TBI – Survivors, Caregivers, Family, and Friends

Archive for the ‘Brain Injury Resources’ Category

HOW TO FIND A SUPPORT GROUP

How to Find a Support Group

presented by

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

Have you ever needed a support group? Needed the help of others to assist you with the problems that life throws at you? Have you been open to asking for and accepting the help offered? Or are you like me––struggling to stand alone––and thinking you can go it alone?

Be SMART! Check out the possibilities below.

Your healthcare provider may be able to offer assistance. doctor, nurse, social worker, chaplain or psychologist

Google It! Search the Internet. Online support groups are available on social media sites like Facebook.

Local centers like libraries, churches, or synagogues may be able to direct you to an appropriate support group.

Check your local listings. Search your local telephone book (Does anyone even have a phone book anymore?) or check your local newspaper for support resources.

Ask family, friends, or anyone who knows someone with a brain injury for support group suggestions. 

Contact Organizations.

Contact a state or national organization affiliated with brain injury.

 Contact the Brain Injury Association of America to find support groups in your state. http://www.biausa.org/

Check out the Mayo Clinic for resources.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/support-groups/art-200655

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Brain Injury Resources~Book Review “Now One Foot, Now the Other”

Brain Injury Resources …

“Now One Foot, Now the Other”

by author/illustrator Tomie dePaola

presented by

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

 

Now One Foot, Now the Other

Now One Foot, Now the Other by author/illustrator, Tomie dePaola

Now One Foot, Now the Other by Tomie dePaola is one of my favorite books. I love all of Tomie’s books, but this one touches the heart.

My husband, David, had a traumatic brain injury in 2005 and, like Bob, had to relearn to walk. I guess I was my husband’s “Bobby” as I helped David to learn to walk again.

This book is so important in helping a child understand what happened to grandpa (grandma, anyone) when they suffer a debilitating brain injury. It is even an eye-opener for adults.

I highly recommend this book to any audience.

P.S. I once had drinks with Tomie dePaola and my friend, Paula Danziger, (author of the Amber Brown books) at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City while attending an SCBWI conference. (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators)

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Read It! Review It! Listen to It!

Click Links under Book

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Brain Injury Resources “I Give Up” Composed and Played by Elijah Bossenbroek

Brain Injury Resources …

“I Give Up”

Composed and Played by Elijah Bossenbroek

presented by

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

This is an amazing piece of piano music composed and played with breathtaking emotion by the young and upcoming (some say “genius”) pianist Elijah Bossenbroek. It’s Pianoa very moving piece, about which commenters have written “sad,” “uplifting,” and “inspiring.”  I can only assume that Bossenbroek has “triumphed” over an extremely sad part of his own life.

It is an appropriate piece for survivors of brain injury, who usually experience these emotions at one time or another. Listening to this piece gave me chills.

Never Give Up

 

 

 

Never Give Up!
Scream!
Yell!
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
Move on…

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Brain Injury Resources . . . . . Brain Injury Journey Bulletin by Lash & Associates Publishing

Brain Injury Journey Bulletin by Lash & Associates Publishing

presented by

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

 

Lash & Associates

Lash and Associates Publishing/Training, Inc. introduces its newest brainchild. The Brain Injury Journey BULLETIN is a compilation of brain-injury resources on a variety of topics of interest to those who live in the world of brain injury. Caregiving, memory issues, and grief and loss are some of the interest areas presented in the bulletin.

Lash and Associates Publishing/Training, Inc. is the leading publisher of brain-injury-related books and resources. They are in the know!

The bulletin is published free of charge each month. You only need to sign up for your subscription. Follow this link to get your free subscription, and YOU can be in the know too. Brain Injury Journey BULLETIN

 

 

July 2017
Brain Injury Journey BULLETIN: GRIEF and LOSS

June 2017
Brain Injury Journey BULLETIN: Executive Functions Critical and Vital to Organization, Prioritizing, and Behaviors

May 2017
Brain Injury Journey BULLETIN: “Caregivers – The Visible/Invisible TBI Support Network”

April 2017
Brain Injury Journey BULLETIN: Memory

 

To locate additional books pertaining to brain injury, please check out Lash & Associates Publishing/Training Inc.

