Veteran Shares Personal Stories to Help Others with Brain Injuries

Posted by Corina Notyce, DCoE Public Affairs

(March 4, 2013) – He is a former Army sergeant, a Department of Veterans Affairs employee, a service-disabled veteran and someone with a brain injury — he is Adam Anicich. He shares his story and practical tips via his video blog “Adam at Ease,” with the hope of helping fellow veterans with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) on their own journey of recovery.

Anicich plays himself in every video, and talks openly and honestly on topics like setting goals, dealing with intense emotions, feeling guilty or dating, and about some of the related challenges someone with a brain injury may face. He also offers examples and ways you can help yourself overcome these challenges, often pulling from his own experiences.

In this video, Anicich recalls how he got injured serving in Iraq and made the decision to get help.
Video courtesy of Brainlinemilitary.org

Like Adam, a person with a TBI often experiences signs and symptoms that include:

• Headaches or neck pain that won’t go away
• Difficulty remembering, concentrating or making decisions
• Slowness in thinking, speaking, acting or reading
• Dizziness or loss of balance
• Blurred vision or eyes that tire easily
• Feeling tired all of the time, lack of energy or motivation

If you recognize these symptoms in yourself or someone you know, contact a health care provider and encourage the other person to do the same. The following sites can help you understand the different types of TBI and challenges they can pose, and offer resources available to support recovery:

• Brainline.org
• Brainlinemilitary.org
• Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center
• Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury

To request information and resources related to TBI or psychological health topics, contact the DCoE Outreach Center 24/7 at 866-966-1020, resources@dcoeoutreach.org or online chat.