Caring for a person with executive deficits can be a full-time job and living with personality and behaviour changes in a relative or friend can be very distressing.
Problems that carers may experience include:
- Stress, anxiety or depression
- Increased responsibility
- Strained relationships
- Reduced communication with partner
- Restricted leisure/social life
- Reduced sexual and emotional intimacy with a partner
- Feeling tired and frustrated
It is important for family members, carers and friends to access support for their practical and emotional needs. Input from a rehabilitation team can help, and some people find peer support groups for carers useful. Headway’s groups and branches offer valuable support for both survivors and family members. It is also important to see a GP, who will be able to refer to local counselling and therapy services where they are available.
For further information see the Headway booklet Caring for someone with a brain injury, which can be obtained free-of-charge from the Headway helpline, or visit the ‘Caring‘ section for more information. The helpline can also provide support and refer to local groups and branches.
