I have a TBI - now what??

As the leading cause of disability between ages 15 - 44, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a devastating injury that can totally change the lives of both the individual living with the injury and the people around them. But what IS a TBI? And what’s the difference between TBI and Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)?

A TBI is caused by external factors such as a trauma to the head, while ABI is the umbrella term for brain injuries which were acquired after birth, including those from illnesses etc.. In Jen’s case, her TBI was caused by a car accident; we will focus our content on TBI, although rehabilitation can be relevant for both types of injury.

Brain injuries can range from mild to severe, with impact for a few days, up to the rest of their lives. In Jen’s case, her injury is such that she will forever live with the impact of this injury. While Jen’s life has become vastly different from what she imagined it to be, she still finds joy and love and laughter and she is continuing to build meaning and fulfillment in her life. In the early days, we had absolutely no idea what to expect; in many ways, Jen looked the same, and a lot of the advice we got was to “wait and see”. As loving family members, this can be really hard to hear, and in some cases, there is more that can be done earlier! Stay tuned for our tips on rehabilitation.

An excellent book recommendation that we received early on was “The Brain That Changes Itself” by Norman Doidge; it provides insights on cutting-edge therapy and helps patients and families to understand what is possible with therapy.

Learn more about what to expect with a brain injury here:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/traumatic-brain-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20378557

Have you or a family member experienced a brain injury and you’re not sure what to do now? Get in touch and follow us! We are happy to share our experience and knowledge to help you make the best decisions on next steps.