What should you know about brain injury and recovery? Watch a series of incredible videos produced by the Shepherd Center. They feature some of the nation’s top physicians, neuroscientists, and brain injury experts to help you understand brain injury and gives you practical advice for coping with brain Injury.
Addiction is classified as a chronic, relapsing brain disorder, and it affects one in 10 Americans. By continually using a substance, whether it be a prescription drug, a street drug (like heroin), or alcohol, the body begins to become physically and psychologically dependent on that substance.
Brain injury and addiction are still being studied. Some studies show a correlation between someone’s brain being injured and the abuse of drugs or alcohol to cope with the brain injury.
The American Trauma Society (ATS) is dedicated to the elimination of needless death and disability from injury. For the past 50 years, ATS has served as an advocate for the trauma care system, trauma prevention programs, and the victims of trauma and their families throughout the United States. Their goals are to prevent injury whenever possible, and to ensure optimal treatment of trauma when it does occur.
Assisted Living is a community organization that prioritizes helping those who are disabled and the elderly fully enjoy their healthy years and age gracefully. The organization creates and publishes comprehensive, unbiased, free web-based resources. They have been featured on the Parkinson’s Foundation, US Department of Health and Human Services — Health Finder, Global Healthspan Policy Institute, and are referenced by many governmental agencies and organizations across the web.
Brain & Life is the only magazine focused on the intersection of neurologic disease and brain health. This website has the current Brain & Life magazine available to read, as well as archived articles. The magazine is published by the American Academy of Neurology, with articles that are extremely informative and easy to read.
The Brain & Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission
Georgians with traumatic brain and spinal injuries deserve lives of independence and inclusion, lives rich with vision and possibilities. Trust Fund awards assist individuals with injuries in reaching these goals.
An information center and a source of inspiration for those with an injured brain, and for their caregivers, families, and friends. This TBI survivor’s goal is to promote awareness of brain injury, provide resources to those living with TBI, and to educate about good brain health.
Brain Injury Association of America
Founded in 1980, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is the leading national organization serving and representing individuals, families, and professionals who are touched by a life-altering, often devastating, traumatic brain injury (TBI).
The Brain Injury News and Information Blog
This blog, which is authored by Michael V. Kaplen, Esq., an attorney specializing in representing people with a brain injury, provides the latest news and information on brain injury, concussion, coma, traumatic epilepsy, and other brain trauma. You can subscribe to the blog at his website.
Their mission is to be the most reliable, timely and complete resource on the internet for brain injury and spinal cord injury survivors. These injuries can be devastating, causing physical and emotional distress, as well as loss of wages.
BrainLine is a national multimedia project offering information and resources about preventing, treating, and living with a brain injury. It includes a series of webcasts, electronic newsletters, and an extensive outreach campaign in partnership with national organizations concerned about brain injury. There are 24 life-changing iPhone and iPad apps for people with brain injury covered on the website (some are free, some have a fee).
National Stroke Association is pleased to announce the official launch of Careliving Community, a new online social network designed exclusively for caregivers and family members of stroke survivors. This free private space allows caregivers and loved ones of stroke survivors to connect, share advice and swap stories through a discussion forum. Careliving also offers a blog written by fellow caregivers and live chats with experts on caregiving. Careliving was developed based on a serious need among caregivers for a private online support space where individuals can find peer-level support and also learn to take better care of themselves. Caregivers can join the Careliving Community here.
CaringBridge offers free websites that support and connect family members and friends during critical illnesses, treatment, and recovery. This is an easy way to keep everyone up to date on your survivor’s progress.
CDC – Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports
To help ensure the health and safety of young athletes, CDC developed the “Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports” initiative to offer information about concussions — a type of traumatic brain injury — to coaches, parents, and athletes involved in youth sports.
This is an excellent, in-depth site with free educational information and support to those who have been affected by cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities.
Complete Concussion Management
This website offers many resources and free information and even handbooks on concussions (Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI). It provides “collaborative, evidence-based concussion care.” Be sure to go to “Ask Concussion Doc” — who is Dr. Cameron Marshall. He provides numerous podcasts. You can search his name on YouTube to find his videos. You can also find a clinic using this website. The various forms of therapy are discussed as well as the variety of causes for a brain injury.
