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Read more about the article The Flower Man: When a Picture Really Is Worth A Thousand Words.
The Flower Man by Mark Ludy
Brain Injury Outcomes / Strategies Approaches and Support

The Flower Man: When a Picture Really Is Worth A Thousand Words.

Sometimes you discover treasures that help you to learn, to think, and to teach in the most unexpected places. The example that prompted this deep thought is ‘The Flower Man by Mark Ludy’  a childrens’ book, that is more than a childrens’ book. This came about when I was attending training on strengths based practice in the lovely country, Victorian, town of Bendigo (Australia). The organization St Lukes not only have a great online shop, and newsletter – SOON.  At the time of my visit they also had a wonderful book shop in the middle of the town. Hours went by in that shop. Delicious hours. I came out with Strengths cards which were fantastic tools in training and working with families. A Strengths based practice manual. A book A Strengths Approach I have mentioned here before. And other things I have forgotten just now. My prize that day was ‘The Flower Man’ by Mark Ludy.  This book is filled with lovely…

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January 12, 2016
Read more about the article Brain Injury And Favourite Posts 2015
Image by Rebecca Viney
Brain Injury Outcomes

Brain Injury And Favourite Posts 2015

As we rapidly move towards the end of 2015, I was thinking about the articles about brain injury I most enjoyed writing this year. This included articles about the outcomes of brain injury, and some a little more obscure. This lead me to me doing a bit of searching around to see what others thought. I came up with a lists of favourites. My own fave. The article most viewed. The article most commented on. Finally an all round winner.  My Fave Top 3 (plus 1) Learning to Say Maleesh – Why? It is always fun talking to author Rebecca Viney. I genuinely love her book - humorous, positive, strong. Rebecca now has a website. I learned how to do an audio, clumsily and roughly, and with a lot of time fiddling about.   End of Life and Dying – series ONE   TWO  and  THREE     Why? This is a little cheat – I am including a series of 3 for…

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December 21, 2015
Read more about the article Intimacy, Sex and Brain Injury
Brain Injury / Brain Injury Outcomes / Life Changes After Brain Injury

Intimacy, Sex and Brain Injury

I know. I know. This image can be seen as a cheap trick on my part to draw you in? I really just want to make a bold statement about sex and brain injury! To reinforce my view - that it's OK to talk it. We should talk about it. Many, many, subjects are written and discussed after brain injury – cognitive difficulties, role changes, returning to work - or not, partner becoming care giver, memory changes, behaviour, family life, loss of interest and motivation, eating, life plans, alcohol, impulsivity, egocentricity. On and on the list can go. Every aspect of human life. Well almost. The topic rarely discussed - and more often discussed as “inappropriate behaviour” is SEX and brain injury.   I have had private, intimate, discussions with many couples over the years, sharing their concerns at loss of intimacy, changed desires, and loss of sex life after brain injury. Yet we rarely feel comfortable raising and discussing it in…

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December 15, 2015
Read more about the article Christmas and Celebrations after Brain Injury
Celebration after brain injury Image by
Brain Injury Outcomes / Life Changes After Brain Injury / Strategies Approaches and Support

Christmas and Celebrations after Brain Injury

Celebrations after brain injury can be tricky. This article is updated and reposted each year before the end of year. Timed for when Christmas, Hannukah, New Year and other celebrations abound. It acknowledges that managing celebrations after brain injury can be difficult. Filled with expectation and anticipation - it does not always deliver on the promise. It would be great to hear from you about your own experiences and strategies. Managing Celebrations after Brain Injury 2015 I do not want to be accused of being the Grinch who stole Christmas, so please let me start by wishing those of you celebrating Christmas a very special time. And for everyone I hope it is a wonderful new year. Why am I in danger of being called the Grinch? Well, in the middle of a major holiday celebration, I am about to suggest that birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, and celebrations after brain injury do not always go so well together. Expectations can be high and…

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December 9, 2015
Read more about the article Synaesthesia to Savant – Sensationalism or Sensible. Unusual Outcomes Brain Injury
Flickr Image by Theophilos Papadopoulos
Brain and Function / Brain Injury Outcomes

Synaesthesia to Savant – Sensationalism or Sensible. Unusual Outcomes Brain Injury

Flickr Image by Theophilos Papadopoulos It seems the unusual outcomes of damage to the brain receive a good deal of attention in media coverage. Unusual outcomes of brain injury such as a person developing artistic talents or becoming a genius at mathematics, seem to grab headlines more than day to day life for people living with brain injury. Mostly these outcomes are rare.  Can this media coverage be helpful? Before I go on -if you have not seen articles about people living with unusual outcomes - here are a couple of examples : This article “Stroke of Genius: 10 Abilities Borne of Brain Damage”  describes 10 people who developed a significant new ability after brain injury And here “10 Fascinating People With Savant Syndrome”  You might notice some of the people in each article are the same I found this quite common. And still more. This article with illustrations “6 People Who Gained Amazing  Skills From Brain Injuries”  I began collecting such…

