Helping A Loved One Recover From a Concussion
When someone has a broken leg, it is pretty obvious how we can be helpful. We can drive them places, open doors for them, carry their groceries, and help them get around.
Concussion is different.
A concussion is often called an “invisible injury” because there may be no obvious outward sign that someone is struggling. There is no cast or crutches, and routine brain imaging may be normal. Concussion is diagnosed based on a person's symptoms and clinical evaluation rather than by a CT scan alone.
At the same time, the person recovering from a concussion may be dealing with headaches, fatigue, difficulty thinking or concentrating, dizziness, vision problems, sleep changes, emotional symptoms, or sensitivity to light and noise.
Sometimes family members and friends aren't sure what they can do to help.
The answer will vary depending on the individual and where they are in their recovery, but here are some practical ways you can support someone after a concussion.
1. Offer to Go to Appointments
Ask if they would like you to go with them to an appointment.
Concussion care can involve a lot of information, recommendations, and questions. When someone is already experiencing fatigue or difficulty concentrating, it can be difficult to remember everything discussed during a visit.
Having another set of eyes and ears can be helpful. You may also be able to take notes, help remember questions, or help your loved one organize information afterward.
Just make sure you ask first. Some people prefer to attend appointments independently, and respecting that choice is part of supporting their recovery.
2. Get Their Attention Before You Start Talking
If you need to tell someone recovering from a concussion something important, get their attention first.
Whenever possible, let them finish what they were doing before beginning a conversation. Dividing attention between multiple tasks can be difficult when someone is experiencing cognitive symptoms.
It may also take them a little longer to switch gears from whatever they were doing before.
That pause is not necessarily a sign that they aren't listening or don't care about what you're saying. Their brain may simply need more time to shift its attention.
If the environment is noisy, crowded, or otherwise overwhelming, moving somewhere quieter may help.
3. Put Important Information in Writing
If you have instructions, appointment details, or other important information to share, consider texting or writing it down.
This gives the person an opportunity to process the information when they are able to focus rather than requiring them to remember something you told them in passing.
Written reminders can be particularly helpful for:
Appointment times
Addresses and directions
Medication or treatment instructions
Household tasks
Plans and schedules
Questions they want to ask their healthcare provider
The goal isn't to make the person dependent on written reminders. It is to give their brain another way to access information while they are recovering.
4. Help Without Taking Over
It can be tempting to take over everything when someone you love is injured.
Try to provide assistance without automatically taking away every responsibility.
For example, it may be helpful to remind someone about an appointment or help them organize their calendar. But if they are able to schedule their own appointments and keep track of their commitments, allowing them to continue doing those things can help maintain a sense of independence and normalcy.
Ask yourself: “What do they actually need help with?”
Sometimes the best support is making a task easier. It isn't necessarily doing the entire task for them.
Of course, this may change throughout recovery. Someone who can manage their normal responsibilities one day may need significantly more help on a day when symptoms are worse.
5. Don't Take the Need for Alone Time Personally
Someone recovering from a concussion may need more quiet time or breaks from conversation than they did before the injury.
This can be difficult for everyone involved.
People with concussion symptoms can become overloaded more quickly, particularly in environments with a lot of conversation, noise, screens, activity, or other stimulation. As symptoms build, it may become increasingly difficult to process what other people are saying.
If your loved one says they need some time alone or asks to pause a conversation, try not to interpret it as rejection or anger toward you.
Sometimes giving someone space is one of the most helpful things you can do.
6. Make Everyday Life a Little Easier
Recovery can be time-consuming.
Between medical appointments, therapy, work or school responsibilities, and trying to manage symptoms, everyday tasks can become difficult to keep up with.
One simple way to help is to take something off their plate.
Offer to:
Bring them a meal
Pick up groceries
Run an errand
Help with household tasks
Drive them to an appointment
Give them a quiet place to rest
Help organize practical information
You don't have to fix the concussion. Sometimes making dinner or picking up groceries is exactly the kind of support someone needs.
Remember: Recovery Doesn't Look the Same Every Day
One of the hardest things about concussion can be the unpredictability.
Someone may seem relatively normal one day and struggle significantly the next. Symptoms can fluctuate depending on sleep, physical activity, cognitive demands, stress, and other factors.
Try not to assume that feeling better for a few hours means the person is completely recovered, or that having a difficult day means they are going backward.
Recovery is often a process of gradually increasing activity while paying attention to symptoms and tolerance.
If you're helping someone who is struggling with fatigue or sleep changes, our article Sleep After Concussion: Why You're Tired and What Can Help provides more information about one common part of concussion recovery.
Concussion Affects More Than One Person
At Colorado Concussion Clinic, we understand that a mild traumatic brain injury can affect not only the person who was injured, but also the people closest to them.
There can be frustration on both sides, even when there is a lot of love.
A partner may suddenly be working full time while also taking on a larger share of household responsibilities. A parent may be trying to figure out how to support a child while managing school, appointments, and other family needs. A friend may not know whether to offer help or give the person space.
All of those feelings are understandable.
It is important to remember that caregivers need support, too.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, anxious, or unsure how to communicate with your loved one, talking with a therapist can provide a place to work through those feelings and develop effective coping and communication strategies.
And if your loved one is comfortable with it, you can also ask their healthcare providers questions about their symptoms, treatment, and recovery plan. Having a better understanding of what they are experiencing may help you provide more effective support—and help you understand what you are experiencing, too.
Supporting Someone Through Concussion Recovery
You don't have to have all the answers to be helpful.
Listen. Ask what they need. Make everyday tasks a little easier. Give them space when they need it. And remember that the person you know and love is still there, even if they are temporarily struggling to communicate, concentrate, participate, or keep up with their usual responsibilities.
If you want to better understand concussion care and what recovery can involve, start with Concussion Care Matters: What to Do After a Concussion.
And if your loved one's symptoms have continued for several weeks or months, Why Do I Still Have Symptoms Months After a Concussion? may be a helpful next resource.
Originally published June 30, 2021. Updated September, 4 20
This article has been updated to reflect current concussion research and clinical guidance.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Concussion symptoms and recovery vary from person to person. If you or someone you know has sustained a head injury or is experiencing concerning or worsening symptoms, seek evaluation from a qualified healthcare professional.