Traumatic brain injury survivors often inquire about the importance of a support group and should they attend one. Many people feel as though a support group is for people who want to talk about their problems instead of doing something about it. Nothing could be further from the truth, a support group is very important and necessary to recognize the issues and problems of traumatic brain injury and to help the survivor do something about it.

A support group allows information to be shared and to support one another showing the survivor they are not alone.

Getting information and finding out about services can help the survivor and the survivor's family with their struggle to adjust to the brain injury.

Without a support group there are a few outlets for dealing with the emotional aspects of the lifestyle changes created by the traumatic brain injury. Support group members can work together to educate and help each other. When attending a support group a check list of areas of concern that the survivor needs help with should be made so that the survivor attending the support group can get the information they need.

If the survivor would like certain topics to be brought up he or she should discuss these topics at the support group. Some ideas for topics to be researched and discussed at support group meetings are as follows:

• How to improve memory and compensate for lack of memory
• Discussion on nutrition
• Social skills meeting
• Fitness and exercise meeting

Support groups can help with the emotional problems after traumatic brain injury. Many traumatic brain injury survivors have difficulty controlling emotions and have mood swings. Some of the problems that a support group can help with concerning emotional issues are:

• Mood swings
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Temper outbursts and irritability

Traumatic brain injury survivors experiencing these emotional problems should not only attend a support group but should look into psychological counseling and perhaps medication by a psychiatrist.

Traumatic brain injury survivors looking for a support group can contact the Brain Injury Association in their state for a list of organized support groups in each part of the state. If there is no support group in your local area then the state Brain Injury Association could be contacted along with a local hospital in order the facilitate starting a traumatic brain injury support group.

Support groups are necessary and extremely helpful in helping the traumatic brain injury survivor and, his or her family, cope with the extreme changes caused by the traumatic brain injury and to help deal with the confusion, frustration and despair and help with the realization that the survivor is not alone.