Navigating the Invisible Struggle with Jordana

Meet Jordana, a first-year Master of Occupational Therapy student at UBC. Having navigated the unpredictable and often frustrating path of two concussions, she is turning her personal challenges into a foundation for her future profession. Jordana is sharing her story with the Mind & Brain Student Network BC to shed light on the invisible nature of brain injuries and to highlight the vital role of community support and self-advocacy in the healing process. 

How It Happened

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what happened when you got your concussions?

"Hi, I’m Jordana! I am currently a first-year Master of Occupational Therapy Student at UBC. I’ve had two concussions now, and part of my future profession is advocating, which is why I wanted to write on this blog feature.  

My first concussion happened about a year ago when I was doing laundry, and I ended up hitting my head on the dryer door as I stood up. In that moment, I fell to the ground and was a bit confused at what happened. My second concussion happened when I was at a restaurant, and I leaned my head back and hit the wall behind me quite hard."  

The Ups and Downs of Healing

What were your initial symptoms, and how has your recovery journey been so far?

"With both concussions, my symptoms were delayed in their onset by a couple of days, which is really important to note. For my first concussion, I had been running and lifting in the gym for a couple of days before I realized the symptoms. For my second concussion, I was more cautious with my activities to see if it would develop into a concussion. One key sign of both was feeling extremely tired about a day afterwards.  

Both concussions were quite bad in their symptoms, including headaches and migraines, dizziness, vertigo, nausea, foggy brain, increased anxiety, light and noise sensitivity, pressure in the head, fatigue, neck pain, feeling slowed down, and difficulty remembering.  

One thing that I’ve learned about concussions is the timeline is not linear, nor are two the same. In my first concussion, I could barely walk a few steps without feeling sick, whereas with my second one I was able to do most of my home tasks, but unable to go on technology for the longest time. For both times it has been months of being kind to myself, pushing enough to be in a state of challenge, but not hardship."  

The Power of Support

What has been the most challenging part of recovery, and what has helped you the most?

"The most challenging part of recovery is advocating for something that people can’t physically see. When you look at someone in their concussion recovery, it is often invisible to see what they are going through. Even after some of the worst days, there are still lingering effects for months or even years in some cases. It is really difficult to advocate for yourself while you are going through such a difficult time.  

This leads me into what has helped me the most: finding a community that supports you and can advocate for you when you can’t. I was so lucky to have such incredible friends to support me during this time by checking in on me, completing tasks that were too difficult, advocating for a gradual return to school and activities, and being there through the toughest days.  

Not only this, but having a healthcare team on your side, with physiotherapy, occupational therapy, physicians, and many more, is crucial. These healthcare team members can help you with the steps needed to get access to support and get you back to where you want to be."  

Redefining Normal

How has your daily life changed since your concussion?

"I’ve found that after my concussion I’ve had to take a lot of intentional rests and ensure that I am caring for myself. For school especially, I’ve had to take more breaks and try to minimize my screen time. I’ve had to learn my new capacity for what I can and can’t handle in a day depending on how I am feeling. I think it has made me more in tune with my body and doing what I need to do in order to feel better."  

A Message to Others

What do you wish people understood about concussions, and what advice would you give others?

"One thing that I wish people understood about concussions is that everybody’s journey is different. For some people, it may take 10 days to recover fully; for others, it takes months or even years and can have a lasting impact.  

With this, I would say it’s important to take as much time as you need to heal. There are lots of commitments that people have, but your brain is important and needs time to heal!"  

Looking Forward

Where are you at in your recovery right now?

"Right now I’m doing a lot better in my recovery and I am mostly back to my baseline. However, I still have to make adjustments and I am still working on recalibrating different systems in my body now that it has been thrown off balance."  

Jordana notes, "I’m very appreciative that there is more awareness, like the Mind & Brain Student Network BC, with concussion recovery. As a future occupational therapist, I really want to take what I have learned and put it into practice in ensuring that I am advocating for my clients who need it in the recovery process!"  

Thank you so much, Jordana, for sharing your vulnerable and insightful story with us. At the Mind & Brain Student Network BC, our mission is to amplify student voices, break the stigma surrounding invisible injuries, and build a community where no one has to navigate brain health challenges alone. If you or someone you know is navigating a TBI, remember that your timeline is your own, and support is out there.