Alcohol following
brain injury
Introduction
This booklet has been designed to help people with acquired brain injury understand how alcohol can affect the brain.
It explains how alcohol can affect recovery after a brain injury, how alcohol can affect thinking, memory and problem solving skills as well as the effect it has on mood. It also tells people what they can do to avoid alcohol, through words and images which have been developed specifically to help people with brain injury understand these important messages. Contacts for further support and help are also provided.
This booklet was initially developed at our independent hospital York House who run an alcohol awareness group for service users who have alcohol issues. The messages in the booklet were written using feedback from the service users about what were the most important and useful messages to get across.
Other people who may find it helpful include • Family carers and friends
• Other unpaid carers
After a brain injury everything changes. This is tough when you’ve had enough and just want to go out with your friends.
For you with a brain injury this could be serious and hard to accept.
What can you do?
Join a local brain injury support group. Meet other people with a brain injury and share your experiences.
Alcohol and non-prescription drugs affect your brain unexpectedly because of the damage to your brain.
Your brain is amazing.
Even after you leave hospital your brain is still recovering.
It takes longer than you think, give it more time.
What can you do?
Join a local brain injury support group. Meet other people with a brain injury and share your experiences.
After a brain injury there are less brain cells to do the same work.
Your brain has to work harder.
Drinking alcohol slows your brain’s recovery.
Alcohol may make daily activities more difficult.
This can leave you at risk.
Choose other places to go like the cinema, theatre, bowling, cafes or friends’ homes.
It may make it harder for you to speak clearly or find the right words and others may find it difficult to understand you. You may have difficulties following what other people are saying to you.
What can you do?
Drink soft drinks.
Try drinking non-alcoholic beers and lagers.
You may notice difficulty with thinking skills and may find it hard to concentrate.
You may get easily distracted.
People may take advantage of you – people with a brain injury are vulnerable after a drink or taking non-prescription drugs.
What can you do?
Join a local brain injury support group. Meet other people with a brain injury and share your experiences.
Drinking will make your memory worse and you might lose your phone, your money or not find your way home.
Your problem solving skills are reduced.
Our brain lets us know when to say the right things – for example, saying ‘thank you’ after someone has held a door open for you.
Arguments can get out of hand – you may not be able to control them.
Join a local brain injury support group. Meet other people with a brain injury and share your experiences.
Your brain may not be as good at this after drinking.
What can you do?
Don’t drink.
If you drink alcohol, limit how much alcohol you drink.
If you drink alcohol or take non-prescription drugs after a brain injury you are more likely to have a seizure or ‘fit’ even if you have not had one before.
Medications taken to prevent seizures may not work as well after drinking alcohol or taking non-prescription drugs.
What can you do?
Take your seizure medication and stick to soft drinks.
Avoid the drinks section of the supermarket. A prolonged seizure damages your
brain more.
Sometimes a brain injury leaves you feeling depressed.
Alcohol is a depressant so drinking makes you feel more depressed.
Talk to your family, your health care professional or your GP and tell them how you feel.
If you are in hospital, talk to your Doctor.
What can you do?
Meet other people with a brain injury and share your experiences.
You may need medication for your depression. Drinking alcohol can make you feel more anxious, and less able to cope with life.
Having a brain injury means you have to be more careful.
Join a local brain injury support group. Meet other people with a brain injury and share your experiences.
Drinking alcohol can mean you are more likely to have another brain injury. Therefore, it is best if you don’t drink or take non-prescription drugs.
Contact one of the
following associations
for help:
Your local BIRT service www.birt.co.uk
Your local Alcoholics Anonymous group National Helpline: 0845 769 7555
BIRT – the charity leading
brain injury rehabilitation
across the UK
Our services are designed to meet the needs of people at different stages of rehabilitation – from assessment to comprehensive rehabilitation, long-term housing and care, and community-based support.
The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT) is
a leading European provider in specialist brain injury rehabilitation. We support people to regain independence and rebuild their lives following acquired brain injury.
We currently support over 550 people with acquired brain injury, a figure which will rise substantially with several new service developments planned.
BIRT is part of The Disabilities Trust and is the means by which it provides its brain injury services. The Disabilities Trust provides services to people with physical impairments, autism and learning disabilities, as well as brain injury.
Kindly supported by National Accident Helpline www.national-accident-helpline.co.uk
www.birt.co.uk
The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust 3 Westgate Court Silkwood Park Wakefield WF5 9TJ Tel: 01924 269 389 Email: director@birt.co.uk
BIRT is a division of The Disabilities Trust, Registered Charity No 800797, and in Scotland under SC038972/ BIRT:SC043579, and is the means by which it provides its brain injury services. © 2013 The Disabilities Trust
“The staff gave me really terrific support. I now realise just what an invaluable resource BIRT is.”
Luke