 

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Brain Injury Resources . . . . . “After Brain Injury: Telling Your Story, A Journaling Workbook”

After Brain Injury: Telling Your Story, A Journaling Workbook

by

Barbara Stahura, C.J.F. and Susan B. Schuster, M.A., CCC-SLP

presented by
Donna O’Donnell Figurski

After Brain Injury Telling Your StoryThis workbook by Barbara Stahura and Susan B. Schuster guides survivors of brain injury and blast injury through the powerful healing experience of telling their own stories with simple journaling techniques.

By writing short journal entries, survivors explore the challenges, losses, changes, emotions, adjustments, stresses, and milestones as they rebuild their lives.

Journaling after brain injury helps written and verbal communication skills and provides cognitive retraining for following instruction. It helps promote self awareness as well as recognition of strengths and difficulties after brain injury.

Susan B. Schuster

Susan B. Schuster, M.A., CCC-SLP Author of “After Brain Injury: Telling Your Story – A Journaling Workbook”

It is a tool for planning for the future and discussions with family members. Journaling can be done individually, in a group or with assistance from caregivers or family.

Barbara Stahura, C.J.F. Author of “After Brain Injury: Telling Your Story – A Journaling Workbook”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To locate additional books pertaining to brain injury, please check out Lash & Associates Publishing/Training Inc.

 

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Brain Injury Resources . . . . . “Explaining Brain Injury, Blast Injury and PTSD to Children and Teens “

Explaining Brain Injury, Blast Injury and PTSD to Children and Teens

by
Marilyn Lash, M.S.W., Janelle Breese Biagioni and Tonya Hellard 
(offered by Lash & Associates Publishers)

presented by
Donna O’Donnell Figurski

EBIB Cover copy

When a parent is injured, sons and daughters often feel confused, scared, anxious, and angry. This guide helps parents explain the physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, and communicative changes that can follow a brain injury, blast injury, or PTSD. Using examples from children of all ages, it helps children understand their emotional reactions to a parent’s injury or PTSD. Each chapter has an exercise for children and practical tips for children, parents, and professionals.

To locate additional books pertaining to brain injury, please check out Lash & Associates Publishing/Training Inc.

Marilyn Lash – Author – President of Lash & Associates Publishing

Tonya Hellard – Author (no photo available)

Janelle Breese Biagioni – Author

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Brain Injury Resources . . . . . Movie Link – “Inside Out”

NOTE:     Although this link was active at the time of this posting, it no longer exists. Apparently, Disney has pulled the content due to copyright. I apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment. The updated link will take you to trailers.

Brain Injury Resources – Movie Link – “Inside Out”

presented by

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

Inside-Out-2015-Animated-Cartoon-Movie-HD-Wallpaper

Recently I published a short review of the Disney movie, “Inside Out.” The movie examines the inner-workings of the brain, and in particular the core memories of a youngster named, Riley.

Core memories are the essence of what makes up an individual.

thThe movie also explains, in its animated form, how both long-term and short-term memories are stored, retrieved, and sometimes lost forever.

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Although I watched the movie (twice) on Netflix, I’ve located it on the web for your easy access. I hope you will take the time to watch it. It’s fun … and informative!

Enjoy “Inside Out.”

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Brain Injury Resources . . . . . Movie Recommendation – “Inside Out”

Brain Injury Resources – Movie Recommendation – Inside Out

presented by

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

“Do you ever look at someone and wonder What is going on inside their head?”

“Inside Out” movie about the workings of the brain by Disney

That’s how the movie Inside Out begins. I really like it. I’ve now seen it twice. The beginning made immediate sense the second time that I watched the movie.

This Academy Award-winning, animated film by Walt Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios is definitely for adults. Young children will likely be entertained by the hysterically funny characters, but adults will find it both enormously entertaining and immensely informative.

The movie follows the emotional development of Riley from infancy to young, prepubescent girl. Each emotion is hilariously depicted as a character (Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear, and Anger), whose appearance and demeanor depicts the emotion represented.

