Personal Stories

Don't Be Stoic; Talk to Your PT, OT, and Doctors

May 20, 2013

Adam talks about why it's important to keep an open line of communication with PTs, OTs, and other healthcare providers during TBI recovery. "You are the only one who knows exactly where you are. Tell them and they can care for you better."

Marriage Tips for PTSD and TBI Families

May 20, 2013

Veteran wife Heather Hummert knows it takes two to tango and it takes two to save a marriage, especially if there is TBI and PTSD involved.

Expanding Your Realm of Possibilities After a Brain Injury

May 13, 2013

It may be a cliché, but when one door shuts, often another, better one opens. Adam talks about a friend, a retired Marine, who tried something totally out of character and has now not only made a business from it but derives great pleasure from it.

Take Responsibility for Your Recovery and Get Back on Track

May 6, 2013

"I've been there ... it's hard!" Adam knows that it's difficult to feel motivated to participate in one's own recovery when the progress seems slow; it's hard to jump in the saddle to get on with your life. He offers support and strategies that work.

How to Assert Yourself After a Brain Injury

April 29, 2013

People want to help if they see you struggling, but sometimes you want to do whatever you are doing on your own, says Adam. Maybe you have balance problems and taking the stairs is slow going. Make a joke or thank people, but carry on yourself.

Benefits of Volunteering After a Brain Injury

April 22, 2013

Volunteering is a great way to reengage in the world and to be with other veterans with similar issues from TBI, says Adam. Whether going on a fishing or camping trip, volunteering offers a way to bond with others like you and have fun, too.

The Pleasures and Benefits of Art Therapy After TBI and PTSD

April 15, 2013

Adam talks about a friend who runs an art therapy program for vets with TBI and PTSD. "It's a place where you can express yourself in a safe, self-paced environment. A place to be with other vets in a quiet, relaxing setting," explains Adam.

Talking Frankly About Suicide

April 8, 2013

Suicide is invariably tricky to discuss. Adam talks about what signs and symptoms people should be aware of for themselves and for their loved ones who are depressed and also what resources are out there to help.

Team River Runner

April 8, 2013

Adaptive sports like kayaking are great therapy for the injured brain ... and injured spirit. Hear from a few veterans who found hope, friendship, and renewed confidence from being out on the water.

How Best to Interact with Someone with TBI

April 1, 2013

Should you jump in and finish a sentence for someone with TBI who is having trouble speaking or trying to form a word? Should you drop eye contact if the person is struggling? Adam talks about how to respectfully interact with someone with a TBI.

Focus -- and Rest -- Are Crucial for a Successful Job Search

March 26, 2013

Searching for a job can be frustrating — and exhausting, especially for veterans with TBI. Adam gets some good ideas from Army veteran William Marquez, Virginia Employment Commission.

The Many Ways Veterans Make Great Employees

March 18, 2013

"Veterans make great employees," Army veteran William Marquez, Virginia Employment Commission, explains to Adam. Prospective employers should focus more on the veterans' hard work, discipline, and skill level and less on any disability they may have.

Maj. Jeff Hall

March 12, 2013

"I just wanted to turn off the 600 TV sets that were going on all the time in my head." Hear Maj. Jeff Hall's story that went from thoughts of suicide to finding his way back to his family and life.

Get Away from the “Go It Alone” Mentality

March 11, 2013

When searching for a civilian job, veterans should consider finding a friend or buddy in a similar situation with whom to share ideas and strategies. Adam talks with Army veteran William Marquez, Virginia Employment Commission, about this topic.

Cool It on the Acronyms! Making Your Military Skills Understandable on a Civilian Resume

March 4, 2013

Adam talks to Army veteran William Marquez, Virginia Employment Commission, about the resources available for veterans to help them find equivalent cilivian jobs for what they did on active duty.

How to Enter the Civilian Workforce After Being in the Military

February 25, 2013

Adam talks with Army veteran William Marquez, Viriginia Employment Commission, about how to help veterans get the necessary licenses, certifications, and training they need to enter the civilian workforce.

