I Have a What? A Guide for Coping with Moderate-to-Severe TBI

I Have a What?!:A Guide for Coping with Moderate-to-Severe TBIMany people have problems in the weeks and months after a moderate-to-severeTBI. Some of these problems or “symptoms” can be: forgetting things, poorcoordination, having headaches, getting easily upset, having outbursts, or feeling tired.After having a moderate-to-severe TBI, some people have only one symptom;some people might have a few or many symptoms. Everyone is different.Sometimes people may not notice symptoms right away or believe that they havesymptoms. They can take days, weeks, months, or even years to become noticeable.Sometimes people do not notice these problems until they try to go back to work, school,or their normal housework. Again, everyone is different.It is important to know that these symptoms are NORMAL after a moderate-tosevereTBI. These symptoms are part of the normal recovery process.These symptoms tend to get better over time. However, some symptoms may belong-lasting. Some people may need rehabilitation to help achieve independence andimprove these symptoms and their quality of life after injury.This manual describes some of the most common symptoms that people have after amoderate-to-severe TBI. It also describes what you can do to help these symptoms.These symptoms can be divided into three types:Physical problems (those that have to do with your body)Thinking/cognitive problemsEmotional/behavioral problemsPage 12