The emotions control Riley’s behavior from a control panel in the brain. Riley is a happy young child, and Joy is pleased. But, things get more complicated as Riley gets older. Riley’s parents move, and Riley has a crisis that challenges her emotions. The resolution requires the emotions to cooperate.

In no way is the movie anatomically correct, but in contrast the psychological concepts are accurate. The introduction of a concept makes understanding it intuitive and effortless. Among other topics, you will painlessly learn about the making, storage, and dumping of memories, about the importance of emotion and memory in one’s behavior, that core memories are crucial to personality, and that joy and sadness are both important emotions. The movie deals with sleeping, dreaming, the difficulty in differentiating between fact and opinion, the subconscious, abstract thought, imaginary friends, imagination, train-of-thought (depicted as a real train), etc. In fact, my brother-in-law, who teaches introductory psychology to college students, is considering making watching this movie a requirement for the course.

I highly recommend it. (Trailer)

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Brain Injury Resources CTE & Football (chronic traumatic encephalopathy )

Brain Injury Resources . . . CTE & Football

presented

by

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

 

Brain th-2The regular season of the NFL (National Football League) begins this week. Although American football can be exciting, we in the brain-injury community are very aware of the havoc that both concussive and sub-concussive head impacts play not only on the brain health of the pros, but also on the brain health of college and high school players (1). We are especially sensitive to the high risk of the trusting and still-developing young players in Pop Warner leagues (2, 3).th

There has been a growing public awareness of the brain disease CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), which can develop from hits to the ctehead and lead to “memory loss, confusion, impaired judgement, impulse control problems, aggression, depression and progressive dementia.” Some players have retired early (4, 5). Former players have sued or are suing the NFL (6). There is still a great deal of ignorance about CTE, but much research has been done and is being continued vigorously. This article tells us some basic facts that we should know.

Here is a brief outline from the article:

“Concussions in the NFL are more widespread than we thought

“An estimated 96 percent of deceased NFL players had CTE

“Researchers are working on a test for living players

“The NFL has donated $0 to this important new brain injury study”

I urge you to read the article for the details.

 

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Brain Injury Resources . . . . . . “Their War Came Home” . . . . . . . (a documentary on the Effect of PTSD on Veterans and Their Families and Friends)

“Their War Came Home” – a Free (YouTube) Documentary on the Effect of PTSD

on Veterans and Their Families and Friends

presented

by

Donna O’Donnell Figurski

 

Marilyn-Lash

Marilyn Lash, MSW, president of Lash & Associates Publishing/Training, Inc.

 

Marilyn Lash, MSW, president of a 20-year-old company dedicated to brain injury, Lash & Associates Publishing/Training, Inc., has been very interested in brain injury and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) in children, adults, and veterans. She was very involved in the production of (and appears in) the newly released documentary “Their War Came Home.” Marilyn told me about it and sent me the link. My husband and I immediately watched it. This documentary is a “must see.”

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“Their War Came Home” A documentary by veterans for veterans

My husband and I watched gut-wrenching interviews of veterans describing the horrors of what PTSD did to them and to their families and friends. The documentary highlights the lack of awareness by the public and the major deficiencies of the military’s dealing with this huge problem. We witness veterans speaking candidly about suicide; outbursts, rage, and other emotional problems; drug abuse; alcoholism; homelessness; the problems of hypervigilance and isolation; and the effects it has on their loved ones. There is a heartfelt interview with a woman who is the spouse of a Navy SEAL with PTSD. Her words may resonate on many levels with some of you caregivers. Her comments on “living grief” are particularly touching. How does one lose the original version of one’s survivor and learn to love the one who took his or her place?

War ExplosionThe documentary ends on a hopeful note. The veterans who gave the interviews are learning to cope with their PTSD, often with great difficulty. There are volunteer organizations that help, and the film ends by showing several hotlines to call.Male Soldier

I highly recommend this documentary. It’s only 50 minutes long and is freely available on YouTube. You can also find it at Lash’s Blog on Brain Injury. It’s a must see!

 

(Photos compliments of Lash & Associates Publishing/Training, Inc.)

(Clip Art compliments of Bing.)

 

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