Forging Ahead — Recovery After Traumatic and Acquired Injuries

February 20, 2013

It takes active participation to move forward after combat-related injuries. Army veteran Adam Anicich should know -- and here he shares his experiences.

How to Transfer Job Skills and Specializations from the Military to the Civilian World

February 19, 2013

Adam talks with Army veteran William Marquez, Viriginia Employment Commission, about how to get the job qualifications needed to transfer from a military to a civilian career.

Shade It Black: Death and After in Iraq

February 13, 2013

The story of one Marine's job retrieving and examing the remains of fellow soldiers lost in combat and the crippling psychological toll this experience took once she was stateside.

Frustrations and Struggles Even Years After Brain Injury

February 11, 2013

Adam's injury happened seven years ago, but he still finds he gets frustrated by some of his lingering symptoms. He suggests turning that frustration into a call to action to stay focused on your recovery.

Tips for Better Communication After Brain Injury

February 4, 2013

Like other veterans with TBI, Adam finds talking on a cellphone stressful and uncomfortable. He prefers talking face-to-face with people — that way he can hear better and also see the person's body language.

Adam Wants Your Questions and Ideas

January 28, 2013

"Thanks for all the wonderful feedback and support. It's great to know we're helping some folks out there. Now it's your turn. Send in the questions, ideas, or topics you'd like me to address to info@brainline.org."

Mike Zacchea: "Fake It Til You Make It" Doesn't Work

January 25, 2013

Former Marine Mike Zacchea does not remember his wedding. Or a trip to Florida. For a long time, he didn't realize he had sustained several debilitating blast-related concussions as well as PTSD.

Brooke Brown Talks About Living with Her Husband with TBI and PTSD

January 25, 2013

"PTSD turns my husband into a monster. But my husband is a hero. He is not a monster."

Matt Brown on Becoming a New Person After TBI and PTSD

January 25, 2013

Matt Brown, who suffers from combat-related TBI and PTSD, talks about how his family helped him defeat his suicidal tendencies and his depression — and become human again.

Matt Brown: Strategies, Patterns, and Routine Are Key

January 25, 2013

Former Marine Matt Brown, who suffers from combat-related TBI and PTSD — talks about strategies and games that have helped him with his memory and daily routine.

Mike Zacchea on His Severe PTSD and TBI

January 25, 2013

Mike Zacchea finally got psychological help after setting his house on fire because he thought his wife was an insurgent.

Brooke Brown: How I Communicate with My Husband

January 25, 2013

Although she hates to have to talk to her husband — who suffers from combat-related TBI and PTSD — like a child, sometimes that's the only way she can get him to understand her.

What Saved Former Marine Matt Brown from Suicide?

January 25, 2013

Former Marine Matt Brown, who has TBI and PTSD, was dangerously suicidal and he would never "sugarcoat" that fact. It was finding his voice to help others that saved him.

The Pomodoro Technique Can Help People with TBI

January 22, 2013

A friend of Adam's told him about the Pomodoro Technique — a time management method that breaks up periods of work into 25-minute intervals. In a nutshell, frequent breaks can improve focus and mental agility.

Despite Symptoms of PTSD, Soldier Sees His Calling in Army

January 22, 2013

A lot can happen in 14 months in Iraq. Spc. William Medlin found talking about his trauma with a counselor helped.

War-Torn Marriage: Family Shattered by TBI, PTSD Picks Up Pieces

January 16, 2013

The breaking point came when Sandra Rivera found their 9-year-old son backed against a wall with his arms over his face, shielding himself from her husband’s screaming.

Don't Live Life on Autopilot

January 14, 2013

Adam knows that sometimes for veterans life after combat feels like its being lived on autopilot — with little joy. Adam shares some ideas and strategies to turn that situation around.

How Traumatic Brain Injury Can Exacerbate Physical Pain and What to Do About It

January 7, 2013

Pain can negatively color one's life, especially when that person has a brain injury where energy is at a premium as it is. Adam shares his advice.

Becoming a Voice for Wounded Warriors

January 4, 2013

It took almost nine years for Marine Michael Grywalsky to get the help he needed for TBI and PTSD. Without the tenacity of his wife, he may never have gotten it.

