Treatments for Brain Injury

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

HBOT is a treatment involving breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment.

HBOT has definitely helped reduce the physical pain as well as the symptoms I suffered with specific TBI/PTS. — Nick Santoro, Veteran, U.S. Marines Corps

Meditation

Meditation is a mental training and breathing practice that teaches you to slow down racing thoughts, let go of negativity, and calm both your mind and body.

While I’m far from healed, meditation has helped me realize I am not my thoughts, nor am I my trauma. — Sian Ferguson

Yoga

Yoga is a mind and body practice. There are many styles of yoga that combine poses, breathing techniques, and sometimes meditation.

[Yoga] has been so helpful and healing for me in the most amazing way. It has changed my life in a way that I could have never imagined. — Kevin Pearce, professional snowboarder who sustained a TBI

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT can help you to think differently about your experiences and your relationships, with the goal of making some positive changes in your life.

It was really just retraining my brain in the way that I was thinking. — Susan, Veteran, U.S. Navy

Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT)

Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy improves issues with thinking or behavior due to traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Memory Strategy Training

Memory strategy training is a kind of cognitive rehabilitation that can help you remember important things.

I just learned over the years various coping mechanisms. … I keep Post-its in business. — Retired NFL player George Visger

Social Skills Training

Social skills is a broad term that includes understanding what is expected of you in different social interactions.

Some people, even a lot of people, will not understand your injury ... I’ve learned that in the long run it pays to be honest and open with people. — John Byler, TBI survivor

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET)

Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is a form of exposure therapy that uses technology.

In 13 weeks I’d completely changed who I had been for the previous ten years. — Jimmy Castellanos, Veteran, U.S. Marine Corps

Adaptive Sports

Adaptive sports often run parallel to typical sports and are adapted for people with disabilities.

The recumbent [bike] is the one place where I don’t need any assistance...I’m completely independent and I’m successful. — Beth King, Veteran, U.S. Army

Medications

Medications are substances recommended by a doctor to help you deal with symptoms of PTSD or TBI or both.

With therapy I realized what my triggers are. Through that, and medication, I’m a lot better today. — James Dantzler, Veteran, U.S. Marine Corps

Occupational Therapy (OT)

Guidance from an OT, along with targeted practice, will build new neural pathways, helping you build skills until you become more adept again.

When patients can see tangible benefits in measurable improvements physically, they also gain pride in self-accomplishment & self-confidence. — Edward Vickers, Brain Injury Survivor

Physical Therapy (PT)

Physical therapy involves working with a physical therapist to regain physical abilities you may have lost as a result of your injury.

I literally learned to walk all over again. My [therapy] taught me that the person in control of my physical recovery ... was me. — Robert L. Heriza, Veteran

Speech Therapy

Recover or learn to compensate for the communication challenges your brain injury may have caused.

[My husband] was still as brilliant as he was three months post-injury as he was before his injury. The problem was that his brain could not process language anymore. — Abby Maslin, caregiver