Traumatic Brain Injury

Meeting your Basic Needs

How do I take care of my self and my life?

Getting your life on track after a brain injury takes time, personal commitment and help. If you haven’t contacted a brain injury treatment program near you, now is the time.

Here are a few basis steps to start with as you heal:

1. Make sure you have a good health care provider who can:

• Make sure you receive adequate diagnosis. (Brain injury is often missed or not fully diagnosed and treated.)
• Arrange the right initial rehabilitation support (i.e.: Cognitive, Speech, Physical, and Occupational therapies)
• Arrange ongoing follow-up care as you heal (i.e.: Counseling, case management, vocational support)
• Manage any ongoing medical issues or illnesses (i.e.: Sleep difficulties, headaches, diabetes, high blood pressure)
• Refer for mental and emotional health support for you (i.e.: Life readjustment, anxiety, grief, mood changes, depression)
• Be willing to listen fully (Does your provider treat you with respect, take time to listen and address what you tell him/her and seem to remember what you talked about in your last visit?)
• Be willing to bring in help or find another doctor for you if they she or he is unable to meet your health care needs (i.e.: Consultations, specialists and second opinions)

2. Make sure you have someone in your life who will help you get all of the areas of your life on track:

• Housing
• Food
• Transportation
• Benefits
• Medical Care
• Legal Advocacy
• Independence

Next: Finding Support as you Heal >

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