Knowing what’s normal

There is a need to know what is normal, and what to expect as part of recovery.  This includes symptoms following a brain injury, and the experience of recovery more broadly.  This will help people accept the disruptions to life caused by the injury and work out ways of managing. 

Recognising injury and its impact

The person with TBI, their whanau, and medical professionals all need recognise the impact of the injury.  Recognising the injury and the impact appears to be important in recovery.  This is a process over time and contains a number of ideas.

In the immediate term, recognition of the injury refers to timing of seeking medical help after the accident (eg do you wait for after the weekend to see your doctor, or go to A&E?) A lack of recognition of the injury may lead to potentially avoidable complications.

Receiving information can support recognising and understanding the consequences of TBI. 

If the person with TBI does not come to terms with the injury and its impact they may be extra cautious as a way of minimizing risk.  If they refuse to recognise the injury and its impacts, that lack of appreciation means they may put themselves (or others) at risk. 

How people react to the injury or symptoms can have an ongoing impact on that relationship.  If the impact of the injury is not recognised or taken seriously, the person with TBI may avoid socialising with that person. 

Those around the person with TBI may fail to recognise the injury and its impact. When this is the case for whanau they may struggle to adjust their expectations of who the injured person is now, or see there is any need to change their lives.  If the impact of the TBI is less obvious, those around them may not adjust their expectations

It is also important to recognise the impact on other people. 

Recognising, acknowledging, believing, understanding

It is important that people with TBI and those around them come to recognise, acknowledge, believe and understand the injury and the impact the injury is having on the individual and those around them. This can help with navigating areas of life that are affected by TBI and adapting to changes required.

When people think the person with the injury looks normal again, they can be less willing to accommodate some of the changes necessary because they do not understand that changes are still needed. 

Over time, the person with TBI will develop insights into their symptoms and how it affects themselves and others around them.  This can help them and others recognise and communicate needs. Some aspects of the injury are easier to recognise, acknowledge and understand than others. What is easier varies from person to person.