Traumatic brain injuries are a serious health concern. When such a large percentage of the population is affected with something so life-altering, it’s time to increase awareness in your community. Here are some of the best ways to spread TBI education, within your personal community:

Do Research 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 TBI Survivors. Talking to TBI survivors on a personal level is crucial. This is the only way to gain an understanding of just how much brain injuries can affect people – including the people that we love. 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, empathic overall perspective of brain injuries.

Give Back. Donate to TBI causes, or volunteer your time with a reputable TBI organization. You could also donate to TryMunity today – your support will go towards raising awareness of this issue, and providing important support for families dealing with TBI.

Join the TryMunity Community – We’re Here for You!

Do you have further questions about how to increase brain injury awareness within your personal community? Don’t hesitate to contact TryMunity. Here at TryMunity, we provide a vast, comprehensive web of resources for just that! We also have several support systems for those afflicted with a traumatic brain injury, or who know of someone who is. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! Join the TryMunity community today, and take advantage of all that we offer. We’re always happy to speak with you, and offer our assistance. We look forward to telling you more!

Spring sports season is here, and you know what that means – concussion season. Concussions are no fun, and they can also be life-threatening. This can be a scary risk associated with sports, but there are some ways to reduce your chances of getting concussed. Follow our tips for avoiding concussion during spring sports season:

• Wear helmets and other protective headgear. When it comes to high-contact sports, there is no excuse for not wearing a helmet or other headgear, regardless of whether you are practicing or playing an actual game. You should also always close a chin strap if you are wearing a helmet.
• Play by the rules. This one’s important! To ensure that you avoid concussions and other injuries, playing by the rules is essential – and could very well save your life.
• Check the field or arena. If you’re playing a sport outdoors, checking over the field can be helpful. Why? Because, this way, you can spot uneven patches or holes in the field – both of which can be treacherous. Check the field to ensure that you reduce your risk of getting a concussion.
• Wear the appropriate equipment. In addition to wearing a helmet, other protective gear is important, too. If your sport requires padding or other equipment, you should always wear this to avoid getting concussed.

Join the TryMunity Community – We’re Here for You!

Do you have further questions about how avoid concussions during spring sports season? If so, don’t hesitate to contact TryMunity. Here at TryMunity, we provide a vast, comprehensive web of resources for just that! We also have several support systems for those afflicted with a traumatic brain injury, or who know of someone who is. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! Join the TryMunity community today, and take advantage of all that we offer. We’re always happy to speak with you, and offer our assistance.

Are you or a loved one struggling with a traumatic brain injury? If so, one of the best things you can do is find a specialized support group, or network of people who are dealing with (or have dealt with) a TBI. Why? Because having a TBI can be an extremely isolating experience. It can be easy to lose sight of what’s important, and it can be easy to forget that there are other people out there going through the same things that you are. Finding a good TBI-specific support network will be a wonderful, healing experience for both the TBI survivor and his/her family and friends. Below, we’ve listed a couple ideas for practical ways to find a TBI support network:

Facebook. Or any social media, really. By reaching out on Facebook, you’re bound to find a host of great groups to join — either virtually or in person.

Meetups.com. This website is chock-full of all kinds of different “meet-up” groups (i.e. like-minded people who have formed a kind of club), so you’ll likely fund some great resources and groups here.

TryMunity. Here at TryMunity, we’re proud to offer a widespread support network for TBI survivors and their families and friends. Consider joining us today!

Join the TryMunity Community – We’re Here for You!

Do you have further questions about how to support a family that’s been affected by a TBI? Don’t hesitate to contact TryMunity. Here at TryMunity, we provide a vast, comprehensive web of resources for just that! We also have several support systems for those afflicted with a traumatic brain injury, or who know of someone who is. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! Join the TryMunity community today, and take advantage of all that we offer. We’re always happy to speak with you, and offer our assistance.

