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Managing Fatigue...
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youth
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Professional people tell you that you may
experience ‘fatigue’ after a brain injury, but what
does it mean?
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fatigue means to us...
Getting very tired after physical exercise
Physical or mental effort eg, getting it together to get out of bed
in the morning
Developing a headache and feeling exhausted after a short time
of concentration
Being unable to take in any more information and feeling blank
Speech becoming slurred
Vision becoming blurred
Getting more irritable
Not coping so well with school, family and friends
Being different on different days – some days we have a good day
and feel great only to be demoralised and feeling lousy the next
Having to give up our favourite sport or activity because we have
no energy left after school
Feeling sad to see our friends going off without us
cont.
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Managing Fatigue...
cont.
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“How can I
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Here are some things that we have found helpful:
TIMETABLES:
Using a timetable, write down all the things you do in a week and use a highlighter pen to show
when you are feeling tired. Remember to include school subjects, times of day, places, people
and situations.You might see a bit of a pattern, and it is useful to show teachers, parents
and guardians.
Look at where you can make changes to your weekly timetable to save your energy. Drop the
unnecessary activities and include more time for relaxing and fun things.
PLAN AHEAD:
Practice looking ahead at your week so you can keep energy for important things and allow time to
chill out after a busy or stressful time.
Don’t let yourself get completely exhausted. It takes too much time and effort to feel bette afterwards.
KEEP A BIT IN RESERVE:
Try not to miss out on fun things as it will make you feel fed up. You need to have friends and it helps if
you find yourself an activity that makes you feel good and that you look forward to.
ates.
ith your m
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Keep a social di
Choose your mates carefully and don’t be embarrassed to tell them that you may have difficulty with
keeping up, especially late nights and noisy environments. Get them to go easy on you and have a
laugh together.
At the beginning of each week, set yourself little goals of things you want
or need to do.
1.
2.
Pace and organise
TOP TIP
tter
You will feel be
ve
when you achie
tive
something posi
Find someone to help you pace and organise yourself - someone who knows you well
and understands what you want to do in your life, such as a family member or friend.
Get outdoors regularly. Take part in a sport. Team games are good. Get fresh air.
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Managing Fatigue...
RK
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SCHO
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
Make a list of all the things that need to be done and the date that they
need to be handed in by. Tick it off when it’s done.
Ask for extra time to finish assignments, that way there won’t be as much pressure.
Use computers for large pieces of work if handwriting makes you tired.
Ask for handouts in class to save you trying to write and listen at the same time.
When you feel ‘overloaded’, ask the teacher to allow you to leave the lesson for a drink,
a walk or a rest. Have a break.
Learn to notice as soon as a headache starts and take a break. It’s more likely to disappear
and you will hopefully be able to come back and carry on. If you stay until you’re past it, you
will miss more time and also have to try and catch up.
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Choose
Take time out on your own
Lie down
Listen to music
Have a bath
Go for a walk – do this every day after school or work to unwind
Learn a relaxation technique
TOP TIP
Do something
that
makes you hap
py
every day
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Managing Fatigue...
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Avoid... Noiscoyspeaonplde suanpedrmarkets –these are difficult because
with
Night clubs, dis
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there is too much sound,
Keep safe!
Don’t drive, climb or take part in sports when you are really tired – you will
not be so quick and may make mistake
Make sure you take extra care on the roads
If you have a mobile phone (these are very useful) always remember to keep it with you
and charge it as part of your daily routine
Identify the activities you do that need protective head gear, like cycling
or skateboarding, and make sure you always wear it
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“Fatigue, heada ed
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and being overlo lt
are very difficu s.
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to describe to ot I am
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People often thin trying.
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being lazy or n I know
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It is hard becau . I feel
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it isn’t my fau own”.
angry and let d
Take time out and go at your own pace
Child Brain Injury Trust
Unit 1, The Great Barn, Baynards Green Farm,
Nr Bicester, Oxfordshire OX27 7SG
01869 341075
email: [email protected] • www.childbraininjurytrust.org.uk
www.youthzone.childbraininjurytrust.org.uk/index.html
Registered Charity No: 1113326
Registered Company No. 5738517
A Charity Registered in Scotland SC 039703
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