Dealing with someone with TBI?

[Mayne]

So a few months ago I took in a person with traumatic brain injury. Super nice guy...but dealing with him on a personal level is kind of hard. He will tell the same stories and repeat the same phrases over and over and over. I'm pretty good at listening to people but it gets a bit tiresome.

What do you guys do?

 

[highland145]

Kind of like re reading this thread every day?

Mayne's 2 Posts Per Day Life Thread

because I love you guys. I am in a bad part of my life right now...so any positive reactions is keeping me alive. Mayne, we received numerous complaints about this thread, as we often do with the many threads you start bemoaning your personal life. So, here's my solution. This is the ONE AND...

forums.anandtech.com

 

[sdifox]

So a few months ago I took in a person with traumatic brain injury. Super nice guy...but dealing with him on a personal level is kind of hard. He will tell the same stories and repeat the same phrases over and over and over. I'm pretty good at listening to people but it gets a bit tiresome.

What do you guys do?

I do the same without TBI

 

[highland145]

I do the same without TBI

We've been meaning to have a chat with you.

 

[sdifox]

We've been meaning to have a chat with you.

again?

 

[Mayne]

lol

 

[BudAshes]

At ATOT they give you your own thread where you can make 2 posts per day.

 

[pmv]

So a few months ago I took in a person with traumatic brain injury. Super nice guy...but dealing with him on a personal level is kind of hard. He will tell the same stories and repeat the same phrases over and over and over. I'm pretty good at listening to people but it gets a bit tiresome.

What do you guys do?

I have nothing helpful to suggest, but can only say I once did voluntary work with people with similar impairments, but, crucially, it wasn't every single day.

On the occasional basis that I did it I found it a relief - in that I knew exactly how every conversation would go, which took all the strain off, compared to usual social interaction and small-talk, which I am not that great at. It was actually a plus point to not feel judged for one's less-than-dazzling social skills or the lack of an exciting life to talk about. All they mostly needed was for someone to be calm and patient, which I found a million-times easier than being witty or entertaining. Maybe see it as a chance to practice the former?

But if it's a constant day-to-day thing I imagine it could be an entirely different experience and could be difficult, so I can only wish you the best of luck. The only suggestion I can think of is to make sure that you get to interact with other people fairly frequently.

 

[Azraele]

That's what happens with a TBI, and also emotional upheaval, mood swings, personality changes, verbal abuse, etc. If you're bothered by the repetitive stories, just remind yourself that the individual has no idea they've told it to you already.

 

[snoopy7548]

Start browsing P&N and you'll eventually get used to it...

 

[BoomerD]

After browsing Mayne's "scariest job thread," (which I had thankfully forgotten) I'm convinved the person with TBI he's talking about looks back at him in the mirror.

 

[Mayne]

I'm trying to be a good person and listen to his story and phrases. basically he sleeps on the couch in the living room. I have my bedroom to escape to..it has my computer.

I'll tell you guys his story another day...its pretty wild shit.

 

[skull]

After browsing Mayne's "scariest job thread," (which I had thankfully forgotten) I'm convinved the person with TBI he's talking about looks back at him in the mirror.

All the drunks like mayne I've ever met repeat themselves constantly so wouldn't even have to be tbi. If hes not talking about himself you'd think hed atleast be used to it.

 

[Lanyap]

That's what happens with a TBI, and also emotional upheaval, mood swings, personality changes, verbal abuse, etc. If you're bothered by the repetitive stories, just remind yourself that the individual has no idea they've told it to you already.

My wife had a TBI back in 2014 when we were engaged but before we got married. She has all of the above except the repetitive stories. It's a challenge.

 

[Azraele]

Sorry to hear that Lanyap. Be sure to take care of yourself too. Dealing with it can take a serious toll on your wellbeing as well. I learned the hard way, I guess you could say. If you have a good friend/support group, don't hesitate to ask for help.

 

[Mayne]

my new roommate went off his meds for 3 days.....he got lost and was gone for 14 hours and shitted himself.

TBI is difficult to deal with.

 

[JWade]

i have had multiple concussions and have TBI from getting blown up (was in the army, got blown up in Iraq). it took my kids and wife some getting used to with my memory problems. they finally understood it wasn't anything personal with me repeating myself or asking the same question multiple times over a day or couple days.

 

[nakedfrog]

You just can't handle life without a difficult roommate, can you?