The music of recovery - Highlight - This is me!

We were excited to see this playlist, available to you on Spotify, that includes songs that persons of all ages with many different types of brain injury contributed, as the songs helped them during their recovery journey.

https://www.headway.org.uk/news/national-news/2018/your-song-headways-very-own-spotify-playlist/

One of the songs jumped out at me - This is me (from The Greatest Showman)

The contributor, someone with brain injury, said:
“This track is very relevant when accepting the new me. No apology, this is me!” said Joanne Wood.

Here are some of the words for you, if you want to know what he is talking about to see if you can relate!
"But I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me"

https://genius.com/Keala-settle-this-is-me-lyrics

The music of recovery - Highlight - Rise up

In many of the activities of my lab, music plays a huge role, whether it includes writing manuscripts to the Jurassic Park Pandora channel or submitting grants to the WICKED soundtrack. We were excited to see this playlist, available to you on Spotify, that includes songs that persons of all ages with many different types of brain injury contributed, as they had some importance to them on their brain injury recovery journey.

https://www.headway.org.uk/news/national-news/2018/your-song-headways-very-own-spotify-playlist/

One of the songs jumped out at me - Rise up byAndra Day
(I have this on repeat on the hard days)

The contributor, someone with brain injury, said:
“This song helped me discover my strength to battle through the really hard times and reminded me to never give up,” said Hayley Nye.

Here are some of the words for you, if you want to know what he is talking about to see if you can relate!
"You’re broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry-go-round
And you can’t find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains

And I’ll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I’ll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
And I’ll rise up
High like the waves
I’ll rise up
In spite of the ache
I'll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
For you"


https://genius.com/Andra-day-rise-up-lyrics

The music of recovery - Highlight - Tubthumping

I was excited to see this playlist, available to you on Spotify, that includes songs that persons of all ages with many different types of brain injury contributed, as they had some importance to them on their brain injury recovery journey.

https://www.headway.org.uk/news/national-news/2018/your-song-headways-very-own-spotify-playlist/

One of the songs jumped out at me - Tubthumping by Chumbawamba

The contributor, someone with brain injury, said:
“I think that chorus sums up what I had to do over and over throughout the recovery,” said Sean Dolan.

Here are some of the words for you, if you want to know what he is talking about to see if you can relate!

"I get knocked down, but I get up again

You are never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down"

Lyrics - https://genius.com/Chumbawamba-tubthumping-lyrics 

Our Virtual Choir Experience

I am happy to share with you our video - our members and lab family poured their hearts into this production.

As you may know, this is Aphasia Awareness Month, and we would very much appreciate it if you would share this video to help us spread the word about aphasia and related disorders, stroke and other brain injury or disease, recovery, and life participation.

#ShareYourVoice #AphasiaMonth #TalkAboutAphasia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guU_uRaFbHI

Hero and Stroke Survivor!

Much of #StrokeMonth is focused on prevention, recognizing the signs of stroke, etc. While that is critical, it is also important to think about what happens after you survive a stroke. Thanks SO MUCH to Eric Hawton and KRQE Sara Yingling for highlighting the recovery process after stroke!

 http://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/volunteer-firefighter-discusses-long-road-of-recovery-after-two-strokes/1206090316

Aphasia and Apraxia of Speech

More information to share during #AphasiaMonth. Many people with #aphasia may also have #apraxiaofspeech, or persons who have had a stroke or who have progressive disease may just have apraxia of speech. If you want to know more about these terms and diagnoses, watch this wonderful video with information presented by Darlene Williamson. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaVLy_5WhTM

How to start a conversation about suicide

A great follow up to previous posts about depression and suicidal ideation after stroke and other brain injury - this TED talk titled "How to start a conversation about suicide"

https://www.ted.com/talks/jeremy_forbes_how_to_start_a_conversation_about_suicide

What is aphasia?

Most of the folks we meet through our research and outreach had never heard of the word "aphasia" ... until it happened to them or to someone they love. As we settle into #AphasiaMonth, here is some introductory information about #aphasia from two of my favorite advocates, Dr. Roberta Elman and Carol Dow-Richards. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMsLkupV_BI&feature=youtu.be

post-stroke depression

As we transition from #StrokeMonth to #AphasiaMonth, here is a great article that talks about post-stroke depression, with a special emphasis on the unique challenges for treatment of depression in persons with aphasia. 

http://scmag-digi.strokeassociation.org/…/MobilePagedArticl…

A quote from the article: “First, post-stroke depression is real. It is not that the survivor is being lazy or unmotivated. Second, PSD needs to be treated, and typically that is with a combination of medication and individual or group therapy. Without treatment, the survivor may face prolonged hospitalizations or rehospitalizations. It can also limit the ultimate level of functional recovery and definitely compromises the survivor’s social integration.”

The silent injury

Brain injuries are often referred to as "silent injuries" and the "silent epidemic" . Click here for a good brief article about this, titled "If you don't look injured, you must be fine". 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-new-normal/201608/if-you-don-t-look-injured-you-must-be-fine

National Stroke Awareness Month - 40 SECONDS

A stroke happens every 40 seconds. 

