When I awoke from my 28 day coma in the first of 3 hospitals that I attended, I asked the same questions about myself repeatedly. In medical jargon, this temporary disorder is called perseveration. This is an expected symptom that results after awakening from a coma, after incurring a severe TBI.
I regained consciousnesses once awakening, but I also had extremely slight recollection of anything (about myself!) lifelong.
For me, specifically, I had no memory of my many recent years. The closer to the accident, the less I remembered (quite common). I could & can remember well my young childhood, sans complimentary content offered by others, that’d give rise to personal memories. This is only true from roughly 7th grade down.
As a result, when I woke, my questions abounded. They were made even more prolific, (I assume) by the reality that I’ve forever been very curious, as well as compelled to satisfy my curiosity! (This is a strong propellant for me to pursue my career of researching various topics and then sharing the findings w/ my readers). I’m also quite versed in and therefore expectant of, operating from a place of deep self awareness. As a result, I very strongly wanted to be re-aquatinted with myself!
Perseveration lies in the reality that after receiving an answer to my questions, I’d ask them again, because I clearly didn’t remember the answer that I’d recently received or even that I’d asked the question previously…
2 questions that I perseverated on, grandly, were: how old I was at the time & what amount of schooling I’d completed. I’m speaking of not remembering fundamentals about myself.
Specifically or me, even though my parents had already confirmed that I had in fact gotten my bachelor’s degree & was 27 (at the time). Minutes later, I wouldn’t remember that they’d already answered these questions & my intense curiosity motivated me to ask them again!
I find the school question particularly humorous, given its relevancy to my grandest injury (psssh – many broken bones are nothing compared to a severe brain injury. The bones heel in a short amount of time, whereas a brain injury takes muuuuch longer). Even in the best of circumstances (like mine) I’m still recovering now, after 6.5 years… I knew nothing yet of what grandest specific injury I had incurred when when I repeatedly asked theses questions. I could see my broken bones, but I don’t have eyes on my arm (for instance) to see my broken brain… then I would be able to see my 1/2 shaved head at least.
Even the actions that I previously considered non-mentally based, in time I came to realize do in-fact rely upon a learned sequence of actions. The brain is the source of our being. Of course I was already acutely aware of this, so I thought…until I was reminded of just how acute the actions are that our brains inform = the building blocks of all.
Locating (have to find ’em first!) & revisiting my learned skills requires remembering previously attained & practiced habits. Consider the intricacies inherent in walking: balance, rolling from heel to toe, constantly being aware of your environment, so as not to collide, fall….
Now my forgetfulness has very thankfully subsided, in comparison to what it was. It’s far from totally gone however.
Celebrating the little steps, is necessary, as a bunch little steps combined = grand achievements! Celebrations certainly help spur my symptom of lackluster motivation.