Adjustment Problems

Physical Communication Cognitive Behavioural / Emotional

A traumatic brain injury is a life changing and stressful event which may result in adjustment problems also knowns as adjustment disorder. An adjustment disorder may interfere with rehabilitation following a brain injury. Symptoms may include depression, anxiety, trouble sleeping or concentrating, poor decision making etc.

There are effective treatments for adjustment disorder including counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy which is a form of talk therapy. It enables you to replace negative thinking and behaviour with healthier thoughts and behaviour. Joining a support group may also assist. Medication may be used for symptoms like trouble sleeping or anxiety, but talk therapy is the main treatment.

A person with an adjustment disorder should also try to:

  • Exercise and eat a healthy diet.
  • Get regular hours of sleep.
  • Maintain a social life including support from friends and family
  • Find ways to reduce stress.
  • Give yourself more time to do the things you need to do.

"There are problems with getting people into neuro-rehab. Those most in need are often those most excluded due to a lack of socio-economic resources."
Vicki Anderson; Australia
"Parent-supported interventions after paediatric ABI bring reductions to the cost to society"
Eric Hermans; Netherlands
"Pediatric neuro-rehabilitation cannot be delivered in isolation. The needs of the child have to be looked at both holistically and within the context of the family unit. Parents need to be empowered to be parents in post-acute pediatric neuro-rehabilitation following brain injury"
The Children's Trust; United Kingdom
"We are impressed with the progress you have made with the individual we referred to you."  Social Worker    
I was very impressed with the results you have had with the young people you have worked with.
"We are medical practitioners. The real experts are the parents. Over the last 35 years they have taught me everything I know"
Lucia Braga; Brazil
"My colleague was blown away by the tremendous work your organisation is doing for society."  Social Worker
"When different organisations assess different aspects of a child's neuro-rehabilitation needs, everyone looks at things from a different perspective and have conflicting priorities"
Cathy Jonson; Rehab without Walls; United Kingdom.
"Too often children and young people with ABI are discharged from hospital without specialist brain support that they and their families need to overcome lifelong challenges"
Andrew Ross; former Chief Executive of the Children's Trust
"NHS clinicians struggle with what intervention to prioritise in paediatric neuro-rehabilitation due to limited clinical time and the complexity of needs. Children, clinicians, parents and schools all have different neuro-rehabilitation priorities"
Recolo; United Kingdom

OUR MISSION: To work to remove inequalities for children & young people affected by acquired brain injury; and provide effective support to their families that makes a real difference to their lives.

Council for Disabled Children Community Funded Charity Excellence Lottery Funded Youth Foundation BBC CiN