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Whether you are a person who has a brain injury or a family member, it is common to occasionally feel isolated, overwhelmed or unsure where to go for help. The good news is that whether you have a simple question or are facing a major crisis, the BIA (link:contact info) is committed to helping you find what you need. You may also consider seeking professional advice from a family or individual therapist to help you cope with issues of grief, depression, stress, or other concerns that you may be experiencing.
Persons with brain injuries and their families have shared a lot with us over the years. There is life after brain injury! For some, the injury or trauma is seen in retrospect as a crucial turning point that leads to lives more fulfilling, more giving and more utilizing of each individual's talents that ever imagined before the injury. A brain injury does not stop joy, laughter, or growth.
Each person with a brain injury is different and may need more or less support and assistance in certain areas. The principles offered here are useful throughout the recovery process.
Early Stages of Recovery:
- Talk about familiar names, places, interests, pets.
- Show familiar photos of family, friends, pets, etc.
- Talk about what is happening at home, work, among friends.
- Keep the person's physical environment the same-do not move things in the room to different locations.
Avoiding Frustration:
- The brain injury may cause "slow motion" thinking. Bright lights, too many people talking, radio or television may be overstimulating. When the senses get overloaded, the person may withdraw, get angry and irritable, cry, pace or become combative.
- Keep activities and surroundings relatively simple. Too much, too fast, too soon causes confusion.
- Encourage rest breaks or periods to avoid fatigue and frustration.
- Explain activities fully before initiating them. Write things down; draw charts, use calendars or a memory book to serve as reminders.
- Surroundings should have structure, routine, familiarity and consistency, such as regularly scheduled meals, activities and rest.
Behavior Challenges:
- Provide positive feedback for appropriate behavior. Give honest feedback, with brief, to the point, constructive criticism for inappropriate behavior.
- Mistakes and accidents will happen-never ridicule the person when they do.
- Lead by example. Rather than telling your family member to calm down, present yourself in a calm, patient manner.
- Avoid situations that provoke behaviors you are trying to reduce.
- Redirect the person's attention rather than challenging or arguing with them.
- Write things down that you want the person to do. This might include writing out the sequence of a task.
Communication:
- Do not patronize or become condescending. Do not make fun of or ridicule.
- Give the person time to process what you are saying and to respond. Present only one idea at a time.
- Although the person may have an inability to find a word or to say what he/she means, that does not mean that his/her intelligence is lost.
- Speak in a normal tone and volume of voice.
- Refrain from using "loaded" questions that cannot be answered with yes or no. "Did you want to watch TV, play a game or go outside?"
- Ask direct, concrete questions that can be answered with yes or no. "Did you swim today in therapy?" rather than, "What did you do in therapy?"
- Persons with brain injuries may or may not understand abstractions, sarcasm or jokes.
Acceptance:
- Accept setbacks as a normal part of life.
- A sense of humor helps.
- Be realistic. Not overly optimistic or pessimistic.
- Look ahead and not back. The person's present and future abilities-both physical and mental, may never match abilities prior to the injury. Be careful not to compare his/her future with the past. Concentrate on abilities the person has now.
- Maintain the person's dignity by respecting him/her.
Looking Ahead:
- The person who has sustained the brain injury often must develop a new sense of self. Family members may face similar challenges as the family is redefined and roles change. This is a gradual process, which can be different for each person.
- Adjustment doesn't mean that people are happy about the changes, but that they recognize what can be changed and what cannot be changed, and begin to set goals and make decisions based on their new self. One day at a time, is a philosophy that many people adopt.
- Initially, individuals and families may feel overwhelmed, powerless and out of control. Learning what brain injury is, identifying the changes that the injury has caused, and adjusting can be challenging and difficult, but this process can restore some sense of control and choice.
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