I was asked about TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury... Here are some things I suggest for anyone dealing with it in their lives - a sure issue in Self Acceptance
Here are some TBI -Specific recommendations I can make to others who are asking. It is also a tool for my current lining up of resources and ideas I need to pursue for myself after a recent new TBI event in my life:
1. Have someone to go to who will listen, knows what TBI is, and has mental health counseling skills (don’t assume – check them out.
2. Shop around. NOT every hospital that says they work with TBI does it the same way Some are clinical/medical, “getting the facts” through testing (this is good to do even with them. But the difference with who you want to go to is what comes next.
3. Look for institutions known for their work with TBI – and people who will or can:
a. have a history of working with people as people, not just patients- and are known to be willing to involve other services that are “TBI sensitive” that they may not have themselves;
b. quickly respond to the physical exam - who check for physical brain anomalies (e.g.blood floating around, brain chemistry issues);
c. identify and help with behaviors distinguishable in TBI (not just in psychological testing but also motor movement, thought processes, speech, I. Q. changes, and physical capacity strengthening or support ;
d. teach on site TBI-specific home/workspace reorganization e.g. to manage/maintain go beyond the mess (refreshers are needed from time to time)
e. get you community help - when they cannot do it themselves e.g. home cleaning, personal hygiene, away-from-home transportation, etc.
f. offer time management training – and occasional followup reviews/refreshers;
g. provide nutrition ed/ensure that a healthy diet is actually self-happening– or is provided by a food service. (A lot of people think that telling you what to do – means it is on you to do it. With TBI, these folks know that is not what happens without repeated intervention+ retraining to”GLUE it into your routine)
h. provide in-home full-body-bathing/just washing the back & hard to reach places
i. do toe nail clipping
j. give in-home/office occasional checks for moles/anomalies in hard-impossible places to see/reach. (Docs just don’t do these things any more – and yet this prevents cancer and more)
You see all the challenges to self-acceptance. What are your challenges and how have you (perhaps) met them?
@caroleeuits Sounds like you are getting help. I hope you found the right place. Hang in there, we care for you.