Finding Some Semblance of Healing

January 3, 2013

It was when her injured veteran husband said "yet," that Andrea Sawyer was truly terrified.

A Change in Family Roles After a Brain Injury Can Be Difficult

December 31, 2012

Just like a squad, flight, or platoon, a family needs to come together after a brain injury as a support unit. Adam talks about how the change in family roles can be hard, but patience and communication will help the family work together as a whole.

Being a Good Listener to a Service Member or Veteran with TBI

December 17, 2012

For some service members and veterans after a brain injury, speaking becomes harder whether it is with word retrieval or the amount of time it takes to formulate and deliver a response or comment. Adam shares his experience with being a sensitive and respectful listener.

Help your Loved One with TBI and/or PTSD Ease Back into Life

December 11, 2012

Sometimes service members and veterans with TBI and/or PTSD find it easier to be alone, away from people — even family and friends. But ultimately, that is not healthy. Adam shares ideas to help loved ones ease back into life events without adding stress.

Quick to Anger? Easily Frustrated? Reach Out for Help.

November 26, 2012

It's understandable that service members and veterans can get angry or frustrated when witnessing people in the civilian world getting upset about something trivial like a coffee made wrong. Adam shares some ideas.

Denial Versus Accepting Reality After Brain Injury: A Significant Difference

November 19, 2012

Accepting changes in oneself after a brain injury can be difficult. But denying the changes, over the long run, will be more painful — for the injured person and those he loves. Adam shares his experience.

Helping Marines Get Unstuck

November 16, 2012

Using a common sense approach, Major Charles Hall helps injured Marines find their way forward.

Another Symptom of Traumatic Brain Injury: Guilt

November 12, 2012

Guilt never feels good. But it's important for service members and veterans with TBI to talk openly about these feelings with their family, friends, and therapists and realize that they are all working toward that person's best outcome. Adam shares his thoughts on the subject.

Preparing Kids to Face the Changes in a Loved One with Moderate or Severe TBI

October 30, 2012

When preparing children to see a loved one with a severe or moderate brain injury — one that may include significant changes physically and emotionally — it's best to be honest and upfront. Adam shares some good idease about how to help kids face the new reality of their loved one.

Transitioning from Combat to the Civilian World: It's Easy to Overreact

October 22, 2012

Do you feel your anger start to hyper-escalate when someone steals your parking spot or cuts you in line at the grocery store? That is not uncommon for service members trying to transition back into civilian life. Adam suggests talking to someone who's been there, who understands.

The Vicious Cycle of High Emotions After a Brain Injury

October 15, 2012

For some service members and veterans like Adam, returning from a depolyment can feel like riding an emotional rollercoaster. He recommends trying to recognize these emotions, to become more self-aware as a way to break the vicious cycle of intense emotions and frustration.

There's More to Life than Sitting on the Sofa: Set Goals for Yourself

October 9, 2012

One of the pitfalls of TBI can be a lack of motivation, but setting a small daily goal like cleaning the refridgerator or walking the dog can lead to bigger goals like lunch out or playing frisbee in the park with friends. Adam shares some ideas.

Treating Recovery from TBI Like a Job

October 5, 2012

Retired Navy Commander Bernadette Semple had always been an intelligent and highly motivated person. She applied those qualities to the rehabilitation of her brain and her back.

The Importance of Sharing Stories and Ideas with Others Like You with TBI

October 5, 2012

It is powerful — and important for recovery — for people with TBI to hear and share their stories and coping mechanisms with each other after brain injury. Retired Navy Commander Bernadette Semple shares her experiences.

There Is Nothing Lazy About Someone with a Brain Injury

October 1, 2012

Adam shares an email from a Marine's wife about "brain fatigue." She worries that people — including her injured husband — think he is lazy or less proactive when it's simply a physiological symptom of the TBI. Adam offers kind and sage advice.

Will Anyone Want to Date Me After a Brain Injury?

September 18, 2012

Having a brain injury can sometimes make people feel differently about themselves, perhaps less confident, which can make meeting people challenging. Adam recommends slowly pushing yourself to engage in social activities ... and gaining back some confidence.

