jewel,

I can definitely relate! No fun at all Some of my big helpers have been:

~ Using a weekly medication carrier. My nurse comes once a week and fills each day: morning, noon, supper, and bedtime. I have had to fill it myself a week here and there, but I do best with the nurse doing it for me honestly.

~ I keep my medication carrier in the same spot every day. And the medications that fill it are in the cabinet above. I pull out my day's and carry it with me, then put it back after I take my bedtime pills & usually put the next day's pills into my purse.

~ I keep a daily journal beside my bed to write appointments, my ex-hub's working schedule (days that I'll have my daughters), and very brief instructions to myself. The journal is only a 5x7, so I can't write as much as I want or need to, but it's the best that I could do.

~ Keeping your house in the same order will really help you get into the habit of keeping your keys here, purse there, journal there, and so forth.

~ Putting up a couple of post-it notes may help, but I wouldn't advise going beyond 2 or 3 (tops!). Otherwise, it's too much information for you brain to process and you won't see it. So, make sure that the post-it's you're putting up are really important and effective for you!

~ Rather than post-it notes, I have a Christmas tree decoration hanging in my room 365 days a year. HOPE That's an important reminder for me. I also have a laminated 3x5 card listing Thinking Strategies to help me through the effects of my traumatic brain injury.

Figuring out if you have specific areas that you struggle with could be helpful in determining what Thinking Strategies would be most helpful for you to remind yourself of whenever you need to slow down and think.

I worked with an Occupational Therapist at a TBI treatment center for over a year 2 separate times. Getting myself accustomed to these new techniques wasn't easy. It did take some time, but I was able to do it, which was pretty amazing to me! I do recommend checking into local services to see if you qualify for some assistance to make your daily life easier to manage. Very best wishes to you!

Department of Human Services | TBI Fund - the New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury Fund