Traumatic brain injury occurs when an external force causes injury to the brain. That external force could be from an automobile accident, a fall, a gun shot, a sports concussion or a roadside bomb (IED as they're called in Iraq). TBI is normally classified as mild or severe, depending upon numerous factors.
Traumatic brain injuries may not be diagnosed during early treatment. Each year, thousands of persons suffering from brain injury are sent home from hospital emergency rooms because of a lack of symptoms or, quite possibly, a lack of brain injury knowledge among ER personnel.
Confused by Their Inability to be the People They were Prior to the Injury
People who are familiar with Brain Injury Survivor's Guide will identify this confusion as part of the Cycle of Response discussed in chapter six. Brain injury affects memory. Beth Jameson, co-author of Brain Injury Survivor's Guide, could not remember how to cook or how to put on her makeup.
Courtney Cox, co-author of I Can't Remember Me, could not remember her husband or family members. Claudia Osborn, author of Over My Head, had a terrible time when shopping. She said she would either forget her list, or take the list and forget to take money, or forget how to get to the grocery store. (Both books are available at the Brain Injury Bookstore on Amazon - see left column.)
These are just three examples out of millions of people who were confused by their inability to be the people they were prior to their brain injuries.
Demonstrating that an Injury they do not Understand and Cannot Comprehend is Producing the Confusion they Cannot Communicate
How do you explain to someone something you don't understand and cannot comprehend? Beth mentioned in her book that there were many occasions when she stood silent in the middle of a sentence, trying to remember the words she wanted to say.
Has that happened to you? Did the other person say to you like they would say to Beth, "That happens to me all the time"? Beth said she simply wanted to scream, "NO, that doesn't happen to you ALL the time; it happens to ME ALL THE TIME."
Difficulty finding the correct words at the correct time is a very common problem among people who have suffered brain injury. Just because it's a common problem does not make it any easier to live with. Not only is it confusing, it leads to frustration which leads to guilt which leads to depression (also from Cycle of Response in Brain Injury Survivor's Guide).
Earlier you read that traumatic brain injury is classifed as mild or severe. Please understand that any injury to the brain is traumatic for both the injured person and family members, whether it's caused by an external force or not.
Strokes can also cause brain injury. So can lack of oxygen. So can drug use. And so can many other things. While these are not officially called traumatic brain injuries, the results are the same.
Some physical symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, some loss of vision, difficulty sleeping, getting tired easily, lethargy and other sensory losses such as smell or taste.
Some cognitive symtoms include inability to concentrate, short attention span, difficulty finding words and memory problems.
Some behavioral problems include disinhibition, becoming easily irritated, being very quick to anger, etc.
Beth Jameson insisted that a message she desparately wanted to convey in Brain Injury Survivor's Guide is this: Knowledge is Power to a Brain Injured Person. Victims and family members must learn more about brain injury. They should attend support groups if possible. They should find Internet support groups and share information with others...and learn from others.
A brain injury, in many instances, can be overcome. But, it will not go away.
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