ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how brain injury drastically matures a person. It discusses the sadness of lost youth and the anger against statements that youth seemed to be an excuse that things were not so bad. Although pointless optimism has its place, following authors crash it seemed grossly unsuitable – he felt that maturity crept up on him with alacrity and he did not have the chance to wave goodbye to his carefree youth. What made it even worse was that because of his limited self-awareness, he had only a superficial realisation that things had changed. Once his memory improved, what stuck with him was the oft-repeated remark from others that he was a changed man. He should take advantage of the greater life experience brought about by the crash. Expensive clothes, fast cars, exotic holidays and other status symbols took on a rather questionable value as he bid goodbye to his rather carefree youth.