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December 2, 2015
Read more about the article Flooding of the Senses: Sensory Overload After Brain Injury
Image kindly donated by Chris Scott
Brain Injury Outcomes / Strategies Approaches and Support

Flooding of the Senses: Sensory Overload After Brain Injury

  Finding out about sensory overload after brain injury has been tricky. Many months, (maybe over a year ago), I received a letter asking for information about sensory overload in adults after brain injury. While I did not have a lot of first-hand experience, I figured when researching all things 'brain' - information is usually plentiful. I was surprised that I could not find a whole lot of information on sensory overload for adults after brain injury. Consequently this article has been a long time in the making. Please feel free to help out with additional information and references.   Sensory Overload - Sensory Flooding “Sensory Flooding” is another term I discovered. I like the clear picture that the term “flooding” gives. Brain injury can reduce or remove filters. This enables sensory information to ‘flood’ the brain. Overwhelming it. Creating surges just as flood waters do.   What is Sensory Overload? One important function of the brain is to filter incoming information…

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November 24, 2015
Read more about the article Hitchhikers Guide to Learning About Brain Injury
Strategies Approaches and Support

Hitchhikers Guide to Learning About Brain Injury

  Learning about brain injury can happen in many ways: from people living with brain injury, from their family, friends and support network. From courses, reading, watching, listening to stuff about brain injury (sometimes enlightening - sometimes sleep provoking). From reading Changed Lives New Journeys – your favourite of course! One method of learning I enjoy is to challenge myself to see how things not written about brain injury can help understanding. Confused – have a look at this example I wrote a while ago using Winnie the Pooh to promote learning about brain injury. Today it is the writing of Douglas Adams. Why Douglas Adams? Last night I was talking to a friend and she began quoting “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams. There was a shocked look when I confessed I had never read it. As we talked I recalled a well thumbed book that helped me travel Europe many years ago “Hitchhikers Guide to Europe” by Ken…

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November 17, 2015
Brain Injury / Life Changes After Brain Injury

RePost: Rant for Remembrance – Soldiers With Brain Injury

  Posted 2014 and 2015 11th day 11th month @11am I have decided that until the issue of soldiers with brain injury, around the world, is adequately addressed I will repost this each Remembrance Day. First published in 2014. In November 2014 after several weeks of trying to prepare an article for Remembrance day: “traumatic brain injury in soldiers - a brief history” The writing would not flow. Everything I read made me cranky. It seems we have not learned all we could from history, about the lifelong support that many soldiers with brain injury and their families need. The 11th hour - of the 11th day - of the 11th month is a time when the end of World War I is commemorated. When the millions of lives changed by war, across the world, are remembered. Instead of my planned, commemorative, historical, piece I am now letting off steam with a personal ‘Rant for Remembrance Day’, particularly about the lack of…

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November 11, 2015
Read more about the article Behaviour in Brief – Challenging Behaviour After Brain Injury
Behaviour changes / Brain Injury

Behaviour in Brief – Challenging Behaviour After Brain Injury

Changed behaviour, Behaviours of concern, Difficult behaviour, Bad behaviour, Challenging behaviour after brain injury – . Whatever term you use, it is one of the BIG topics in brain injury.   It can mean challenges for the person living with brain injury, their family and friends, supporters, and community members. Behaviour changes can be mild to severe. From creating difficulties in social situations, to unlawful behaviour. From awkward moments to harmful, even dangerous behaviours. My challenge to myself for today is to take a BIG topic and turn it into a small article and still be useful. Just to let me off the hook a little: Over time I will cover more about behaviour and will link back to this article (remind me) so it becomes a hub of resources for Challenging Behaviour After Brain Injury. That is my vision, let’s see what happens.   Why Do We Need to Know About Challenging Behaviour After Brain Injury? [unordered_list style="tick"] Challenging behaviour after…

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October 20, 2015
Read more about the article Brain Injury is Different
Brain Injury / Cause and Incidence / Starting Out

Brain Injury is Different

Brain injury is unique, its outcomes distinct. Often I have heard of confusion about brain injury with mental illness and brain injury with intellectual disability. So today I am updating and reposting an article I wrote a while ago that reminds us of the differences. Brain Injury is DIFFERENT to other conditions, illnesses, and disabilities: [unordered_list style="green-dot"] Sometimes brain injury is confused with, or misdiagnosed as, another disorder. Understanding that brain injury is different can assist you to encourage correct diagnosis, and be able to provide support more successfully. If you have experience supporting people with other disorders you may need to review, change, or tailor your strategies to meet the needs of a person with brain injury. Understanding how brain injury is different can help you do this. For example it is important to understand why working with a person with an intellectual disability requires different strategies to working with a person with brain injury. [/unordered_list] Brain injury is different to:…

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October 7, 2015