When I first posted “difficulties with dressing” on my Facebook page, many people told me that what I described happens to everyone sometimes. I know it was very well meant, of course, but I think I lived long enough without a brain injury to know what’s “normal.” And that doesn’t mean getting it wrong at least half the time when you’re doing your best to give it your full attention!
I tried to raise a problem for some people with NTBI that I think is underestimated. Three years later, getting dressed still causes me problems, though I have learned some tricks in the meantime. If I stand at my wardrobe in the morning, and still need to choose everything myself and put it on, that’s a surprisingly big job for me, and it costs me a lot of energy before I can go downstairs looking half decent. It’s not pleasant to say that in public, and I’m sure I’ll hear again that it happens to everyone occasionally, but, as I know I’m not the only one who struggles with this, I’ll repeat it here…
UZ Pellenberg, May 2017
I thought I had the hang of it, getting dressed. But apparently not!
This morning, when I wake up, I get up and go to my bathroom to wash and get dressed. I got out clean clothes yesterday evening, so that I wouldn’t have to do that before breakfast; in the evening there is more time to do it in a relaxing way, without the pressure to be ready on time, so everything is laid out ready for me. Now, just wash yourself, get dressed, and you’re done.
I have four pieces of clothing to put on: underpants, shirt, trousers and socks. Though if socks count for two, that makes five.
I have no problem with the underpants. Successful at the first attempt. But time for the shirt. This one’s a real shirt, with a long row of buttons down the front, but they are all buttoned up, and I don’t expect any problems from them.
First, I find the bottom of the shirt and I put my head through it. My two arms follow and there we go; the shirt is on.
I look in the mirror for a moment, but I don’t see any buttons. How did that happen…? I’m sure I did it right!
Quickly, I pull it over my head and hold it by the collar. I turn it around so that the label is now at the back. That should work; head and arms in, and done.
I look in the mirror again. Where are those buttons?
A little frustrated, I pull both arms out of my sleeves and let my head stay inside the collar. Now just turn the shirt by one hundred and eighty degrees, put my arms back in the sleeves and I’m finally done. Until I look in the mirror, of course …
Apparently, dressing yourself is more complicated than I thought!
Be First to Comment