When it comes to experiencing a traumatic brain injury (TBI), this can be a painful time both physically, mentally…and financially. If you or a loved one has been struck with a TBI, you may be wondering how you’re going to pay for those pesky medical bills that never seem to stop piling up. Here at TryMunity, we’re focused on providing helpful resources for TBI survivors and their friends and family members. Read on for our tips on how to get help with your TBI medical bills:

• Worker’s compensation. Collecting your rightful worker’s comp can often be one of the biggest financial resources out there. If you or your loved one experienced a brain injury while on the job, always check into receiving potential worker’s compensation.
• Disability insurance. You may be able to file a disability claim, which can be hugely helpful, financially speaking.
• Health insurance. It’s always worth doing in-depth research and inquiring with your specific health care provider, to see what they may be able to cover. Your insurance provider may not always be explicit with you upfront about this, which is why it’s important to do research on your own.
• Social Security disability. You’ll likely want to consult with a specialized attorney first, but it is possible to file a Social Security disability claim. (And speaking of attorneys, it’s also worth inquiring with a legal expert about receiving compensation from parties were responsible for your TBI.)

Join the TryMunity Community – We’re Here for You!

Do you have further questions about receiving financial support for your traumatic brain injury? At TryMunity, we provide a vast web of resources and support systems for those afflicted with a traumatic brain injury, or who know of someone who is. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! Join the TryMunity community today, and take advantage of all that we offer. We’re always happy to speak with you.

When it comes to dealing with a traumatic brain injury (or, TBI), one thing is for certain: this type of injury doesn’t just affect the person who’s been injured – that person’s whole network of family and friends is affected, as well.

And, chances are, if you’re the person who’s watching a loved one go through this ordeal, it can be hard to know how to help.

But, good news! If you know someone who’s struggling with a TBI, there are some concrete ways to show your support:

• Direct the person to a support group. Whether it’s online, via Facebook, or in-person, TBI support groups are VERY necessary during this time. Help your loved one find his or her fellow TBI survivors!
• Help him or her with tasks around the home. It can be very helpful for a TBI survivor to have help around the home, particularly in the direct aftermath of the injury. Make it a point to go over and help with mowing the lawn, sorting through bills and mail, or whatever the person needs done.
• Bring food. A home-cooked meal always does the trick!

It’s Time to Contact the Experts at TryMunity

Are you or a loved one in need of support for your traumatic brain injury? Here at TryMunity, we’ve created a loving and knowledgeable space for people who’ve been afflicted by TBI’s, in addition to providing resources for their family members and friends. Contact us today to get involved in our community – our members are ready to provide the support and comfort you deserve.

To learn more about TryMunity, to join our community, or to find out how you can help us raise awareness for traumatic brain injuries: get in touch with us via our online contact form. We’re here to help answer your questions!

Support groups are an excellent way for traumatic brain injury survivors and their caretakers or family to share their journeys and learn more about the specific challenges they face. Starting a successful support group takes a lot of thoughtful consideration and planning. The fact that you are looking for more information before starting your group is a good sign. Check out our top tips for starting you own TBI support group below.

Hone Your Focus

Choose your group members. Your group members should be made up of individuals with a shared challenge or challenges. You can always have group members with more than one challenge, but they should be related, to help keep your group focused and helpful. Consider whether you could best support the individuals personally impacted by TBI or their parents and siblings. You could always combine those two groups as well.  Also take age range into consideration when selecting your member focus: children, teens, adults, or the elderly will thrive in a support group geared toward them.

Structure Your Group

It’s always helpful to determine ahead of time how you would like your support group to flow. Will you have a curriculum-based discussion over a book or materials brought in each week? Topic-based forums can help the discussion flow by providing members with a subject matter to discuss every meeting, or you can try open forum style and let the conversation flow wherever it happens to lead. Choosing your leadership is an important step to facilitating conversation. Different types of leadership include peer, professional, and guest-led discussions. You may choose to co-facilitate with another member of the group or a professional familiar with your support groups focus.

Brass Tacks

Now it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty of starting a support group. Choose a place for your group to meet. Select the time of day and how often your group will meet. Churches, libraries, and community centers offer free or inexpensive options for meeting locations. If you do choose to meet somewhere with a higher cost, you might want to charge a member fee or door fee. Also think about implementing attendance policies or organizing refreshments and setting aside time for socializing. When you have all the basic details laid out, you can start advertising your support group on social media, forums, and blogs, as well as at libraries, hospitals, social service offices, and churches.
Last but not least, get started! You can only plan so long, start having your group meet as soon as your prep work is done to ensure you keep your motivation going strong. You’ll learn the rest along the way; a thriving support group is a growing process for both you and your support group members. If you want to learn more about traumatic brain injury support groups and the challenges associated with TBI, then check out TryMunity.  Join our community today for more TBI news and information.