Brain Injury Rewiring for Survivors
Carolyn E Dolen, MA (Idyll Arbor 2010)
Do read this book! It aims to give us ways to do everything possible to ‘rewire’
after brain damage. The positive tone and practical advice are powerful. I adapted
to the informal style more quickly than I expected and although it was difficult
to put the book down, there is so much depth and detail that it was best read one
chapter at a time.
The clear structure, detailed explanations and up-to-date references are excellent.
The Index and Chapter Headings help locate specific topics, but first reading through
the whole book was important or I might have missed valuable guidance, and of course
the contents of the chapters interact.
The first two chapters provide a background to the book. Then each chapter begins
with a list of what it covers and ends with a summary of key points. Messages throughout
are to: - keep going - have a ‘SAFER’ plan (Stop, Assess, Fix, Evaluate, Retry)
- go with what makes sense to you – ‘if it doesn’t work, try something else’
Explanations of medical terms around brain injury and information about brain function
and repair are very clear. The benefit of religions, healing rituals and practices,
and the strengths and values of different cultures are stressed, alongside all forms
of art - visual, auditory, physical. There is surprisingly detailed guidance on
the kinds of music that meet different moods and needs - such as listening to Mozart
and Haydn to stimulate the mind, improve concentration and memory, or to Bruce Springsteen
to deal with feelings of anger. Practical advice on day-to-day life follows, including
details of which foods, drinks and activities are good and bad for us, reflecting
advice from The Encephalitis Society…
The chapter on grief and loss of our former self is clear and profound. Although
it seems more focused on the aftermath of road traffic accidents than do most parts
of the book, the ideas to help emotional rewiring are for everyone. Overviews of
both conventional medical care and of complementary therapy follow with clear guidance
about when professional help should be sought. Guidance on nutrition and healthy
lifestyles is realistic and persuasive. The physical, social and health benefits
of exercise are stressed and the value of an exercise programme for everyone, however
disabled, emphasised. The message, as throughout the book, is for us to find what
works for us, and ‘Just do it!’
The social challenges of having a damaged brain and the importance of social ties
– many of which may have been broken or disrupted following the event – are looked
at in detail; close inter-personal relationship problems and sexual matters are
included. Advice and many potential ways forward are listed in the summary. The
final chapter of guidance is built on a strong belief that ‘productive activity
… positively influences our happiness…’ whether this means full time work (voluntary
or otherwise) or occasional tasks. There is a steady emphasis on our focusing on
what we want to do alongside what we can and need to do now. As this book was written
in the United States, the detailed information provided about access to financial
support and housing is not of direct assistance. We need rewrites for each part
of the UK!
In conclusion, I recommend this book to anyone who feels it is right for them now,
whenever and wherever they had encephalitis. The authoress was brain-injured thirty
years ago! Her progress over three decades is inspiring.
Managing Anger
By Helen O'Neil
The purpose of this manual is to provide a series of session plans to assist the
therapist in leading a course of anger management treatment with individuals who
have cognitive impairment. The technique of anger management has become a widely
used intervention in a variety of forensic, general mental health and non-clinical
settings.
The development of this manual reflects both experience gained in clinical practice,
including feedback from clients, and the influences of occupational therapy and
psychology colleagues
ISBN 1 86156 107 5
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The Memory Booster Workout
by Dr Jo Iddon and Dr Huw Williams
How to unlock your mind's potential
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The
Brain Injury Handbook
"Rehab UK was set up in the mid 1990's to promote opportunities for people
who have an acquired brain injury; to enable them to return to their rightful place
in both the community and work-place. More than 120,000 people leave hospital each
year with a brain injury. This represents a huge increase in the last twenty years,
partly due to improved medical and hospital services.
". . . With the support of our highly specialised vocational rehabilitation
teams at our Brain Injury Centres, we are helping these people."
Published: Annually
Available from: all three Rehab UK Brain Injury Centres
London Brain Injury Centre, 21 St Thomas Street, London, SE1 9RY
Tel: 020 7378 0505
Birmingham Brain Injury Centre, Borough Buildings, 58-72 John Bright Street,
Birmingham B1 1BN
Tel: 0121 616 3900
Tyne & Wear Brain Injury Centre, Melbourne House, Melbourne Street, Newcastle
on Tyne NE1 2JQ
Tel: 0191 232 0234
Cost: Free of charge (except that we ‘request’ postage cover for more
multiple hardcopies).
Editors office: Rehab UK Head Office, The Chaseley Trust, South Cliff, Eastbourne,BN20
7JH
www.rehabuk.org
Tel: 01323 744 395
The Brain Injury
Workbook
Exercises for cognitive rehabilitation
Trevor Powell & Kit Malia
Evolved from working with brain injury survivors at Headway and those attempting
to return to work, this is a rich, comprehensive and photocopiable workbook for
professionals, carers and those who have suffered brain injury.
Contains more than 140 cognitive rehabilitation exercises - tailored for memory;
thinking skills; executive functions; awareness and insight; and emotional adjustment.
Provides more than 40 information sheets on key problem areas, with questions for
the reader, designed to educate and stimulate thinking and discussion
Suitable for use with both individuals and in group settings
Includes questionnaires for clients to complete with or without help, and quizzes
to evaluate and encourage information retention
This comprehensive resource will provide focussed stimulation, and will help clients
to develop adaptive compensatory strategies after brain injury. It will be invaluable
for psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and other
cognitive rehabilitation therapists as well as for brain-injured people themselves
to work through on their own.
'Excellent for moderate to high-level clients and in particular very good for those
trying to return to work or responsibilities....Applicable to moderate to high-level
stroke patients as well as those with traumatic brain injury' Pat Brindley, Speech
and Language Therapist
£39.95 (available from Speechmark www.speechmark.net, or
Headway www.headway.org.uk)
Insights and Solutions
by Brain Injury Association of Queensland
A compilation of self-help strategies commonly used by people with acquired brain
injury. This booklet was developed with the support of people with acquired brain
injury who participated in the Association's personal development programmes.
www.synapse.org.au
Surviving Acquired Brain Injury
by Various
This comprehensive, 200 page survivor's guide will assist individuals, carers and
professionals to understand and respond to the issues and difficulties associated
with acquired brain injury. Chapters provide comprehensive insight into medical
issues, physical and sensory abilities, changes in the ability to think and learn,
Changes in behaviour and personality, communication difficulties, family issues,
legal issues, behavioural strategies and coping with stress and depression.
www.synapse.org.au
Awareness Support Programme Facilitator's Manual
by Tamara Ownsworth
A facilitator's guide to providing personal development programmes to people with
an acquired brain injury. Provides step-by-step instruction for the provision of
a series of self contained modules that includes strategies to improve: memory,
personal relationships and anger management.
www.synapse.org.au
The Human Brain: A Guided Tour
By Susan Greenfield
This book written for the general public gives a clear explanation of the brain’s
structure and functions. The development of the brain is described from single cell
to complex organ, resulting in a unique individual.
ISBN 0 297 81692 6 Contact details for the publishers are email:
The Orion Publishing Group
Department of Health Publications
www.nhs.uk/
There are useful guidelines on an array of subjects relating to health and care. The information is available for viewing online, as videos and downloadable
Last modified: June 2011