A mother’s narrative of perseverance following her son’s traumatic brain injury, Unthinkable is a book filled with universal lessons of struggle and triumph. Each chapter includes insights and tips for families and caregivers on coping, managing stress, and surviving the trauma of brain injury.

Dixie Fremont-Smith Coskie is a mother of eight, writer, public speaker, fundraiser, and advocate for children and persons with disabilities. Dixie Coskie and her son Paul speak at schools, camps, trauma centers, hospitals and rehab hospitals talking about the consequences and the reality of traumatic brain injury and childhood cancer.

Communication changes after traumatic brain injury can be major and involve loss of speech or they can be subtle changes in reading, writing and comprehension. Questions about expressive and receptive aphasia and dysarthria illustrate how language areas of the brain directly affect the survivor’s ability to communicate after an injury or stroke. Assessment and treatment with a speech language pathologist may help recovery and rehabilitation.

Symptoms ranging from mild anxiety to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are being seen in veterans. Depression, alcohol abuse, anger, and difficulty concentrating have been reported by returning troops from Iraq. Seeking mental health treatment carries a negative stigma that results in many veterans and service members denying symptoms, avoiding comrades, and delaying treatment. Stereotypes about mental illness and barriers to mental health counseling make it even more difficult for service members and veterans to seek support and obtain treatment in the military culture.

Cognitive changes after traumatic or acquired brain injury can result in difficulty with attention, focusing, and thinking. Cognitive fatigue can affect the ability to concentrate, complete tasks, remember, and problem solve. Personal questions demonstrate the impact of cognitive changes on the daily life of survivors of TBI and ABI.

A traumatic or acquired brain injury can cause changes in physical abilities such as walking, balance, coordination, and strength. This article discusses how physical therapy, a home exercise program and conditioning can improve physical skills after TBI. Personal examples explain how physical changes can affect daily life and give suggestions for coping and improvements.

Treatment for traumatic brain injury, acquired brain injury, blast injury, PTSD or concussion can involve many specialists for medical care and rehabilitation. Professional disciplines and titles can be confusing for families, survivors and caregivers. This article briefly explains the training and roles of a physiatrist, psychiatrist, psychologist, neuropsychologist, and counselor.

This manual for survivors of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury of TBI has information about symptoms and recovery. Knowing what to expect after a moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury can help survivors adjust, learn new strategies, find supports and develop coping strategies. Written in large type and clear language, this manual helps individuals with TBI and families understand physical, cognitive, behavioral and emotional changes after brain injury and the recovery process.

This training manual prepares social workers to counsel, support and work with clients with traumatic brain injury and their families in medical, social service and community settings. It contains basic information on traumatic brain injury, head injury and acquired brain injury. A systematic approach to social work practice for clients with TBI covers the contact phase, problem identification, data collection, assessment, case planning, intervention, evaluation, and termination.

This workbook guides survivors of brain injury and blast injury through the powerful healing experience of telling their own stories with simple journaling techniques. By writing short journal entries, survivors explore the challenges, losses, changes, emotions, adjustments, stresses, and milestones as they rebuild their lives.

After her husband, Ken Willingham, sustained a traumatic brain injury in 2003, she created a journaling workshop for people with brain injury and began co-facilitating it with Susan B. Schuster. Those workshops were the basis for After Brain Injury: Telling Your Story.

Common questions about traumatic and acquired brain injury are answered in user friendly language for families, survivors and caregivers. Explains common terms of closed head injury, penetrating head injury, concussion, skull fracture, shaken baby syndrome, and second impact syndrome. Lists various consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and gives examples of other types of acquired brain injuries.