Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a serious health problem in the population at large – each year, nearly 1.7 million people are estimated to be affected by brain injuries (whether traumatic or not). Unfortunately, there’s still a dearth of collective knowledge and even fewer conversations surrounding this issue. People simply don’t talk about it, and the media is even less inclined to focus on the true extent of brain injuries.

Taking Action Within Your Community

When such a large percentage of the population is affected with something so life-altering, it’s time to do something about it. It’s time to raise awareness and education within our communities – after all, chances are that you know and love someone who’s struggling with a TBI. Here are some of the best ways to spread TBI education in your personal community:

• First, educate yourself. Educating yourself on the intricacies of traumatic brain injuries is an important first step. There are so many excellent TBI resources out there – here at TryMunity, we’ve included in-depth information on both traumatic and acquired brain injuries, as well as concussions.
• Talk to people who’ve experienced a TBI. Understanding on a personal level just how much brain injuries can affect people by talking to someone who’s experienced a TBI will help provide invaluable insight into this health issue, and will likely give you a more nuanced, empathetic overall perspective of brain injuries.
• Give back to those in need. Donate to TryMunity today – your support will go towards raising awareness of this issue and providing important support for families dealing with TBI.

Contact TryMunity

Here at TryMunity, we provide a web of online resources and support systems for those afflicted with a traumatic brain injury or who know someone who is. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have!

There are a lot of myths and false fears circulating about traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). When people experience a TBI for themselves, the often don’t know what to expect, and they have some false fears about what living with a TBI will be like.

Here are some of the more common false fears patients have about TBIs and why they’re myths.

You Can’t Remember Simple Things So You Must Be Crazy

This just isn’t true. It’s not uncommon for TBI patients to have trouble remembering certain facts they otherwise would never forget, such as their address or home phone number. This does not mean that you’re crazy or out of your mind. Remember that memory is a brain function, not a mind function. If your brain is injured, then it will have trouble acting as it did before, just like any other arm or leg injury.

You Won’t Get Better

The truth is that recovering from a TBI can take months, even years. This is a slow process, and it will take time for you to feel like yourself again.

There are some things that you can do to help your brain relearn certain functions. You might try going to speech therapy or playing certain computer games. These can help you improve your speech and thinking functions, and they’ll help the brain make new pathways to perform those functions that were lost during the injury. Good exercise can also help you brain. If you have questions, speak with your physician to learn how you can help yourself improve.

You’re All Alone

Many patients don’t know anything about TBIs until they have one themselves. If they don’t know anyone else with such an injury, it can make them feel lonely or isolated, as if no one understands exactly what they’re going through.

This is a common fear, but you should know that there are many others out there just like you. You can find a whole world of support online and connect with TBI support groups in your area. You can also share information with your friends and family members to help them better understand what you’re going through.

Don’t let your false fears about TBIs control you. For more information, reach out to TryMunity at community.trymunity.com and be part of a welcoming community.

If you enjoy running, this is a great exercise to help improve your health and your quality of life. However, being out on the open road and pounding the pavement for your well-being could potentially be dangerous. It’s ideal to know tips that can assist in keeping you safe and avoid any head injuries or body injuries while you’re out and about running.

Hold your Head Up

When you’re running, it’s important to hold your head up at all times. This will better allow you to see things in front of you and may assist in helping you from falling or running into an object.

Be sure only to run when you feel well, and you’re alert to help you prevent any injuries that could potentially be avoided. Additionally, if you’re taking any type of medication that causes drowsiness or makes you dizzy, you should put off running while on these drugs.

Wear a Helmet

The best way to protect your head when you’re running is to simply wear a helmet. You can find a wide variety of these at many specialty runner stores. You can even find one that is more compact and smaller in size, but will provide all the protection that your head needs easily.

It’s a great idea to have several helmets to wear with a variety of outfits or to be simply able to grab one at any time you want to hit the road running.

Let us Help!

At Trymunity, we know that being diagnosed with a serious brain injury is debilitating in many areas. We are proud to offer a community of supportive people who have overcome this condition. Simply visit our website to get the support you need.

The challenges of living with a traumatic brain injury are many. Not being able to think as clearly as you once did or feel as well as you have in the past can be discouraging. If you have a loved one that is suffering from a traumatic brain injury, you will want to do all you can to help this person. Knowing effective ways to help your loved one cope that is in this situation can be helpful.

Be Thoughtful

Be sure to check in to see how this person is doing on a regular basis.  If you can pay this person a visit in person, that is ideal. This way you will be able to get a firsthand view of the status of your loved who is suffering from this injury.

If visiting is not possible, be sure to call often and talk to your loved one. The sound of this individual’s voice may give you a strong indication of how well this person is coping.

Be Helpful

If possible, do small things for the person who is suffering from the brain injury frequently. This could be something as small as cooking a meal or cleaning the house for your loved one.

Taking the time to do little chores can be of a great assistance to the people you love who are dealing with a serious injury such as this.

Let us Help!

At Trymunity, we want to help you find the support you or your loved one needs when it comes to dealing with a serious brain injury. We provide a community of people who have dealt with this precise issue and are standing by to assist you. Simply visit our website to learn more.