March is Brain Injury Awareness and we're focusing our efforts on increasing awareness of traumatic brain injury and the challenge. Throughout the month, Mar and Jenn will speak with experts working in the field of TBI, provide strategies for coping and share resources to educate the community. In this episode of This Caregiver Life, we are joined by Alex Balbir, Ph.D.  Alex serves as the Independence Services and Warrior Care Network Director at Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).  A graduate of University North Carolina and John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Alex is also an officer in the US Navy Reserve.

During our conversation with Alex, we explore the multi-layered topic of Traumatic Brain Injury, known as TBI. What is TBI? A TBI is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that disrupts the normal function of the brain. The severity of a TBI may range from “mild” (i.e., a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to “severe” (i.e., an extended period of unconsciousness or memory loss after the injury).

People with TBI may experience moderate to severe disabilities that can interfere with their regular activities and quality of life.

Cognitive function (e.g., impaired attention or memory); Motor function (e.g., extremity weakness or poor coordination and balance); Sensation (e.g., loss of hearing, vision, perception, or touch); and Emotion (e.g., depression, anxiety, aggression, loss of impulse control, or personality changes).

Caring for loved one with TBI can be challenging, exhausting, and sometimes even overwhelming. In this episode, we discuss those challenges, the ways WWP helps veterans and caregivers, and ways we can all support those in our community who are living with TBI.

Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project and its mission to WWP mission to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org