Living With Traumatic Brain Injuries
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Support groups are extremely helpful to people with traumatic brain injuries. In a support group, people suffering from similar problems can share their situations and receive comfort and encouragement from each other. The latest available treatments for TBI can be discussed and members can give coping suggestions while affirming the positive experiences of others. The assurance is given that “someone else knows what I am going through” as people share their struggle in living with a traumatic brain injury.
If there are no local support groups in your area, check online with the Defense and Veteran’s Brain Injury Center or the Brain Injury Association of America for more information on TBI and support groups.
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It’s difficult at first to adjust to the problems caused by traumatic brain injury. Even with mild TBI, you may face daily challenges such as difficulty speaking and communicating, memory loss, impulsivity, mood swings, and fatigue. Dealing with one of these symptoms is hard, but when you have to cope with many symptoms, it can feel overwhelming.
The best thing to do to have better relationships is to take your time! Make sure you are well-groomed and go slowly as you get to know someone. Look at the person when you speak and remember his/h ere name. Be yourself; but if you find yourself getting agitated, mentally calm yourself down. Avoid talking too much and don’t argue about anything. With time, your social skills will improve and you’ll feel more comfortable in relationships that matter.
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Absolutely. Work is extremely beneficial and therapeutic, and should be the goal of anyone’s rehabilitation after TBI. You might find employment challenging after suffering a TBI. However, getting back to work and on a regular schedule is important for your quality of life, your finances, and your personal fulfillment.
During rehabilitation, a physical therapist and an occupational therapist will work with you on skills necessary for optimal function each day. You will work on improving your upper limb strength and fine motor control skills needed for the workplace. Also, you will work on the lower limb pattern to strengthen your core and improve your gait. Then working with a community rehabilitation program and a vocational counselor, you can seek a job for which you are best suited, getting back into the workforce with real pay.
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Medications prescribed by a physician are carefully chosen to treat problems associated with traumatic brain injury. For example, your doctor may prescribe anti-anxiety drugs to help reduce feelings of nervousness and fear after TBI. Sometimes anti-seizure or anti-epileptic drugs are prescribed to prevent seizures with traumatic brain injury. Also, stimulants may be prescribed to help you stay alert and attentive, while anti-depressants or sedatives may be prescribed to help you relax or help with sleep problems. Your doctor will explain the medications given with traumatic brain injury, including the benefits to you, along with any risks, side effects and drug interactions
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Depending on the severity of traumatic brain injury, your military doctor will advise you on treatment and duty restrictions. First, you have to allow time for your brain to heal, especially if you are at risk for another injury. If you are symptom-free and your doctor has determined that you do not have a concussion, you may be able to return to duty with some limits. Your doctor may recommend a short work day with fewer on the job responsibilities to start out. You may also need to take frequent breaks if you have any symptoms such as headaches or dizziness. Also, you will not be allowed to drive or lift heavy equipment once you go back on duty in case you suffer loss of balance. Ultimately, your doctor makes the final decision on when you can return to duty.
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First, you need to seek rehabilitation services at a treatment center and enlist the support of your family and friends. Set short and long-term goals, and embrace each part of your recovery process.
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Several resources for brain injury patients include After Deployment, a mental wellness resource for service members, veterans, and military families, and BrainLine.org, a new national multimedia project offering information and resources about preventing, treating, and living with traumatic brain injury.
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Anger is a natural reaction to traumatic brain injury, but how you respond to the anger can vary. Some people with TBI use the anger in a positive manner, others ignore it, and still others let angry feelings consume their whole being.
In order to cope with the anger and irritability, it helps to understand these feelings better. Anger is an emotion that everyone is entitled to feel at times, but it can destroy your health if not expressed in a positive manner. If anger is consuming your entire day, realize that you need to find some avenues for changing this. If your anger gets out of control on a “bad” day, stop immediately and apologize to those around you. Write down on paper the situations or persons who create angry feelings in you. Try to avoid getting into these situations if you feel you might explode. Ask your doctor to recommend a professional who can give you some tools for coping with angry feelings that happen with traumatic brain injuries.
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Long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury can include a loss of cognitive function, emotional function and behavior problems. Any of these impairments can diminish your quality of life and ability to maintain interpersonal relationships.
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Yes, there are certain activities that you should avoid during your recovery from brain injury. Such activities include contact sports, motorcycle riding and skiing. Try to avoid drinking caffeinated beverages or energy-boosters along with alcohol which slows the healing process. As you recover, stay away from cough and cold remedies that contain psudoephedrine and over-the-counter sleeping aids because they slow thinking and memory.
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