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

"Thousands of children and young people living in the UK today without the help and support that can make a huge difference to their lives"

Dalton Leong; 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

"Strength-based family intervention after pediatric ABI is essential. Parents need to be equipped with the skills to cope and advocate for the child."

Caron Gan; Canada

"When someone has a brain injury, early access to local, specialist rehabilitation is crucial to ensure the maximum recovery and make significant savings to the state in health costs"

Headway; United Kingdom

"Children and young people have poor social competence post brain injury due to reduced cognition, executive functions, and emotional control. As a result they are twice as likely to have mental health issues in the future"

James Tonks; University of London

"We would like to see earlier identification and support for children with brain injuries to help them succeed in school."

Dalton Leong; Chief Executive of the Children's Trust

"More play increases brain plasticity and makes for better recovery post brain injury"

Professor Bryan Kolb; Canada

"Positive and coordinated neuro-rehab interventions for children and young people is proven to bring health improvements; improve independence; reduces the need for sheltered living; decreases vulnerability; decreases drop-out rates in schools; decreases youth offending"

Eric Hermans; Netherlands

"Different 'experts' involved in paediatric neuro-rehabilitation come from different organisational cultures which causes conflict and has a negative effect on the outcomes for the child."

Barbara O'Connell; Ireland

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.