If a close friend or family member has a traumatic brain injury (TBI), then he or she will be depending on the love and support of friends and family. Recover from a TBI is a long process, and patients may feel a number of symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, blurred vision and even memory loss in some extreme cases.

Though it can be stressful at times, being a supporter of a TBI survivor is a fantastic undertaking. Here is why being a supporter alongside survivors of TBI is so important.

Support for Normalcy

After a TBI, many survivors want to return to normal life as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, this isn’t always easy, especially with a severe TBI. Many survivors need extra help and care in accomplishing chores around the home and running errands.

As a supporter, you may volunteer to help your friend or family member when they need it most. You might run a short errand or help your loved one do something enjoyable. Being there for a survivor is so vital to the recovery processes, so you shouldn’t feel like you’re not helping or wasting the survivor’s time.

Lend an Ear

Some survivors may be facing entirely new experiences, and they may feel overwhelmed. With more severe injuries, a survivor may lose parts of his or her memory or motor skills. Some survivors even lose their ability to speak. As you can imagine, this can be terrifying for a survivor when the whole world changes so suddenly.

You can be a good supporter just by listening to your friend or family member. You may not be able to help directly, but knowing that you’re there to listen and that you care can make a big difference to a TBI survivor.

If you’re looking for other supporters of TBI injuries, join the TryMunity community at community.trymunity.com. Our nonprofit focuses on giving support to individuals and families impacted by TBI. Don’t feel like you’re alone. Contact us today.