survivors have at least 10% of their brain cells uninjured, therefore, they have a great chance to go back to who they were, including the ones with brain removal. I had the chance to help one.
A tall and thin middle-aged man had partial brain removal due to TBI for about 10 years. His mother always accompanied him to the clinic and answered questions for him. I knew that the only way the man could speak is to practice whenever possible. I asked him to answer all the questions and told him that I had all the time I needed.
Of course, I did not have unlimited time. However, the man’s issue was straightforward. I had already read his medical history and could always ask his mother if needed. He was very slow initially, but he answered all my questions. Then I gave him some homework, asked him to read aloud at home and tell me the homework for the next visit. As he could speak more and more, the man became more and more alive, energetic, and shinning.
2. Ignorance and Resistance
Some “experts” refuse to believe that others can solve the problems that they cannot. They label the TBI survivors with the “disabilities” that they think should be there, take away others’ opportunities… it is astonishing and heartbreaking to watch these happening, especially when those experts are someone who you have trusted and respected.
Some experts simply do not want their existing programs diluted and interfered even 22 veterans commit suicide each day.
3. Legal Impact
Some attorneys only focus on making money and disregard their clients’ futures. I had the accident that led to TBI on my way to work, so I also a workman’s compensation claim. I totally had three attorneys, one of whom was the president of the workman’s compensation attorney association in one state. All three attorneys wanted me to claim 100% disabilities even after I passed medical licensing exams and received excellent letters of recommendation.
HOW TO BRING DREAMS BACK TO LIFE FROM TBI BEYOND THE “2-YEAR PLATEAU?”
1. Every Step Counts!First, it is critical to save life, minimize damage, and preserve non-injured brain cells at the acute stage. I could recover well also because the accident happened in a winter evening, so I could benefit from hypothermia therapy instantly. The hospital at Amarillo TX also took good care of me and taught me the first two words, “Good morning!”
Second, Physical rehab and speech therapy can further enhance safety and restore physical function, which is the foundation of cognitive restoration.
At last, restore cognitive function via 6Q cognitive rehab instead of partial. Then individuals can go back to who they were and be contributors to the society instead of depressed by “the next level of placement.”
2. Who Can Benefit from the 6Q Cognitive Restoration?
It can take a lot to regain cognitive function. Those who want to commit suicide due to TBI have far better chances to fully recover since they are highly motivated. I know as I almost became one of them. I tried everything I possibly could and found the 6Q cognitive rehab.Can anyone benefit from the 6Q cognitive restoration? No, only those who can learn and are motivated.
Those with “chronic health issues” should have 6Q cognitive restoration and medical symptom relieves at the same time. Currently, we prefer all participants who have been discharged from the hospital and are medically stable.
3. How We Design the Program? What to Expect?
In general, we design custom program for each victim, based on their potential, previous job, unique learning needs and challenges. On the one hand, we make learning as easy and fun as possible internally and externally, so TBI survivors can see results quickly to stay motivated. Victims can practice at our virtual business and add this on their resume as their working experience after injury. We also enhance their internal healing to maximize their cognitive restoration.
What to expect? Many TBI survivors can show some improvement in 8 weeks if they work hard and achieve much more in 8-10 months. Complete recovery can take years.
4. How Much Can We Save in TBI?
Per CDC, about 5.3 million survivors are living with a “permanent” TBI-related disability in the US, including 450,000 veterans. One TBI survivor costs $85,000 to $3 million for treatments and a disability benefit (DB) for living. The US GDP in 2019 was 21.43 trillion. If we free 1 million TBI survivors, the saving is:
($85,000~3 million+ DB+ Tax) x 1million = $85 billion ~3 trillion + 1 million DB+ 1 million Tax.
Veterans have a higher suicide risk than civilians. Up to 53% of the homeless are affected by a brain injury. In fact, many of them can regain key cognitive function, go back to work, and live in their home. However, not many of them know the 6Q technology. Please share this article with those in needs.
5. Who Offer Financial Support to TBI Recovery?
At this time, we offer discounts to those in urgent needs, especially veterans. We cannot control our vetting process with VA except trying our best.
For those who desire to double their impact, it is an excellent time to act as we offer a 20% discount on all of our leadership and health programs to raise more funds.
Many states have a trust fund to help TBI survivors learn new skills due to the high unemployment rate and a large amount of life treatment costs, and many TBI survivors are eligible for their state financial assistance. For example,
New Jersey TBI FUNDDirector: Peri Nearon11A Quakerbridge Plaza, Mercerville NJ 08625-0700Tel: 888-285-3036
Louisiana Traumatic Head and Spinal Cord Injury Trust FundManager: Tonia GedwardLDH Office of Aging and Adult ServicesTel: (225) 219-9935
New Mexico Dept of Education- Division of Vocational Rehab435 St. Michael’s Drive, Bidg. D, Sante Fe, NM 87505Director: Lucinda GarciaTel: 505-954-8500
Massachusetts Brain Injury and Statewide Specialized Community Services600 Washington Street, 2nd Floor MRL, Boston, MA 02210-1616Director: Sandy BiberTel: 617-204-3852Other states include Kentucky, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Pennsylvania, etc. You can get the information about your state and others at “A LOOK AT TBI TRUST FUND PROGRAMS.”
SUMMARY
Nothing can ensure individuals’ rights, freedom, opportunities, and justice better than their brainpower. It is too painful not to be whom ones are and accept “the next level,” which is why many secondary health issues emerge post TBI, and 22 veterans can commit suicide each day.
With the right tools and focuses, many TBI survivors can regain key function, be who they are, and pursue their freedom again. Society can not only save tons of disability benefits, $85,000 to $3 million treatment costs per survivor but also gets more happy taxpayers.
Do not commit suicide. Try something new if you are not afraid of dying. If others and I could make it, so can you. Different approaches do make different results. Those who refuse to settle for less have far better chances to recover since they are highly motivated.
Nothing can stop suicides better than a real hope. Please share this article with those in need.
For those who desire to double their impact, it is an excellent time to act as we offer a 20% discount on all of our leadership and health programs to raise more funds. About the AuthorBin Yang is the Managing Director of The Prince Synergy (www.theprincesynergy.com) and BYBSH (www.BeYourBestStayHealthy.com), leading consulting firm that focus on building exceptional leaders, teams, optimizing heart and brain power, and beating skyrocketing healthcare costs. For more information or to schedule an interview, lecture or appointment, please call 310-668-1828.
Δ
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.