My son Brian, a 20-year-old college sophomore, sustained a brain injury in a car accident in July of 1985. Brian decided to go to the beach at 2 a.m. with a friend, after drinking too many beers and smoking marijuana. In the pre-dawn hours, still miles from Ocean City, he fell asleep at the wheel.

There are many experiences in life that cause us to grieve. Generally, we think grief results from someone’s death. Certainly, death is a cause for grief; however, it is not the only way to experience loss. Divorce, separation, transitional losses (e.g. moving to a new community), and developmental losses (e.g. children leaving home) are also ways in which we can experience loss

After brain injury, life is full of adjustments. It can be challenging, not just for the survivor, but also for those who know and care for the person.

Questions about the way a person who has experienced a brain injury will act and what their personality will be like are the most frequently asked. Over time, it is the changes in social skills and behavior that are the biggest concern to families. More than the physical effects of a brain injury, changes in how a person acts post brain injury can be more difficult to adjust to.

Does the mere thought of writing leave you cold? Perhaps it reminds you of the difficult times you had in school trying to write to the satisfaction of your teachers. Or perhaps the thought of writing about your life leaves you thinking there’s nothing in your life worth writing about. To both of these reasons for not journaling, I say: Let them go!

Valentine’s Day is not the only time we think about love and long for a deep connection with a partner. After a person has a brain injury, especially a moderate-severe injury, there may be changes in personality, memory, and communication.

Note: I know of no studies so far that have been conducted with people with brain injury who journal. However, this kind of writing is beneficial for so many populations, it would undoubtedly be helpful for many people with brain injury. I do know that the people with brain injury in my journaling groups have benefited greatly from this practice.

One out of two adolescents or adults with brain injury abuses substances like alcohol or drugs. Some survivors trying to cope with depression, social isolation and other losses turn to alcohol or drugs. Abusing these substances can slow or complicate recovery.

I was and still am (and always will be) a huge Daddy’s Girl. My dad always told me he never wanted a boy. He wanted a princess to spoil, and that is what he did.We were more like best friends than father and daughter. Even though there were over a thousand kilometers between us, we were close as could be. It was never out of the ordinary to receive a phone call at 2 in the afternoon and it was my dad at work. He had heard a joke and had to share it with me. He would surprise me with visits, calls and gifts all the time. He was my best friend.

Are you a new caregiver for a family member who recently sustained a brain injury? Are you struggling with all of the responsibilities and tasks? The crisis stage of brain injury treatment covers the time when your family member is in the intensive care unit, until he/she begins early rehabilitation.