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Written by Marilyn Colter
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(Researchers tell us that grief has six different stages -- shock, denial, bargaining, anger, depression and acceptance-that occur in sequence. Grieving brain injury in the family often means that you are dealing with several stages with no clear sequence.)
Have you noticed that you're annoyed with medical professionals being so negative? Do you feel like people don't understand your situation? Do you feel like they are overestimating the severity of your family member's brain injury or simply don't understand that your loved one is going to recover well? If so, it's possible that denial has become part of your life and you are clinging to hope by denying reality.
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Written by Marilyn Colter
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(Researchers tell us that grief has six different stages -- shock, denial, bargaining, anger, depression and acceptance—that occur in sequence. Grieving brain injury in the family often means that you are dealing with several grief stages at the same time with no clear sequence.)
You got the call. Your body responded to the fight or flight signals and you arrived at the hospital. You weren’t real sure how you got there but you knew you MUST be with your family member who had been injured. You’re terrified. People have spoken to you and sometimes you respond—but you don’t really know who they are, what they asked or if you responded coherently. You called your family and friends and wept with them as they arrived at the hospital. You probably haven’t recognized it yet, but grief has come to live with you. It starts as a shock to your emotional and physical system and leaves your mind muddled. Here are ways to deal with the that muddling effect of shock so you can manage the realities of brain injury in the family.
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Written by LeAnn Thieman, LPN
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Are you one of the 54 million Americans who care for a family member? Do you tend to a loved one before going to work, and then return to care again after a long hard day on the job? Feeling torn between both "jobs" and trying to perform well at each causes so much stress that working caregivers are plagued by more mistakes, conflicts and stress-related illnesses. These simple tips will help ease your stress.
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Written by Marilyn Colter
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Brain injury caregivers are often overstressed and tired. But when that tired feeling goes on for weeks, or months, or years, exhaustion sets in. Symptoms of exhaustion are many—all of them bad for your health. If you ignore them, you may find that you've gone beyond tired and have become ill and unable to care for your brain-injured family member.
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Written by Marilyn Colter
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When we’re under a lot of stress, we often reach for fast food or comfort food full of calories, saturated fats, caffeine and sugar. (I crave a Quarter Pounder with Cheese on hard days, but I’m learning to resist!) You've probably heard nutrition can help us counteract stress. But how can you manage healthy eating when making a meal just seems like one more job you don't have time for? |
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Self Care