"I'm Really Not Rude or Self-Absorbed; It's the Brain Injury"

September 10, 2012

Adam knows from his experiences as well as those of most of his friends with TBI that social situations can be difficult. Sometimes they know they can come off as "rude or self-absorbed" but that way of being, or seeming, is more a function of cognitive dysfunction.

Dealing with Intense Emotions After a Brain Injury or Traumatic Event

September 4, 2012

It's common for service members and veterans, like Adam, with a brain injury and/or post-traumatic stress to return home from combat and have intense feelings they don't know what to do with. But with help and patience, these emotions will settle down.

Why Taking a Vacation After a Brain Injury Can Be Stressful

August 20, 2012

For people with combat-related TBI, being in unfamiliar places can be very stressful. Adam suggests starting slowly with a picnic or a walk and building up to longer getaways.

How to Move Beyond Recovery "Plateaus" After a Brain Injury

August 13, 2012

Adam shares his experiences of having to push through the frustrating periods during his recovery from brain injury and continue to make progress.

Getting Help After a Brain Injury — Anonymously or Not

July 30, 2012

For veterans and service members with TBI, getting help anonymously is available. But Adam encourages taking the courageous step to reach out for help.

Adam Shares the Story of His Brain Injury and Recovery

July 23, 2012

Adam didn't realize the ramifications of his TBI until he returned home, away from the combat environment.

Give Yourself a Cushion of Time Before and After a Big Social Event

July 17, 2012

Social events can be quite draining for people with a brain injury. Adam says learning to give yourself the downtime you need — before and after the event — is helpful.

Strategies for Riding Public Transportation After a TBI

July 9, 2012

Stops, lines, colors, directions — and lots of people rushing to and from trains. Riding the subway can be anxiety making and confusing, especially after a combat-related brain injury. Adam shares some strategies.

Derek McGinnis: I'm Not the Only One with a Brain Injury

Derek McGinnis | July 3, 2012

Realizing you are not the only one with a brain injury gives you the abiity to get insight into the injury-related challenges, get help, make a plan, and carry on from there. Navy veteran Derek McGinnis shares his experience.

Fellow Service Members Helped Me in the Hospital After TBI

Derek McGinnis | July 3, 2012

"Being in the hospital after a TBI — tubes and machines attached everywhere — is scary and frustrating. Only the Marines were able to calm me down." Navy veteran Derek McGinnis shares his experience.

Recovering One Therapy at a Time After a Combat-Related TBI

Derek McGinnis | July 3, 2012

Focus on what you can do after injury, give it 110% effort, and the other abilities will come. Navy veteran Derek McGinnis shares his experience.

Important to Build on Pre-Injury Strengths After a Combat-Related TBI

Derek McGinnis | July 3, 2012

Vets and service members need help after injury not only to build on the strengths they once had but also to realize how to grow and change from there. Navy veteran Derek McGinnis shares his experience.

Getting Active and Social After a Brain and Other Injuries Can Help Veterans

Derek McGinnis | July 3, 2012

Team Semper Fi has given Navy veteran Derek McGinnis and many other veterans with TBI and/or lost limbs a place to face challenges and meet them with pride and a sense of belonging.

Connecting with Other Vets After Brain Injury on Facebook

Derek McGinnis | July 3, 2012

Facebook and other social media sites are effective ways for military vets like Navy veteran Derek McGinnis to connect with other vets who are experiencing the same challenges post-injury, post-deployment.

Derek McGinnis: My Wife Is Not My Caregiver

Derek McGinnis | July 3, 2012

The wife of Navy veteran Derek McGinnis, in a supportive and loving way, helped him become independent after his brain and other injuries. She acted like his wife, not his caregiver.

A Long Beginning to a Long Road -- from Combat to Recovery

Derek McGinnis | July 3, 2012

Derek McGinnis, an Iraq veteran, tells the story of his deployment, his combat injuries (brain, leg, hand, and more), and the road back to recovery.

Pivotal Moments and People Helped Me Recover After Combat-Related Injuries

Derek McGinnis | July 3, 2012

"There have been people who didn't leave me even when I told them to, who gave me chances, who listened even during my darkest times post-injury. I couldn't have made it without them." Navy veteran Derek McGinnis shares his experience.

