New story book for children helps them understand their fears and reactions when a parent is injured in war. With so many service members and veterans with traumatic brain injuries and other traumas sustained in Iraq and Afghanistan, this book is a great resource for children and their families. Based on the author’s and illustrator’s personal experience, this book offers insights, reassurance and hope for children when their worlds have been changed by a mother or father’s injury.

Now caregivers as well as wives and mothers, many women are finding that the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have changed not only their husbands but their entire family. As these women speak out about the changes in their marriages, parenting, and relationship, it becomes clear that the emotional trauma of war affects every member in the family as the wounded warrior comes home.

This concussion tip card by Phil Hossler provides checklists and practical strategies on educating everyone on the signs and symptoms of concussion in student-athletes with tips for support and accommodations. When any athlete sustains a sports concussion, sensitive, trained and compassionate neighbors are needed to monitor the athlete’s recovery. For student-athletes, this managing team or “neighborhood” includes coaches, athletic trainers, parents, physicians, teachers, school nurses and school psychologists along with concussion specialists.

Improving Your Memory after a Brain Injury Marilyn Lash, M.S.W.  A Brain Injury Can Change How You Think Many survivors have changes in cognition after a traumatic brain injury. These cognitive changes often mean that thinking is simply harder and takes longer. These are the changes that so often greatly concern survivors and families. They [...]

A brain injury can cause intense stress and anxiety for survivors, family members and caregivers. It can feel overwhelming and make it difficult for you to simply get through the day. It can make it harder to think clearly, solve problems and plan ahead. By learning how to recognize the signs and symptoms of your stress and anxiety, you can learn how to use techniques to lessen and manage stress and anxiety. This is the first step in regaining control as you rebuild your lives and begin the journey of living with brain injury.

The symptoms and changes caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are both similar and different. It can be stressful, frustrating, and difficult for family, spouses, and caregivers to know which condition is causing the changes in behavior, emotions or cognition. These invisible wounds are much harder to recognize than the physical changes, but they can be life altering. As wounded warriors return home, their families are struggling to understand their effects. Using an example of erratic driving and road rage, this blog post illustrates the compounded effects of PTSD and TBI.

Learning how to adjust and use strategies to compensate for changes in thinking and learning after a traumatic brain injury is a huge challenge for survivors. Authors Flora Hammond, Tami Guerrier and Marilyn Lash give tips on how to use compensatory strategies to help with memory, attention, concentration, mental fatigue, slowed responses, planning, organization, judgment, and safety awareness. Written for adults and veterans with brain injury, it is also useful for families and caregivers in rehabilitation and at home.

If you believed everything you hear, you’d think hardly any one stays married after a brain injury. It’s a commonly believed that most marriages end in separation or divorce after a spouse has a traumatic brain injury. I’ve often heard folks quote an unknown source that, “Ninety percent of survivors of brain injury wind up divorced.” This is not exactly true. The reasons why relationships change after brain injury are complicated. Some research on marital relationships when a partner has a brain injury or a disability share some light on this.

“You can change the world with a hot bath, if you sink into it from a place of knowing that you are worth profound care, even when you’re dirty and rattled.” ~ Anne Lamott

Isn’t this a beautiful quote? It warms my heart every time I read it. The phrase “profound care” invites me to sink into it, like that hot bath, and let the waters of deep, intense care embrace me. This sentiment applies to anyone, of course, but, to my mind, it applies especially to family caregivers.

Barbara Webster, author of the tip card Memory Strategies after Brain Injury shares strategies and tips that can be used daily at home. Daily life can be complicated for anyone, but it can be even more complex and stressful if you have a memory impairment after a brain injury. By designing and using strategies that fit into your personal routine, you can develop a system that works for you and your lifestyle. It has to be practical, easy to use, and address your needs for it to work for you! That’s the bottom line…does it help you remember?