Concussion Legacy Foundation – Hope with CTE
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a condition suffered by many pro football nd other sports players who have had multiple hits to the head and concussions. Read further and watch the video explaining the symptoms of this condition and how it is treatable.
Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center
The DVBIC serves active duty military, their dependents, and veterans with brain injury through state-of-the-art medical care, innovative clinical research initiatives, and educational programs. Information is available in Spanish.
The Center for Independent Living serving Metro Atlanta — a cross-disability, not-for-profit, grass-roots organization run by and for people with disabilities — supporting people with disabilities to be in charge of their own lives by having choices, making decisions, and taking responsibility for themselves.
Neuropsychologist, Board Certified Health Psychologist, Board Certified Sports Psychologist, and brain injury survivor, Dr. Diane is one of the foremost authorities in the Brain Health industry. Her website contains a wealth of information about different aspects of brain injury and is also a great resource for caregivers and survivors of brain injury.
Fiscal Tiger is a useful, informative website regarding a variety of financial issues. Their Affording and Paying for Healthcare guide covers topics ranging from medical bill basics to medical debt resources for veterans.
The Georgia RSVP Clinic is a free outpatient rehabilitation clinic for uninsured ad underinsured people with brain, stroke, and spinal cord injuries. See their website for more information on eligibility and what services they provide.
Guide to Managing Finances After a Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries often leave patients with behavioral and cognitive impairments that can make managing finances difficult. To make matters worse, they could end up facing nearly $150,000 in related medical expenses. To help these individuals, this is a free resource that lists interactive tools for scheduling and budgeting personal finances, while educating families on how they can help during the recovery period.
How to Boost Brain Power and Memory
Until just a few years ago, doctors believed that loss of brain function due to neural breakdown was assumed to be a normal, unavoidable part of aging. It turns out they were wrong. In the past few years, it has become clear that you can, in fact, make new neurons starting in your 20s and continuing well into old age. You can literally rewire the brain with new parts as the older parts wear out. How? On this web page are lots of things you can do right now to preserve, protect and enhance your gray matter.
How to Talk to Children About Aphasia and Other Health Issues
Change can be confusing for a lot of people, especially children. This is often the case when the change involves the health of a loved one. Aphasia, a communication disorder that affects about 2 million Americans, is one such health issue that can leave children curious and concerned. This page highlights tips on how to talk about aphasia and other health issues with children.
Lash & Associates Publishing/Training Inc.
Lash & Associates produces and sells practical and user-friendly books, manuals, tip cards, and tool kits that describe the symptoms, treatment, and recovery of individuals with brain injury. The company also develops and presents on-site, specific, in-depth programs on traumatic brain injury and concussion in children and adults.
Medline Plus is a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. The Medline Plus website provides authoritative information about brain injury and caregiving produced and compiled by U.S. government agencies and health-related organizations. The site also provides easy access to medical journal articles and has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and the latest health news.
One of the leading organizations dedicated to providing hope, comfort, and valuable information to families experiencing a traumatic brain injury with a loved one.
An educational website for patients, caregivers, and professionals that covers many aspects of brain injury and spinal cord injury. Areas of the website include: Affect and Emotion, Behavior Issues, Cognitive Issues, Family Issues, Bowel Care, Bladder Care, Support and Resources, and much more.
Retreat & Refresh Stroke Camp has resources that offer a better understanding of stroke, helping survivors move forward and begin anew.
This is a very informative and inspirational blog site authored by Craig J. Phillips, a brain injury survivor who has risen far above expectations. A blogger and public speaker, Craig’s mission is to encourage, motivate, empower, and share hope with others who have sustained brain injury.
Stroke Information & Resource Guide
Recognizing and reacting to a stroke. More good information on strokes.
Sleep Foundation: The Role of Trauma in Sleep Problems
Experiencing trauma can increase the risk of mental and physical health issues, and has the potential to negatively affect sleep quality. Alertness and hyperarousal related to the effects of the body’s trauma response often contribute to the symptoms of insomnia. After a traumatic event, many people have difficulty falling asleep, wake up more often during the night, and have trouble falling back asleep.