Every family will react differently to the crisis and will find its own means of coping. We are here to give you information and to help you adapt in your own way. We encourage you to use your intuition, participate fully in the rehab program, make suggestions, and ask questions. The more information you have about your family member's recovery, the better able you will be to handle the changes that can arise during the process.

Interacting With The Injured Person
The personality changes that can accompany a brain injury or stroke may be more difficult to cope with than any physical disability. If your family member behaves in an unfamiliar way, it may be the result of his or her injury. You need not feel embarrassed about behavior that naturally occurs during the recovery process.

Information may need to be presented to your injured family member as simply as possible. Use straightforward language and direct, uncomplicated gestures and expressions.

Your family member's emotional reactions may not be what you would normally expect. They may be heightened or they may be absent. Often the types of reactions displayed may be best explained by the nature of the injury and the stage of recovery at which your loved one may be currently functioning.

A person recovering from a stroke sometimes has little capacity to fully grasp the extent of his or her deficits. Individuals are often unaware of their problems and are not depressed when we would expect them to be. The only way to know how they feel is to ask them.

General Goals

• Take care of yourself and your family. It will not help the patient if family members become exhausted.

• Pace yourself. This process can be a long one. Do not expend all of your energy in the early stages because you will need it in the months ahead.

• Remember that dealing with a stroke is difficult and no one has all the answers. Counseling can help and can be found through your religious institution or through psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers.

• Participate in your family member's rehabilitation program to gain a better understanding of the processes and effects of a stroke.

• Remember that every person is unique therefore, an injury to the brain will have unique effects. Try not to compare your family member's progress to that of others in the rehabilitation program.

• Acknowledge all of your feelings. Sharing them with other relatives and friends may also provide some relief; they may be feeling the same way.

• Holding a family get-together, particularly one with dependent children, can be very difficult. Try to appraise the situation honestly as possible.

• Try to maintain your normal contacts. Stay in touch with relatives and friends and make plans to do recreational activities outside the hospital. Such outings will help keep you connected to the community.