Preparing for a Big Meeting or Presentation at Work After a TBI

July 2, 2012

An important event at work can take careful planning and energy — before and after the event. Adam shares some tips to help you "break a leg."

Easing Back into the Work Force After a Brain Injury

June 25, 2012

Starting with an internship and assessing your skills and abilities post-TBI are two strategies to help you successfully return to the work force. Adam shares his experience.

Helpful Tips for Making the Return to School or College Easier Post-TBI

May 29, 2012

No one wants to feel like a slacker or be perceived as one. Adam shares some excellent advice about how to get necessary accommodations with the help of the school's administration and professors.

One Less Thing to Worry About: Use Your Bank's Online Bill Payment Service

May 21, 2012

Being back from deployment, especially with a TBI, can be overwhleming and paying bills sometimes gets lost in the shuffle of treatment, recovery, school, work, and family. Adam recommends using automatic bill paying.

Bringing Traumatic Brain Injury into Focus

May 16, 2012

Army veteran and documentarian Justin Springer tells the story of four service members who struggle in the wake of blast-related brain injuries.

Along Recovery

May 16, 2012

Along Recovery is an intimate portrait of TBI, the signature wound of Afghanistan and Iraq. This film documents the TBI recovery process from the perspective of four soldiers recently evacuated from combat operations.

Minimizing the Challenges of Going to a Restaurant After a Brain Injury

May 14, 2012

Adam Anicich talks about why going to a restaurant post-TBI is often far from relaxing and what to do to make the experience better.

Four-Finger Approach Helps You Remember to Secure Your Gear Post-Brain Injury

May 7, 2012

Adam learned to implement his "four-finger approach" — something he learned in OT at the VA — so he never forgets his wallet, keys, cellphone, and sunglasses.

Adam Talks About His Frustration with New Appliances, Post-TBI

March 27, 2012

New appliances, like Adam's microwave, come with all sorts of buttons, displays, and settings. Heating up rice for the first time is not always easy.

I Know Him, But Who Is He? Adam Shares Tips for Recognizing People After a Brain Injury

March 20, 2012

After his brain injury, Adam had to create strategies to help him associate names with faces — from gleaning identifying factors in conversation to adding photos to his electronic contacts.

Adam’s Tips for Being an Active Participant in Conversations

March 13, 2012

One-on-one conversations are easy and fun, but for someone like Adam, who has a brain injury, being in a large group can be challenging.

Smartphones Are the Way to Go After a Brain Injury

March 6, 2012

After his brain injury, Adam Anicich needed help getting organized, remembering appointments and people, and finding places. His Smartphone -- with its proactive calendar and GPS function -- has as helped him remedy his "sloppiness."

Voices of Caregivers of Service Members and Veterans, Part 1

December 10, 2011

Starting the journey of taking care of loved one with TBI can be overwhelming. These military parents and spouses share their experiences.

Voices of Caregivers of Service Members and Veterans, Part 2

December 10, 2011

Once caregivers understand more about what has happened to their loved one's brain, they are more knowlegeable to help.

Voices of Caregivers of Service Members and Veterans, Part 3

December 10, 2011

Doctors often tell caregivers that they are the person who knows their loved one best, and they're going to have to be his voice until he has his own back.

Voices of Caregivers of Service Members and Veterans, Part 4

December 10, 2011

Getting the right services at the right time is crucial for your loved one's recovery. Start with a case manager.

Where Soldiers Come From

November 8, 2011

This documentary follows the journey of childhood friends who join the National Guard and end up combat veterans dealing with TBI and PTSD.

From Surviving to Thriving: Staff Sgt. Ben Ricard USMC's Story

October 28, 2011

Watch this Marine's powerful story of recovery — with the help of his therapists at the VA and his own family.

Exit Wounds

Derek McGinnis | August 8, 2011

"I don't measure how far I have come by goals achieved .... For me, what counts is that pain no longer rules my life," so writes Iraq veteran Derek McGinnis.

