Environment vs. New Neuropathways
I began volunteering at NAMI, Nation Alliance on Mental Illness, a mental health resource organization 8 months after my brain injury to prove to myself I was still worthy, that I was still useful.
- Did I push myself to learn new things because of a need to feel like I could succeed?
- Because of the neuroplasticity that took place in my brain after my injury?
- Or Both?
Neuroplasticity-The ability of the nervous system to change its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganizing its structure, functions, or connections after injuries. Resource: Neuroplasticity-StatPearls-NCBI Bookshelf May 1, 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov>NB…
Or in more simple terms, when you are very fortunate, the nerves reattach, making new pathways to function again, but attaching in different areas after injury. Where they are attached makes you who you are, but when they reattach in a different place, it makes you different than you were before.
I was forced to use my brain and succeed in ways I wouldn’t have even tried to before my injury. I pushed myself. Some people have experienced the growth of new artistic qualities they did not have before.
- Do you think that is because we try harder, maybe trying to prove ourselves, to ourselves and others after our injury?
- Or do you think the skills and creativity comes from the new way your neurons are attached?
- Or Both?
These are quite philosophical questions.
- Are we positive or negative because of the people around us?
- Or are we positive or negative because of the rewiring of our brain?
- Or both?
For example, take someone who is very negative. Take another person who spends a lot of time with them. Was the negative person negative because he/she spent most of their time with a negative person? Did they feed off each other or would they have been negative because of how their brains were wired?
Veronica went through a deep depression, as most brain injured people do. She was then put on anti-depressants that changed her brain chemistry, where her neurons were fired. I am a very positive, grateful, and spiritual person. Veronica and I spend our days together.
- Is she positive, grateful, and spiritual because of the environment she lives in?
- Is it because of her wiring?
- Or both?
Environment or Wiring? Nature or Nurture? I believe it is both. We are wired one way and the input we get can nurture us to become who we are.
Nurture- to encourage the growth or development of someone or something. Resource- Oxford Language Dictionary After brain injury and rewiring, your situation (environment) your brain is in deciphers whether it develops and grows or whether it remains stagnant.
Our brain must be stimulated to grow in any direction. If you can surround yourself with people you want to be like, it is their influence that will stimulate your brain to grow- good or bad, positive or negative. Our brains do heal to an extent after our brain injuries, but the input it gets can either help it grow or remain the same.
When I was volunteering for 3 years after our brain injuries, Veronica stayed home only allowed to sit on the couch, using her computer, phone, and watching TV. No human interaction for hours. Remember this was a brain injured choice I made with poor judgement, looking back. I believe the lack of interaction with another person could have eventually stunted her mental growth from lack of simulation. Her speech, vocabulary, and processing would not have been challenged to become better. Her curiosity may not have grown. Her will, without nurturing and positive input, would have been stuck in one place. She would not have developed as she has.
Environment vs. Rewiring alone…
I’m so grateful for the positivity our family pumps into each other. Causing our sympathy, empathy, and growth of our creativity to flourish by encouragement and love.
Are you getting the stimulation you need to help your brain grow?
A Miracle a Day, One day at a Time: Hope After Traumatic Brain Injury
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Have a beautiful week enjoying many blessings.
Dawn Corbelli 