Conquering Concussions: From Struggling to Studying
Meet Emily, a 2nd year Master’s student and head of the new CLF Canada chapter at the University of Guelph. In high school, Emily suffered two concussions that ended her time in sport. Her experience with concussions and post concussion syndrome ultimately led to a decision to pursue an education in Neuroscience and a future career in brain injury and mental health research.
Eight years ago I unknowingly suffered my first concussion in a hockey practice. At the time, my coaches had not discussed the importance of concussion symptoms and what to do if you were experiencing them. As a result, I continued to practice and play games despite the symptoms I was experiencing. If I had understood the significance of my symptoms, I would have stopped participating in practices and games and ultimately prevented the second concussion I experienced in a game only 2 weeks later. After this second concussion, I experienced overwhelming pain in my neck and head, light and noise sensitivity, extreme nausea and dizziness, and a feeling of grogginess that made simple tasks feel next to impossible. As a result, I was finally directed to seek treatment from a doctor who diagnosed my concussions. I ended up missing 2 months of my grade 10 year and was advised by my doctors to give up all contact sports.
The next few months took a significant toll on my physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Firstly, I was not able to attend nearly 2 months of school in my grade 10 year. During this time, I remember feeling extremely isolated from my friends and teammates, and feeling sad about the opportunities I was missing out on. I spent the majority of each day laying in bed in the dark, with occasional outings to doctor and physiotherapy appointments. A lot of my friends didn’t understand what I was going through, and I found it difficult to describe the feelings of isolation and emptiness I was experiencing.
Discontinuing sport also had a significant negative impact on my well-being. A lot of my identity was rooted in the sports I played, a lot of my time was taken up by practices and games, and I maintained a lot of my friendships through these commitments. I found myself questioning who I was and what I was passionate about without sports, which is something I still struggle with to this day.
I received treatment for my concussions for multiple years before receiving a diagnosis of post-concussion syndrome (PCS). Some of the symptoms I experienced as a result of PCS are fatigue, irritability, anxiety, nausea, trouble concentrating, and blurred vision. Over the years since my diagnosis, I have received ongoing treatment for my anxiety and irritability, and been prescribed glasses to help with my vision. PCS is something I continue to manage everyday, and I will forever be grateful for the love and support I have and continue to receive from doctors, therapists, friends, and family.
My experience with concussions and PCS over the years allowed me to develop an interest in the brain and how it functions after injury. This interest pushed me to pursue and complete an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at the University of Guelph, where I am now working towards a Master’s degree in Clinical Studies with a specialization in Neuroscience. Throughout my degrees, I have developed a deeper interest in the impact of concussions and other traumatic brain injuries on mental health, and hope to find a career that allows me to combine the fields of mental health and brain injury.
In search of careers in the mental health and brain injury fields, I came across CLF Canada. I felt immediately drawn and connected to their story and wanted to get involved. After discussion with some wonderful CLF Canada team members, I have decided to start a Team Up Chapter here at the University of Guelph. With CLF Canada, I hope to use my knowledge and personal experience with TBI to enhance the quality and accessibility of resources available to young athletes regarding concussion prevention and post-concussion syndrome. Becoming involved with CLF Canada will allow me to be involved in sport in a way that is safe for me, all while teaching others how to remain safe in their sport so they can continue to enjoy doing what they love.