Brain Injury Awareness Goes Beyond the Stigma
During Brain Injury Awareness Month each March, cognitive or "brain injury" is highlighted to raise awareness of this debilitating condition and ways to maintain quality of life for individuals living with it.
TBI survivors often refer to their condition as "invisible injury." They experience this because TBIs always do not display any outward symptoms and can thus go unnoticed until they worsen to the point that they need assistance. Because of this, the condition and its hardships often lead to a lot of misunderstandings.
Misconceptions vs. Realities
The Brain Injury Association of the United States and other agencies have run campaigns intended to provide tangible platforms for people living with trauma-related brain injuries. These programs serve people with TBIs by dispelling myths and allowing them to share their experiences with them instead of relying on myths that concern them.
Reality: It's easy to be uncertain about a person's recovery when we notice changes in their behavior but no sign of noticeable physical trauma. Traumata caused by an external fall is likely to heal relatively quickly, but psychological trauma and neurological and psychological changes may persist longer. It is always important to recognize TBIs can cause long-term health conditions that impact the survivor's capacity to participate in daily activities like school, work, socializing, and spending time with family.
Misconception: Having endured a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you can't participate in social activities anymore.
If you are a caregiver or a first-degree relative of a TBI survivor, active listening and communication are helpful ways to understand his or her struggles and come up with effective solutions. Mobility aids can assist people with challenging conditions like poor mobility and muscle weakness. With the help and appropriate treatment, many who have endured long-term brain damage can adapt to a new reality and lead full lives with a sense of happiness.
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