Most of you have been asked to keep a journal of daily activities since the brain injury interrupted your life.
One really important reason is to be able to refer to accurate details of recent activities so that you can have clues to accurate memories.
Without a journal, date book or other strategies many, if not most, survivors of brain injury "fill in" for gaps in stories.
The content of the "fill-in" can often be inaccurate if not downright untrue.
However, if there is a document, preferably written by the your own hand, then there is a reference for accurate details.
"Filling in the details" is called Confabulation.
This is a word from Psychiatry.
Its meaning is the replacement of a gap in a person's memory by a falsification that he or she believes to be true.
It is VERY common to have this problem.
You are not alone.
You CAN do something about it! Now most of believe that a falsification or "To make false statements" is the same as lying.
With a brain injury this is not at all true.
Think of the True and False tests you took as a student in grade school.
Did you ever put a "T" for TRUE for an answer because you believed it was the correct answer even though it was really F for FALSE? Sure you did.
However, your answer was wrong! That is a lot like what happens to someone with a brain injury.
Your brain believes it to be true because;

• It seems reasonable,
• fits the sequence of the story well and
• Because, very likely, YOU would not LIE!

As a truthful person you are doing your best to give an accurate story.
However, your brain will not cooperate! So, what to do? TAKE CHARGE! Keep a journal.
Write down what happened today, review it tomorrow, and refer to it when asked a question.
Journals can be as simple as a date book with bullet point information and brief appointment details.
OR you can go learn how to keep a scrapbook.
That can be a very creative and enjoyable activity and you get to keep every memory! A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS You have heard that a picture is worth a thousand words.
I recommend you keep as many photos of your life and daily activities as you can.
They will give you

• Substantial proof that your memories are accurate,
• provide details that your words may not be clear enough to tell, and most importantly,
• Give you a great deal of pleasure.
  

Even photos of your recovery will give you a resource to remind yourself how far you have come.
Video taping* is another wonderful resource for you.
Even better than the snapshot, you will be able to see and hear memories in the making.
There are wonderful and inexpensive digital cameras available today that will be something you can keep right with you.
IF you have the opportunity to use a computer with regularity you can keep your journal on the computer and insert photos in the text in programs like Word and WordPerfect.
You can even publish your story on a web site.
In days to come you may even be able to share your story as a presentation or publish a book.
SO WHY KEEP A JOURNAL, REALLY? Here are my ideas of what good reasons are.
Maybe you can think of more!

• You will have a document to help you remember important things.
  
• You will be able to refer to your journal to help you remember details of your life.
  
• You will have accurate details to tell others your stories.
  
• You will be able to relax when you are asked about something you can't remember because you can stop and refer to your written memory - your journal!
• You will enjoy your own story!

Your life is too important to miss because of a poor memory.
Feel the power of taking charge of your memory once more.
KEEP A JOURNAL! *(NOTE: Video taping is also a wonderful resource if you have caregivers such as PCA's or life skills trainers, etc.
In your video you can tell what you like to do, how you like to be reminded or prompted to do something, let people know what you can do for yourself, etc.
This minimizes the learning curve for new staff and helps them get ready to support you better.
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