Sawdust For Brains: Definition and Disconfirmation After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Mild brain injury, despite its name, has lasting effects for many of its sufferers. This article is a firsthand account of one person's struggle with its onset and effects. Mot least of the symptoms is the sense of disconfirmalion and confusion that ensues because sufferers usually look “normal.” However, inside, their cognitive functioning and sense of self have changed markedly. Moreover, the effects often last longer than seem likely to medical professionals and laypeople alike, leading to evaluations of malingering or prior emotional distress. This first-person account is framed within the context of current literature on mild head injury.