Act FAST to reduce recovery time. 

#StrokeMonth 

 http://bit.ly/1Ep3i5w

 

National Stroke Awareness Month - SPREAD THE WORD

With a stroke happening, on average, every 40 seconds to someone in the U.S., chances are you know someone impacted by it. 

Honor them during National Stroke Awareness Month and check out this tool to help you decide how to take action: http://bit.ly/2p5h9de 

#StrokeMonth

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The music of recovery

In many of the activities of my lab, music plays a huge role, whether it be playing favorite songs for folks as they patiently let us load their EEG caps or while they undergo brain scanning, creating song titles in semantic feature games, NeuroChoir, and more.

I was excited to see this playlist, available to you on Spotify, that includes songs that persons of all ages with many different types of brain injury contributed, as they had some importance to them on their brain injury recovery journey.

https://www.headway.org.uk/news/national-news/2018/your-song-headways-very-own-spotify-playlist/

Listen to the songs and let us know what you think!

Depression after brain injury

We ask our participants and their caregivers about feelings of depression after stroke or other brain injury. Many times we have to provide resources because they are demonstrating signs of depression according to our questionnaires. There is much work to be done regarding depression after brain injury.

In very severe depression, people can experience suicidal ideation. Take a look at this statistic:

If you or someone you know is experiencing this, please seek help immediately.

Here is the national hotline - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255

From BIA of Oregon, here are some tips/suggestions that may also be helpful (http://www.biaoregon.org/Vets&Suicide.htm)

Those with a history of TBI and their family members shared these suggestions for people considering suicide

 

Distract yourself by:

Reaching out (to a friend or family member)

Writing in a journal

Listening to music

Playing with a pet

Going for a walk

Working on a hobby

Playing cards

Reading

 

Get involved in activities:

Go outdoors

Exercise

Spend time helping people

Talk with others

 

Get professional help:

TBI support group

Individual psychotherapy

Medication evaluation

 

Those with a history of TBI stated that before considering suicide

They felt:

Sad

Hopeless

Lonely

Frustrated

Stressed

Angry

Useless

They thought about:

Being a burden

Having failed

Losing their sense of purpose

They had difficulty:

Thinking clearly

They were misusing:

Alcohol/drugs

National Stroke Awareness Month - YOUNG STROKE

Think stroke can’t happen to you because you’re young? 

Think again. 

There was a spike of 44% in the number of young Americans (under the age of 45) hospitalized due to stroke over the last decade. 

To learn more, watch this video: www.stroke.org/NSAM 

#StrokeMonth

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Friendships after acquired brain injury (ABI)

We know that social networks take a huge hit after acquired brain injury (ABI). The outcomes for friendships after ABI are much poorer than intimate relationships, where some people do indeed report dissolution of intimate relationships/marriages but others at least report an improvement.

Here are some results out of a charity in the UK which discuss/reports some findings re: friendships.

https://www.headway.org.uk/news/national-news/2018/charity-study-highlights-the-power-of-positive-relationships/

Consistent themes in successful relationships after ABI highlight, at least in part, the importance of the educational duties that fall under the scope of practice for many/most health care providers. If the friend without the brain injury understood the effects of the brain injury, if they knew how/when to provide practical support for activities of daily living, etc. , friendships were more likely to be sustained.

National Stroke Awareness Month - KNOW THE SIGNS

Nearly 800,000 people will experience a stroke this year. 

Would you know if you or someone you know was having a stroke? 

Recognizing and responding quickly to stroke symptoms can save lives. 

Learn how to act FAST at www.stroke.org/symp. 

#StrokeMonth

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Intimate relationships after acquired brain injury (ABI)

Many huge life changes occur after brain injury, not just for the person with brain injury, but for their loved ones as well. Some of the news about intimate relationships after ABI is discouraging, some encouraging - our lab, in collaboration with others, is currently exploring the impact on relationships, caregiver strain/burden, and more. Here are some findings out of the UK that are interesting and some of their findings mirror patterns we see in our own.

https://www.headway.org.uk/about-brain-injury/further-information/research/brain-injury-research/you-me-and-brain-injury-relationship-changes-after-brain-injury/

Classes and opportunities at local ABQ senior centers

Aphasia tip

UNM Neuroscience Day

Lab Member Highlight - Christie Shultz

Brain Stimulation Research in ABQ, NM !

Lab Member Highlight - Sarah Grace Dalton

Caregiver support in New Mexico

Brain Injury Friendly Yoga

Golf Tournament Fundraiser for Brain Injury Alliance of New Mexico

Neurochoir in the news .... again!

Many thanks to Sara Yingling at KRQE for visiting with our choir!

http://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/recovering-from-brain-injury-through-song/1101093646

ABQ Community Events and Contacts

Happy Spring!

Brain Injury Awareness Month

Lab Publication Update - Article in AJSLP

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29497752

Lab Publication Update - Article in AJSLP

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29497748

Neurochoir in the news!

Happy New Year!