Books for Information on Brain Injury in Adults

Book on marital stress and adjustment for families when a spouse has a brain injury. Discusses emotional trauma for family, grieving, mourning, parenting, and caregiving after severe head trauma.

This book is included in the Family and Adult Tool Kit on Traumatic Brain Injury.

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. Journaling after brain injury helps written and verbal communication skills and provides cognitive retraining for following instruction. It helps promote self awareness as well as recognition of strengths and difficulties after brain injury. It is a tool for planning for the future and discussions with family members. Journaling can be done individually, in a group or with assistance from caregivers or family.

The comprehensive how-to guide for psychological wellness after traumatic brain injury or stroke covers understanding the self, recovering emotionally, thinking in new ways, and changing behavior. Written in plain language and formatted for easy reading and use by caregivers, families and survivors, it is filled with practical worksheets and exercises. This is an essential tool for families and survivors on coping with the effects and consequences of brain injury. It addresses the stresses and challenges faced daily as well as the long term challenges for the future.

This brain injury book for families explains consequences of traumatic brain injury and gives strategies for coping with changes in the survivor's physical abilities as well as cognitive and behavioral changes. It helps families understand various types of brain injury, the rehabilitation process, and helps prepare them for future issues. This manual is a great tool to educate and support families as they learn about and live with the consequences of acquired brain injury.

This book is included in the Troops and Veterans Tool Kit on Blast Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, Concussion and PTSD.

After a brain injury, people often don’t know whether they will be able to work or what else they can do. This practical guide can help people sort through the options of going back to the same job, finding a new job, or not going back to work. The book will help you find and successfully keep a job. The book also provides suggestions for volunteer work designed to help you be productive and, if you like, transition to a job that meshes with your interests and abilities.

This illustrated down-to-earth book contains checklists, worksheets, and many ideas offered by people who have learned to live and work productively after brain injury. Sample “ideas” in this book include:

• How to decide whether to keep your old job.
• Deciding whether you can afford to work.
• If you can't work, figuring out what you can do.
• What kinds of services are out there.
• What you should tell people who ask you about going back to work.

A vocational training program for adults with traumatic and other types of acquired brain injuries living in the community includes 20 structured sessions with a workbook and CD with worksheets. Part One of the vocational curriculum helps survivors of brain injuries and blast injuries explore their interests, concerns and readiness for finding a job or returning to work. Part Two covers steps of looking for a job with attention to disclosure of a disability, on the job accommodations, resume preparation and interviewing. Part Three covers strategies for keeping a job and avoiding problems on the job.