Someone I Met

I went to this Brain Injury/Stroke support group and a really interesting person talked to us. So was in her late 30sish and when she was 14 she was at camp and she fell off a cliff. She broke her back as well as hit her head, but the drs were really just concerned with her back. That eventually recovered and she went on with her life. It wasn't until about 10 years ago she found out she had an intense brain injury. Between her fall and the discovery of her brain injury, she was diagnosed as schizophrenic, bipolar, and OCD. She says she sees things, but she knew it wasn't real schizophrenia because shes always known it wasn't real. She has a real problem with "things that run," like sprinklers or the air conditioner. I thought that point was SO INTERESTING because I have an issue with bathroom fans. They drive me insane. If the fan needs to be on, you know, for some weird reason, I turn it on when I'm leaving the room. My husband thinks if we don't put the fan on when we're showering, we'll have mold. Sometimes he'll leave it on and forget about it while I'm already in bed (this is the master bath fan right by my bedroom). I can't sleep. I have to turn it off. I definately don't remember it being an issue when I was growing up. It seems to be a AI thing (after injury).

I told my husband about our guest speaker and he said "I didn't know a brain injury can do those things to you." Halle freaking lujah. I hope hes now realizing how CrAzY a TBI can make you. You're not right. You're not the same. How I'm not kidding when I say "make sure you turn off that fan as soon as possible." So, loved ones of people with brain injuries, we're not being dramatic.

But its hard to know when somethings goes from a "thing I have" to an obsession. Everyones has "things". Maybe we should all be respectful of peoples "things?" While we're on the topic of obsessions or things, you know how there will be two different light switches for one light? Like on opposite sides of the room or at the top and bottom of stairs? I don't care which way you're going, but down means off and up means on. I can't handle it when they get mixed up. I'll walk around the house making sure they're all down, because house guests and husbands don't care to much, even if its night time and I have to be in the dark to make sure they're all in the right position.

Do you have any AI obsessions or things? Or did you not have an injury but have some? Or any thoughts on the subject? Like how to let the bathroom fan go?