Ways to Handle Work Activities After a Traumatic Brain Injury
Motor vehicle accidents frequently result in a traumatic brain injury that can require a long period of recuperation. In many cases, a brain injury can make it difficult for the sufferer to resume their life the way it was before the accident. But, with time, things can change. Some individuals are able to return to work, albeit at a lower-pressured job. It is essential to assist your brain’s powerful attempts at healing by following a self-care protocol. This brain-healthy protocol changes with time as one moves through the process. Here are a few helpful tips that can make it easier to face the increased mental stimulation and tiredness that can accompany a traumatic brain injury when returning to work.
Returning to Work After a Traumatic Brain Injury
Unless a TBI causes significant damage, many people find themselves going back to work eventually. However, depending on the damage, they may be unable to perform the work they did before or have problems adjusting. Placing a claim for personal injury damages when the TBI was caused by the negligent actions of another person or entity can ensure that they will have the funds for retraining or taking a pay cut. This is because future expenses associated with a TBI are covered in a personal injury claim. If the injured person goes back to work, there are areas where the stress and difficulty of adjusting after a TBI can be addressed to lesson recurring symptoms.
Accept Help From the Family
As recovery from a TBI continues, it may be difficult for the injured person to resume all the activities they did before. For example, enlisting family help to run errands, do yard chores, or cook can alleviate the tiredness and stress that can interfere with your recovery. Children in the family can help out by loading and unloading the dishwasher, feeding the family pets, and taking care of their room or other chores.
Pay Attention to Your Work Environment
Making your surrounding work environment simpler can be helpful and reduce stress. Keep your desk uncluttered and use notes if memory is a problem. Try to keep meetings shorter to avoid overload, since this overexcites the brain and makes it difficult to think clearly. Lots of small distractions can make it more difficult to concentrate, so taking short breaks throughout the day can help. Take a short walk, enjoy a cup of coffee, or just sit quietly for a few minutes to give yourself time to destress.
Don’t Be Afraid to Say No
When the brain is overstimulated following a TBI, it can cause an increase in symptoms. Motor deficits, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and changes in speech patterns occur, according to Brainline. The more that is piled on the brain, the more it is outside of its comfort zone. This means that the TBI sufferer needs to know when to say no. At first, this may be difficult, especially for a previously take-charge person. But, learning to restrict yourself to a comfortable workload will make it easier on your brain and help you move forward as you adapt to heavier workloads.
Nothing Happens in a Second
One of the hardest problems for TBI patients is recognizing that things take time. It is virtually impossible to go from learning to do basic activities all over again to taking on the responsibilities that come with work in a split second. That doesn’t happen when we are young, and it won’t happen after a brain injury. However, with careful planning and wise choices, it will happen for many people. A practical choice may be to select a less pressured job to get started. This gives your brain a chance to build up resistance to pressure.
Light Affects Your Brain
Blue light exposure can be overstimulating for the brain and cause a negative response. One way to avoid this, if you work on a computer consistently, is to download an application to reduce the amount of blue light. Some software programs are useful to do this, and many computers have this built-in. Even if you do not work on a computer, blue light from overhead lights, particularly fluorescent ones, can cause problems. It is possible to purchase glasses with a blue-light filter. At home, it is easier to eliminate blue light by replacing light bulbs and other intense light situations.
Make Your Work Environment Friendly
Cut down on the clutter. This is a major problem for those with a TBI. Simplifying your space is easy if you follow some recommendations. Go through files that are piled up on your desk. If you are not actively using them, file them. Have a bin with newly incoming work-related items and those that you are working on. When you are finished, move them to the done file and out of your way. It may seem complicated at first, but when you get used to the system, your brain will not be so challenged.
Seeking Help From a Personal Injury Lawyer
A traumatic brain injury can cause enormous stress on the entire family, both emotionally and financially. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you get the compensation you need. Investigators with our firm go to the accident site to get the evidence needed to support your claim. They check for errors in the police report and talk to witnesses as well as looking for nearby surveillance cameras. The investigators perform accident reconstruction to show how the crash happened and how the other party was at fault. Our lawyers are given this evidence and use it to construct a strong case for the recovery of damages, which is used either when dealing with the insurance company on your behalf or in a civil trial.
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Stockton Brain Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton brain injury lawyer. A brain injury can have long-term repercussions and upend a person’s life. If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury due to negligence by another person or entity, I may be able to help. Call me for my free and friendly advice at (209) 227-1931. The long-distance number is (800) 404-5400. An online message form is also available.
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For more than 38 years, I’ve helped the residents of Stockton obtain compensation in all varieties of traffic crashes, wrongful deaths, and traumatic injuries.
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