How To Achieve a More Successful Recovery Following a Brain Injury

The degree of success with the progress of recovery will be dependent upon many things. It is rare, however, that there is ever complete recovery from brain injury because the brain injured survivor is usually left with some deficits. These deficits generally are permanent and cannot be overcome like one would with a case of the flu. However the deficits can be adapted to and adjustments can be made for them.

The most important element of recovery is that expectations must change so that limitations can be accepted. Learning to cope and accept will be vital in the challenge to improve progress. If this is not done, disappointment and frustration with abilities that aren't the same as those pre-injury will definitely hold back the process.

Additionally, it is important that expectations be realistic. The severity and the location of the injury, what the pre-injury characteristics and personality were, and awareness and acceptance of limitations will all have a bearing on this progress. What is most associated with a more successful recovery is pre-injury intelligence, cognitive abilities and willingness to establish new life goals and a new life with different abilities.

Both overly optimistic attitudes as well as pessimistic expectations are harmful. Recovery may be slow but can continue sometimes for years, with changes possibly being in stops and starts. At times, after a lull with what seems like little progress there can suddenly be a spurt of improvement which could possibly be caused by a change in circumstances in the life of the survivor.

The fact remains is that the more time that has passed since the injury, the less likelihood there will be of many further changes. However, each individual is different but in most cases there is usually more recovery made in the earlier years following an injury than later.

As people age, some recovery may be reversed because of cognitive decline due to the lack of exercise or mental stimulation. Exercise stimulates the brain so it is very important for those who have sustained a brain injury to remain physically active. Reading, doing crossword puzzles and Suduko can help to keep the brain stimulated.

Quality and enjoyment of life as well as the opportunity for the best recovery possible for the brain injured survivor will also depend upon his/her effort to be involved with others, to eat a nutritional diet, to avoid alcohol or illegal drugs and to continually strive for improvement in all aspects of his/her life.

Although family and community can assist the brain injured survivor towards recovery, the majority of the effort towards this goal will need to be made by the patient through his attitude and his effort to work towards progress.