Sarah Wade: A Military Wife and Caregiver's Story

May 27, 2011

"For Ted, the first year of his recovery was like being born all over again, except accelerated."

A Flashlight Out of the Dark

May 10, 2011

Army vet Timm Lovitt finds that reaching out to help other vets is his own best medicine.

Our Daddy Is Invincible!

May 10, 2011

"Though daddy may be different, daddy is still daddy." Glimpse into this hope-filled children's book about a family and brain injury.

Sgt. Josh Hopper

January 31, 2011

A real hero knows when to ask for help. Sgt. Josh Hopper, who sustained a TBI in Iraq, is one such hero.

Real Warriors and Families

January 31, 2011

When a service member deploys, everyone around them is affected. Learn more from these brave warriors and their loved ones.

Pax

November 9, 2010

A service dog like Pax doesn't just impact one person's life, rather a whole network of people.

Prison Pups

September 21, 2010

The powerful story of Pax, an amazing dog trained by an inmate to help an Iraq vet transform his life.

Dr. Kelli Gary Talks about her Relationships After Traumatic Brain Injury

Kelli Williams Gary, Ph.D., MPH, OTR/L | March 16, 2010

A brain injury can significantly affect a person's ability to make good choices in relationships.

Personal Limitations: Dealing With My New Reality

Kelli Williams Gary, Ph.D., MPH, OTR/L | December 2, 2009

Kelli Gary talks about new personal limitations she faced after her traumatic brain injury and how she finally came to deal with and realize that life would be different.

Compensatory Strategies for Studying

Kelli Williams Gary, Ph.D., MPH, OTR/L | December 2, 2009

Kelli Gary talks about the compensatory strategies that she found through her own experience worked for her — like recording herself reading her text books to better prepare for class and tests.

Going Back to School After My Traumatic Brain Injury

Kelli Williams Gary, Ph.D., MPH, OTR/L | December 2, 2009

Kelli Gary talks about deciding to go back to school after her traumatic brain injury and her mom who supported her even when school didn't work out the first time.

How I Re-Built Social Supports After My TBI

Kelli Williams Gary, Ph.D., MPH, OTR/L | December 2, 2009

Kelli Gary talks about the strategies she used to rebuild her social supports after her traumatic brain injury.

Kelli Gary: Living With Traumatic Brain Injury

Kelli Williams Gary, Ph.D., MPH, OTR/L | December 2, 2009

Kelli Gary talks about her life living with traumatic brain injury and dealing with the everyday struggles she never anticipated.

Three Words That Motivated Me to Continue On

Kelli Williams Gary, Ph.D., MPH, OTR/L | December 2, 2009

"I never gave up. I knew it was harder. Things were more difficult. It would take more time. But I never gave up."

What's Different Now

Kelli Williams Gary, Ph.D., MPH, OTR/L | December 2, 2009

Having full awareness of her long-term issues from TBI has helped Dr. Kelli Gary adapt strategies that work and make choices that better order her life.

Shock Waves

June 20, 2009

Life as he knew it ended with a shock wave through his brain. A sister shares her story.

BrainLine Interviews Army Specialist Robert Andrzejczak

April 29, 2009

Even after losing a leg and sustaining a mild TBI, this veteran is moving with a new confidence.

In a Time of War

January 1, 2008

This excerpt draws from the dramatic story of West Point’s class of 2002, the first in a generation to graduate during wartime.

Breathing the Fire

January 1, 2008

A car bomb in Iraq forced CBS News Correspondent Kimberly Dozier out from behind the camera and into her own front-page story.

In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing

January 1, 2007

For Lee Woodruff, that phone call was like being back on the Tower of Terror: "It feels as if speed, motion, light, and time literally freeze."

The Heroes, The Healing

December 1, 2006

A profile of a staff sergeant from the moment he was hit by a roadside bomb to when his real fight begins.

Sgt. Wells's New Skull

April 1, 2006

Find out why this sergeant jokes about leaving part of his head in Iraq.

BrainLine Military

A Service of brainline.org

Turn off text only

Page Utilities

BrainLine Footer

Categories

Site Features

Sharing

About