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Heather's Story: Background
Heather introduces herself, her medical and educational backgrounds and describes her interest and experience working in brain injury rehabilitation.
Heather's Story: Support Groups
Heather talks about the various supports groups such as formal groups (i.e. healthcare team) and ABI support for those more seriously injured and their families. She also discusses those people who make up the informal or non-medical supports like family, friends, coaches and school personnel.
Heather's story: The Positive Impact of Social Support
Heather describes the positive impact of having a good social support system wherever possible as well as a strong medical team/family physician and interdisciplinary team when necessary.
Heather's Story: Advice for Family and Friends
Heather describes the importance of having the support of the people around you. She provides advice to those supporting someone with a concussion to be positive, understanding and realize that changes in personality are as a result of the injury. These symptoms can be exacerbated if there is a lack of understanding about where they are coming from and empathy in addressing them.
Heather's story: The Importance of Staying Positive
Heather explains how staying positive is one of the most important things someone can do while they are recovering from a concussion. Giving yourself permission to not be perfect and remaining positive and patient will help to prevent you from slipping into a pattern of negative thinking which may actually increase your symptoms and recovery time.
Heather's Story: Laughter
Heather speaks to the importance of staying positive, acceptance, giving yourself permission to make mistakes and having the courage and self-confidence to use laughter as a way of dealing with the daily ups and down of living with a brain injury.
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Heather describes the danger of not being prepared and protected while taking part in activities that post risk of head injury (i.e. cycling). Concussions can happen to anyone, at any time and in an instant your life can change. Concussion symptoms can be very debilitating and make even the easiest task challenging. Wearing a helmet is an easy and effective way of helping to prevent injury in the event of an accident.