Caregivers should know that all brain injuries are different, and some are more sereve than others.  Hence, some people will take longer to recover than others.  They should tell their patients they should keep trying because it takes many, many reps to reteach the brain, but if they keep trying, they will get better.

@bartclaw great point.  I've heard that neuroplasticity (what helps the brain to heal) does happen but slowly.  The more reps the better because that helps to build and strengthen new pathways more quickly.

I am a TBI survivor and I often don't understand it. The brain is constantly rewiring itself, so what I could do yesterday is not something I can necessarily do today, and what I could not do yesterday is something I may be able to do today; I do not know myself until I try, and sometimes it takes multiple attempts and lots of patience. My ex caregiver had good intentions; however, my childlike state with seizures at 33 convinced them that I was incapable of caring for myself. They judged me, waited on me, took over when I was slow or having difficulty without giving me a chance when I desperately wanted to relearn how to be an adult and care for myself. I had to walk away, and I did with nothing but a backpack and a dog. I had nowhere to go, but I was not having someone hold me back: That was in 03/2019, I never turned around, and I am doing very well today. I had to adapt to overcome, failed many times, and it cracks me up when people tell me I can’t because I did and am succeeding even though I am bullied often, criticized, and so forth. I still live alone with a service animal i trained myself; we have a beautiful place to call home and get around fine on our own without driving. 
 
Books i would recommend Chicken Soup for the Soul TBI addition, Switch On Your Brain by Dr. Caroline Leaf, Think and Eat Your Self Smart by Dr. Caroline Leaf, Bible, Dictionary and a app called Luminosity.
 
Critical things I had to learn,
<ol>
 <li>We don’t heal the way people expect; God works in his time and in his way; our exceptions often prevent him from doing just that.</li>
 <li>learn to take things as they come and embrace everything as a learning opportunity. Once I did this everything changes for the better.</li>
 <li>Don’t be afraid to fail; embrace it as a critical ingredient for success.</li>
 <li>Rest as often as need</li>
 <li>Never say never</li>
 <li>Stop Judging, accept wholeheartedly that we don’t know or understand everything.</li>
</ol>

@sm2003 you have an amazing story, thank you so much for sharing.  It seems as though you healed much faster because of your independence and letting yourself fail, which helped you to heal faster.

That's a great lesson to learn, that as either survivors or caregivers we shouldn't be afraid of failing.

This article is excellent. I thought many caregivers and survivors would find it useful.
<a href="https://www.brainline.org/article/lost-found-what-brain-injury-survivors-want-you-know" target="_blank">https://www.brainline.org/article/lost-found-what-brain-injury-survivors-want-you-know</a>

If the TBI patent is a man who refuses to get mental health post accident and your medical professionals allow him to go untreated as a right to save insurance money and your a woman (less 100lbs of the man).....RUN!!!!  This person will harm you in ways that you didn't know possible until you are faced with all the financial, emotional, and psychological damage they demand you suffer as someone without an injury or give you a TBI.   The State will not care about what happened to you or the mental torment you will suffered because ONLY the TBI patient's rights matter.  No one will support your efforts to get support and care, you will be left completely alone to suffer in all areas of your life while the State and insurance profit from your caregiving at the rate of $500/day.  No one cares about what happens to you as a caregiver.  Personally, I lost my home ($445,000), security, love, reputation, money, and peace of mind.   Even after the TBI man gives you a TBI of your own, it will not matter.....just run.  Never take care of a TBI male patient as a woman caregiver unless mental health is part of the care plan as a caregiver's RIGHT TO SAFELY DO THE JOB.   No matter what, insurance and the State will profit from you and you will loose everything.

Patience!
 
As a caregiver, the most important thing you can do is be available.  Survivors need to let the brain rewire. So you will have to watch a lot of frustration and failure but with time we do figure it out.  So be available but at a distance.

As a survivor of a critical TBI I would tell caregivers that no matter what their doctor says, everyone has a chance at recovery.  They may have had a very critical injury, like me, but if they try, they can always make progress.  They just have to try and never give up.

And for caregivers, what are some things you wish you had known when your survivor first got their injury, or that you learned along the way?

As a survivor, what would you want a caregiver to know?

The Post Concussion Podcast is hosted by a 10+ concussion survivor who gives insights into her 8+ year journey. As well as multiple guests from all walks of life from students to parents and medical professionals!

Thanks @Headachegirl!  Any episodes you'd recommend starting with?

Really depends on what you need/relate too! There's topics listed after each one that might help you pick, like mental health, parenting, athlete!

<a href="http://Concussiontalk.com" target="_blank">Concussiontalk.com</a> is run by Nick Mercer and he has a wide variety of guests. Full disclosure, I do the Phoenix Concussion podcasts on his site. Our are deep dives into specific topics of TBI that are all in patient friendly language! All free. 
We also did a course series for Listenable in 2021. 
Best of luck!

The Neuronerds is my personal favorite, and I've heard good things about Making Headway!

Thanks milquetoast!  I'll check them out!

Are there any episodes you recommend starting with?

Best Brain Injury Podcasts (2021) (<a href="http://player.fm" target="_blank">player.fm</a>)
You can check this URL.  Can't review them, but it's a place to start.

@tbiInfo is there a list?  this link goes to the <a href="http://player.fm" target="_blank">player.fm</a> homepage.

I've had this happen before when I try to copy URLs.  The owner of the page often changes the listed URL.

I've had this happen before when I try to cut and paste URLs.  The owner of the page makes changes.  Try going to google and looking for Best Brain Injury Podcasts (2021) - Player or Top 30 Traumatic Brain Injury Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021.

Brightway Answers!  <a href="http://www.brightwayhealth.org/podcast" target="_blank">www.brightwayhealth.org/podcast</a> - we interview doctors, therapists, and others who specialize in brain injury with questions that you ask! 😄 🎙️

What are the best podcasts about brain injury?

There's actually a resource meant exactly for this: <a href="https://members.aapmr.org/AAPMR/AAPMR_FINDER.aspx" target="_blank">https://members.aapmr.org/AAPMR/AAPMR_FINDER.aspx</a>
 
For best search results I recommend setting:
<ul>
 <li>Zip code: your zip code</li>
 <li>Radius (miles): at least 50 miles (for more results)</li>
 <li>Areas of Practice: Brain Injury</li>
</ul>
Happy searching!

jdelphi's Questions

As a survivor, what would you want a caregiver to know?

What are the best podcasts about brain injury?

How can I find a physiatrist near me?