Living With TBI

Living With TBI

Everyone around a TBI patient is affected by the condition. The way people respond plays an important part in the recovery process of the patient.

Helplessness

It is awkward not knowing what to do or how to help a loved one who has TBI. Some friends and family stop visiting or calling due to feeling helpless. They can become withdrawn.

Reality

If the patients gets worse, it is apparant that there are financial concerns, household chore situations and more. The patient is not the same person. This can become very difficult to live with. Love and patience helps.

Denial

This has to be the most difficult obstacle. The injury is invisible, so it is easy to assume things are perfect. When people assume the patient is just depressed or has emotional problems it is more difficult for the patient to receive proper care. People tend to forget there was a prior head injury that is the cause of the emotional and physical problems that occur later. When the patient is unable to change back to what they once were, it may start depression in the patient.

Frustration

This can manifest itself when the patient feels that nobody is listening or believing them. They may respond with stubbornness and be non cooperative. Tempers can flare when the patient feels like nobody cares or understands. They also become unpredictable.

Guilt

Friends & family can begin to feel anger at the patient. It turns into guilt. The patient is not meaning to be difficult, although it can make you feel as if they are doing it deliberately.

Anger

The family, friends and patient all feel anger. If the trauma to the head was a result of someone else's negligence or fault, the anger is intensified. The patient feels anger towards the negligence & people not understanding the problems. The family and friends are angry cause the patient has changed so dramatically and there is no turning back.

Sadness

This is a genuine feeling. This happens after all of the other feelings above have subsided dramatically. This is when the patient is not going to be the same and you recall memories of how things used to be.

Acceptance

This is the same for the patient as it is for the loved ones. The patient realizes nothing is going to make them change back to what they were and adjustments have to be made. The loved ones realize this patient is still a good person, however, they are different. Compassion is regained at this point.