Brain Injury Blog

~ A brain injury affects the survivor’s quality of life.

~ A brain injury also affects a family’s quality of life.

~ Nothing can prepare you or your family for a brain injury.

~ It can be said, that life may never be as it once was prior to injury.

~ A brain injury is life altering and often has long-term consequences.

~ Just as no two people are exactly alike, no two brain injuries are exactly alike.

~ Each family is unique, the types and levels of stress each will experience will vary.

~ Life changes for someone who sustains a brain injury; it impacts their present and future.

~ The brain controls every bodily activity, so virtually anything can go wrong when it sustains an injury.

~ Families and survivors usually face numerous struggles as a result of the invisibility of this type of injury.

~ Many families struggle to find and create a safe and supportive environment for their loved one affected by a brain injury.

~ Depending on which part of the brain is affected, and the severity of the injury, the outcome and results can vary greatly.

~ Survivors can experience a range of neuropsychological problems and challenges that may require various forms of treatment, therapies, meds, structure and supports.

~ A survivor may experience some or all of the following; behavioral, cognitive, emotional and physical difficulties after injury.

~ Some of the more noticeable changes observed can be too; personality, memory, judgment, concentration, anger, verbal and/or physical outbursts, easily agitated, disinhibition, and a lack of impulse control to list a few.

~ Survivors often require various coping mechanisms as they begin the supported journey of working towards achieving a level of independence.

~ Some survivors do well at picking up the pieces and working at rebuilding their lives, while other do not do as well, or are not able too.

~ It’s important that we remember not to compare survivors; each individual is unique in their strengths, desires and deficits after injury and with recovery.

~ We function because of what we know. If we injure our brain and what we know gets lost or destroyed, we no longer will function as we once did prior to the brain injury.

~ We use charts, lists, reminder notices, day timers, wall calendars, yellow sticky notes and even watches with a timer reminder to list a few.

~ Caring for a survivor with a brain injury can place endless amounts of added stress upon a family. Stress is a major factor and can come from a number of sources.

~ Long term outcomes and effects are difficult to predict and are usually very different for each survivor.

~ Friends and close friends can be a vital source of support, and even become a part of the team contributing towards and assisting with rehabilitation efforts.

~ It’s important to realize that some activities done prior to their brain injury may never again be possible.

~ Understanding brain functions has no picture, and that’s the part that makes a brain injury hard for survivors, families, and friends to deal with.

~ Sometimes cultural, personal and historical beliefs can play apart (sometimes positive, sometimes not) in the rehabilitation initiatives. Being cognizant of such scenarios is important and should not be overlooked.

~ Some survivors live with guilt, as they feel like they are a burden on the entire family now.

~ Understanding the various parts of the brain and their specific functions can be overwhelming.

~ Often there is no obvious or noticeable physical scarring on some survivors. The damages done to the brain are virtually invisible to average person whereas a broken arm or leg is very obvious.

~ The sequel of scenarios and circumstances that a brain injury leaves behind can often be observed when you spend a certain amount of time with the individual.

~ In some family / survivor scenarios, the various deficits and challenges can be very draining, painful to endure and a constant source of frustration on the family.

~ Never compare one survivor to another.