Brain : What is & What Now?

 An acquired brain injury (ABI) occurs after birth when the brain is injured, often resulting in Common Changes after Injury changes in how a person thinks, acts, and feels. Physical/Sensory Non- (HOW YOUR MUSCLES OR BODILY •Caused by internal forces HEALTH IS AFFECTED): •Common causes can include , substance overdose, lack of oxygen, or  /History of  Sexual function tumors.  Fatigue  Balance  Headaches  Sensory changes Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)  Sleep disturbance (sight, smell, touch, •Result of external forces, a bump, jolt, or  Weakness/paralysis hearing, taste) blow to the head directly or indirectly  Movement & coordination •Can lead to potentially chronic challenges affecting not only the person, but the family, community, and services. Thinking •Common causes are falls, motor vehicle collisions, assaults, or blasts. (HOW YOU PROCESS AND ENGAGE WITH YOUR ENVIRONMENT):

 Different parts of the brain are responsible for different functions a person can perform, such as  /recall &  Safety awareness a person’s movements, , processing of mental flexibility and the sounds/sights around, starting or holding a  / concentration conversation, or being able to pay attention or  , remember information. & learning decision-making,  Planning & organization judgement, and Parietal Lobe Frontal Lobe Integrating sensory  Initiation & motivation reasoning Organization & regulation information  Task-switching and  (attention, processing, Social skills, decision-making, sequencing processing, & speech initiation, etc.) Occipital  Fatigue Lobe Visual processing Feelings & Behavior Temporal Lobe Memory, language, Cerebellum (HOW YOU FEEL AND ACTIONS THAT hearing Coordination & Spinal Cord balance MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM BEFORE):

 When the brain is injured, tasks may be more  Difficulty with regulation  Lethargy challenging than prior to injury. Repetitive (emotions, actions, etc.)  Restlessness training and strategies to compensate for change   Psychological in function can form new pathways within the Self-awareness brain and facilitate rehabilitation.  Personality conditions (depression,  Irritability anxiety, bipolar  Despite the make-up or changes in a person’s brain, people living with brain injury are people  Unrelated laughter or crying disorder, etc.) first – not a diagnosis or someone to be counted out.

Help, Hope, and a Voice for people with brain injury and their families… Asheville | Winston-Salem | Charlotte | Raleigh | Greenville [email protected] www.bianc.net (919)833-9634 Brain Injury: What is & What Now?

One of the more challenging aspects of brain injury can be the invisible nature of it. Some changes are not seen on the outside but can be very real on the inside like someone's thoughts, fatigue, or feelings. Stigma, or the negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something, can occur without proper awareness and understanding about brain injury. Whether you are a survivor, family member, ally, professional, or learning about brain injury for the first time, there are certain strategies and tips for living well after injury and thriving within one’s community. Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. It can be more than being free from illness, it is a dynamic process of change and growth. Growth after brain injury can be a long process but possible when filled with patience, flexibility, and victories big and small.

Strategies for Success Living Well After Injury

• Frequent breaks and planning ahead Every person is different, some ideas to • Structure and importance of consider: consistency/scheduling 1. Structure & keeping routines • Minimizing distractions 2. Connecting with resources in your • Learn in small steps with increasing community distractions 3. Educating yourself and others on brain • Use of planners, notebooks, apps, injury calendars, communication books, etc. 4. Taking care of yourself with nutrition, • Break tasks or instructions into smaller, exercise, and self-care realistic goals 5. Practicing creativity and flexibility in • Repetition, rephrasing, and patience rehabilitation • Identifying and helping with multiple 6. Linking with others through support methods of learning (visual, verbal, groups or daily activities written) 7. Adaptive tools/technology or • On-the-spot, specific feedback accommodations (a modification or • Use of positive reinforcement & adjustment to enable equal incentives opportunity) can be helpful for • Plans for alternative behavior success independence Resources

 Brainline: www.brainline.org/  Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC): www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/index.html  Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center: www.msktc.org/tbi/model-system-centers  Online Training:  www.tbistafftraining.info/  AARP: www.aarp.org/caregiving/  ohiovalley.org/informationeducation/tbi101/  Brain Injury Association of America:  www.biancteach.net www.biausa.org/brain-injury/about-brain-injury  www.neurorestorative.com/knowledge-  Defense & Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC): center/neuro-institute/ dvbic.dcoe.mil/

Help, Hope, and a Voice for people with brain injury and their families… Asheville | Winston-Salem | Charlotte | Raleigh | Greenville [email protected] www.bianc.net (919)833-9634