Facing Fatigue with Jenn Freeburn, Cognitive Therapist

What is one symptom all brain injury survivors have in common? No, the answer we’re looking for is not our overwhelming awesomeness--although that’s also true! It’s FATIGUE.  There are several different types of fatigue and many ways to manage it.  Join Jenn Freeburn, MS, CCC-SLP as she schools us on the hows and whys of cognitive fatigue.  She’ll help us strategize our way through the fog, no loud fog horn necessary.  Covered in this episode: Types of fatiguePhysical fatigue- the body being tired and needing restPsychological fatigue- lack of motivation, trouble starting anythingCognitive fatigue (mental fatigue)- brain fog, not being able to attend or focusTheories for brain fatigueThe brain is trying to heal and has less energy for other things.  Tasks feel more taxingThe brain is less efficient after injury possibly due to: the healing process or additional attentional resources are being put towards other aspects of life and those resources drain energy leading to fatigueAfter a brain injury, the brain is more sensitive to things in life that cause tiredness.  You used to be able to push through and now your brain can’tYour brain is healing! And that can make you feel tiredManaging fatigue: it's not just about today; there is a cumulative effect.  If you drain your daily “battery” and dip into your reserve battery, it will take more than a good night’s sleep to recover from the cognitive fatigue.  When you are running low, you have to be gentle with yourself and not schedule a lot when you are drainedExamples of cognitive demands:Sensory heavy environments: crowds, bright lights, stores, noisy, socializingProlonged attentional tasks: reading especially nonfiction, anything that requires a lot of processing, taking in a lot of information.  Tasks where you need to focus in and wouldn’t do with someone watching TV in the background. Mixing physical, cognitive, and psychological demandsLaundry: has lots of steps mixing physical movement with cognitive aspectsTimes when your attention is pulled multiple directions: example parties and conversationsMulti-step processes:Cooking: lots of steps and movementWhat’s one to do?Understand yourselfWhat triggers fatigue for you? Plan your day around those: know what is going to cause fatigue and be nice to yourself after so you can rest Do the hardest tasks during the time of day you are feeling your bestDon’t schedule hard/high stakes things during your times of higher fatigueStructure your day around your fatigue patterns with breaks interspersed throughout the dayWhat does fatigue look like for you? Brain fogNot being able to pay attentionIrritability, everything is annoying or frustrating.  Self judgment i.e. negative self talkMaking errorsEmotionalityTry not to ignore your triggersWhat are your early indicators that