Suffering a brain injury can be one of the most debilitating things that can happen to a person, whether this be because of an accident, blow to the head or medical negligence. Brain injuries can happen at any stage of your life and can have a devastating impact on yourself or those who may have to care for you. We spoke to leading medical negligence legal firm First4Lawyers about what should you do if you have suffered a brain injury?

Seek support

There are a host of organisations that offer support to people who have suffered brain injuries or to the people who support sufferers. Charities like Headway and the Brain Injury Trust offer invaluable support to you and your family. In addition, you should ask your doctor or neurological team what therapies are available and would be suitable for yourself. It is important to talk about what you are going through with friends and family even if you are struggling to come up with the rights words. Make sure they know if you are struggling to communicate.

Adopt strategies to cope

If you suffer a brain injury you may find that you have developed memory problems. It can make a real difference if you adopt simple adaptations to your home. For example, you could label kitchen cupboards to help you remember what is in each one. Following a daily routine can help as well as setting reminders on your phone for daily events. It is not unusual for people who have suffered brain injuries to get frustrated and lose their temper. If you do, try find a technique to calm you down, such as removing yourself from the situation and going into another room.

Make sure your employer knows

Your employer has a duty to support you if you have suffered a brain injury. If they aren’t aware of what has happened to you then they may think you are slacking or a troublemaker. It’s a good idea to seek the advice of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau or ACAS to find out what reasonable adjustments can be made for you that may help you cope.

Be realistic about what you can achieve

Fatigue is common after a person suffers a brain injury and you may find that you aren’t able to do as much as you did beforehand. As a result, set achievable targets for each day and ensure you have time in your schedule to relax. Don’t be hard on yourself if you get tired more easily than before your injury and if you need to have a sleep during the day, have one.

Additionally, if you suffered your brain injury as a result of medical negligence you may want to consult a specialist lawyer as you might be entitled to compensation.

While suffering a brain injury can be extremely difficult to deal with, if you follow these steps it will help you cope.