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Author Max Andrews via Wikimedia Commons through Sharealike license .
“ I couldn ’ t concentrate or focus on anything at school for more than a few minutes .”
Nicole Smith
Trauma to the Mind Sport Concussions Have Terrible Consequences
Cameron Curney ‘ 20 Contributor
Nicole Smith , a junior at the University of Rhode Island was a promising figure skater . During the summer of 2012 , when she was a junior at Bridgewater High School , disaster struck . Smith was speeding across the ice when she fell and hit the back of her head on the ice . Sliding , she then hit her head against the boards surrounding the ice surface . Smith was a promising figure skater , but her greatness would have to wait . She had suffered a traumatic brain injury , more commonly known as a concussion .
In his pamphlet “ Concussions in Sports ” Dr . Dan Muse , a certified impact consultant and medical doctor at Brockton Hospital describes how concussions affect the brain . “ During a concussion the brain is shoved against the skull , through a direct impact on the head , or from a person moving at a high speed and coming to an abrupt stop . The brain is then shaken around like a yolk in a chicken egg .” Normally , the brain is protected by a substance known as cerebrospinal fluid or CSF . The force of a concussion prevents CSF from doing its job of “ protecting and cushioning the brain .” The result of this trauma is often “ headache , nausea , memory loss , lack of sleep , lack of concentration , and confusion .” According to Dr . Muse , “ An injury to the brain damages the brain at a cellular level , which can permanently destroy connections in the brain , which can cause mental diseases later in life .”
After a concussion , it can be difficult to perform basic functions like getting out of bed , sleeping , walking , sitting , concentrating , and even just being in a room with light . And , that is exactly what Smith experienced after her accident . “ After a week , I still had a hard time functioning normally , focusing , concentrating , and I was experiencing headaches ; I was highly sensitive to light , and sleeping was an issue ,” said Smith .
For the next year and a half , Smith experienced the symptoms of a concussion ; she was sensitive to light and noise , had trouble concentrating , experienced severe headaches , and sleeping proved to be a very notable issue . “ My school work suffered ; my entire junior year of high school I only went half days . Any loud areas or places that required me to concentrate and focus for a long period of time agitated the symptoms ; I couldn ’ t concentrate or focus on anything at
THE GREEN WAVE GAZETTE
school for more than a few minutes .” Smith remembers taking melatonin for sleep but says , “ It didn ’ t help at all .” She did take a low dose antidepressant for nerve pain that was beneficial .
After Smith ’ s junior year in high school she returned full days . But , the effects of the concussion are still evident to this day . “ I ’ m still really sensitive to light , I can ’ t go outside without wearing sunglasses . Even when it ’ s cloudy , I still need to wear sunglasses when I ’ m driving . Whenever I do , I get headaches , they are more intense than before I had my concussion ,” said Smith . She has since returned to figure skating , but now acts more cautiously when she is on the ice . She did experience another concussion after returning , but the severity was not as extreme .
Of course , the stress and anxiety caused by an injury is not limited to the athlete . Often their family and friends are affected to . After Smith sustained her concussion , her mother says she was “ in a state of constant distress ,” not knowing if her daughter would ever fully recover from the trauma she had been through .
Cartoon Commentary : The Student
Julia Do ‘ 19 Contributor