Help siblings, even young children, feel included by:
• Introducing them to people caring for the child.
• Showing them what to do or how to help with care or
therapy.
• Inviting them to:
• Draw pictures for the hospital rooms.
• Make voice recordings or videos.
• Send cards, pictures, or letters.
• Start a diary or journal.
• Set up a time to Skype.
Coming Home
Brothers or sisters may think that coming home from
the hospital or rehabilitation program means that the brain
injury has been “fixed” or “cured.” Discharge from the hos-
pital does not mean that life is “back to normal.” The future
still is uncertain.
Siblings have many feelings to sort out as life at home
changes. Parents may argue more, or be quiet, moody, or
tearful. They may be exhausted by the end of the day. This
leaves less time and attention for siblings even though the
family is together again.
Siblings can feel resentful and angry if life at home still
revolves around the injured child. Siblings may even wish
the child had died or that parents would divorce. These are
not “bad” thoughts that deserve punishment. They are nor-
mal reactions to loss. They are signs that siblings need emo-
tional support and information to adjust to changes in
their family.
Some siblings cope by being “extra good,” while others
rebel, act out, and create even more stress for already
exhausted parents. Signs that siblings are troubled and need
help are nightmares, unusually quiet behavior, changes in
eating, increased quarrels or fights, tearfulness, moodiness,
or difficulty at school.
Counseling with a psychologist or social worker expe-
rienced in brain injury can help siblings sort out complicat-
ed feelings. Some trauma centers and rehabilitation pro-
grams have support groups or special meetings for siblings.
See Figure 1 for a checklist for strategies parents, relatives,
and professionals can use to help siblings.
Help siblings, even young children, feel included by:• Introducing them to people caring for the child.• Showing them what to do or how to help with care ortherapy.• Inviting them to:• Draw pictures for the hospital rooms.• Make voice recordings or videos.• Send cards, pictures, or letters.• Start a diary or journal.• Set up a time to Skype.Coming HomeBrothers or sisters may think that coming home fromthe hospital or rehabilitation program means that the braininjury has been “fixed” or “cured.” Discharge from the hos-pital does not mean that life is “back to normal.” The futurestill is uncertain.Siblings have many feelings to sort out as life at homechanges. Parents may argue more, or be quiet, moody, ortearful. They may be exhausted by the end of the day. Thisleaves less time and attention for siblings even though thefamily is together again.Siblings can feel resentful and angry if life at home stillrevolves around the injured child. Siblings may even wishthe child had died or that parents would divorce. These arenot “bad” thoughts that deserve punishment. They are nor-mal reactions to loss. They are signs that siblings need emo-tional support and information to adjust to changes intheir family.Some siblings cope by being “extra good,” while othersrebel, act out, and create even more stress for alreadyexhausted parents. Signs that siblings are troubled and needhelp are nightmares, unusually quiet behavior, changes ineating, increased quarrels or fights, tearfulness, moodiness,or difficulty at school.Counseling with a psychologist or social worker expe-rienced in brain injury can help siblings sort out complicat-ed feelings. Some trauma centers and rehabilitation pro-grams have support groups or special meetings for siblings.See Figure 1 for a checklist for strategies parents, relatives,and professionals can use to help siblings.
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