Introduction:

            Traumatic brain injuries are becoming one of the signature wound of the war. These brain injuries are caused mainly by improvised explosive devices (IED’s) and rocket propelled grenades (RPG). If you were remotely close to an IED or RPG blast you should seek to have a traumatic brain injury check up. Sometimes a soldier coming home doesn’t realize he or she has a traumatic brain injury. You may think you are fine, but the earlier you treat the brain injuries the better, get it checked out. It is sometimes an invisible wound.

Common Symptoms of Brain Injury:

• You don’t feel like yourself
• Problems with memory, concentration, attention
• Feeling light headed or dizziness
• Sensitive to sounds, lights since returning home
• Trouble with daily tasks
• Headaches
• Feeling sad or anxious
• Tired all the time
• Easily irritable and angry
• Problems with decision making
• Slowed reactivity
• Easily confused at things you used to flourish at
• Change in sleeping patterns

How to manage TBI symptoms:

Do’s

• Increase activity slowly after deployments

• Get enough sleep and maintain sleeping patterns

• Journal your daily activities to help with memory impairment

• Set up some sense of structure with daily tasks

Don'ts

• No contact sports

• Limit or avoid alcohol

• Avoid caffeine or nicotine

• Do not use sleeping pills

Resources for more information:

Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center:

http://www.dvbic.org

Brain Injury Association:

http://www.biusa.org

Articles:

Senators Call For Improved Compensation for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury

http://www.senate.gov/~svac/public/index.cfm?pageid=12&release_id=11527

Concussions to Troops in Iraq Lead to Stress Syndrome (Update1)

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aaU.4CQtLL1I

War Concussions Linked to Stress

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/health/research/30cnd-brain.html?_r=1&em&ex=1201842000&en=9a2196c2f40ef959&ei=5087_&oref=slogin