My situation is different. I have learned since I have been back home, that my brain is capable of plasticity. By that, I mean that even though I suffered damage to my fourth ventricle which has resulted in my balance issues and speech issues. I am slowly but surely retraining the undamaged areas of my brain to take over the functions which were previously controlled by the damaged areas.
I must exercise intensively six days a week. I don't know if I will have to continue to work out six days a week for the rest of my life. However, I might. I will keep it up for as long as I can. Not because I enjoy it (I don't) but because it is the only thing I have found that allows me to retrain my brain. When I take multiple days off, I notice when I go back to working out, my brain is sluggish and does not connect properly with my body. Not working out for multiple days, months or years is not an option for me. It will negatively affect my health both physically and mentally.
I don't enjoy all of this exercise. However, I do enjoy knowing that my brain is reconnecting with my body. I still remember the first time that it happened to me, after six years of inactivity. I cried like a baby because I was convinced that it would never happen again for me.
Doing all of this exercise is not easy or enjoyable for me. Having my brain go dormant again is not something that I ever want to happen again. All the effort is worth it. Besides, it will keep me generally healthier for longer and it will protect me against getting dementia. I hope I have done a decent job of explaining all of this.
Til next time, Tyler
Well said, mom
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