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Sex Life and Emotional Wellness after Traumatic Brain Injury

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Sex Life and Emotional Wellness after Traumatic Brain Injury

traumatic brain injury -tbi and sex

For both male and female adults recovering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI), self-confidence and sexual enjoyment can be compromised on the road to recovery. Sexual difficulties are not trivial, as they can lead to low self-esteem and significant relationship problems. Decreased sex drive, decreased arousal, erectile dysfunction, inability to achieve orgasm, and/or hypersexuality are common experiences after TBI.

Neurotransmitters are the messengers between brain cells and are vital for cognitive function and emotional well being. Neurotransmitters are also responsible for feelings of intimacy and sexual arousal. Moreover, they message the body to send blood to sexual organs. Therefore, assaults to the brain that affect its chemical makeup may have significant implications for one’s physical satisfaction and intimate relationships.

Every TBI case is different and, depending on the primary injury and consequent manifestation of the disease, the extent and nature of sexual wellness in each patient will vary. It is our goal at Pathways to tailor treatment and therapy options in a personalized manner. 

Sexual dysfunction after TBI can result from a primary direct assault to the brain or a secondary cause downstream of the initial impact. The location of the brain that has been insulted will dictate the type of sexual problems one may encounter. Even within a region of a brain, specific subregions entail different functions. For instance, within the frontal lobe of the brain, damage to the dorsolateral frontal lobe typically leads to a reduced sex drive while damage to the orbitofrontal region may lead to hypersexuality. When damage impairs neurochemical/neuroendrocrine functions of the brain, a secondary cause of compromised sexual function can result from the impairment of blood hormone levels. Medications, another secondary source of sexual impairment, such as anticonvulsants, antidepressants, anticholinergics, and serotonergic agonists can reduce sex drive, among other side effects.  Anxiety and depression, often coinciding with TBI can also interfere with sexual functioning and desire.

At Pathways, we are here to make an environment of comfort and openness regarding sexuality concerns. Mental well-being and sexual health is incorporated into our comprehensive evaluation and treatment of TBIs.

The Pathways team of professionals has helped thousands of people with brain injuries. We are Dedicated to effective and compassionate care for individuals with neurological challenges.

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Source: Pathways Neuropsychology
Sex Life and Emotional Wellness after Traumatic Brain Injury

Military Study: Aerobic Exercise as an Effective Treatment for mTBI

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Military Study: Aerobic Exercise as an Effective Treatment for mTBI

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David K Johnson, PhD and the Department of Defense have teamed up to investigate the healing effects of aerobic exercise on mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI). The researchers are focusing on United States soldiers who have experienced brain injuries from improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, in Iraq and Aphganistan. While rarely resulting in penetrating harm, IEDs are a common tool of terrorist organizations and their detonation can result in severe head trauma followed by up to six minutes of loss consciousness. Johnson’s results, which show beneficial improvements to soldiers’ conditions upon significant exercise, may have broad implications to those diagnosed with mTBI that are fit enough for aerobic exercise.

Although a specialist on Alzheimers, Johnson appreciates the possible overlaps with mTBIs in younger patients when it comes to the biochemical processes in the brain. When talking about his study, which was spearheaded by a $500,000 grant to improve the life quality of US soldiers, Johnson explains that, “An awful lot of the biochemical process in mTBI appears to be related to Alzheimer’s disease […] we know aerobic exercise can reduce the amount of biochemicals associated with Alzheimer’s disease, reduce the plaques and tangles, so we think it will work with mTBI as well. Aerobic exercise helps the brain heal itself.” To further test this hypothesis, Johnson is working with one hundred volunteers at Fort Riley to test for cognitive fitness before and after structured aerobic training.

mTBI is the most common brain injury. Athletic activity and warfare dramatically increase the chance of mTBI, most often due to non-penetrating impact on the brain. The good news is, however, that young athletes, soldiers, and veterans that have mTBI can still partake in aerobic exercise unless physically barred from running. Johnson and his team are hopeful and eager about their study. Moreover, by looking for physical and chemical signatures, more can be understood about prolonged brain injuries. “Because mTBI shares so much biologically with early Alzheimer’s disease,” Johnson explain, “I hope that what is working in our older adults also works in these young men and women.”

SOURCE: 

https://news.ku.edu/2016/12/06/researchers-use-aerobic-exercise-promising-treatment-wounded-warriors-mild-traumatic

The Pathways team of professionals has helped thousands of people with brain injuries. We are Dedicated to effective and compassionate care for individuals with neurological challenges.

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The post Military Study: Aerobic Exercise as an Effective Treatment for mTBI appeared first on Pathways Neuropsychology Associates.


Source: Pathways Neuropsychology
Military Study: Aerobic Exercise as an Effective Treatment for mTBI

Mindfulness Meditation Helps Your Mind & Body

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Mindfulness Meditation Helps Your Mind & Body

psychologist toms river nj, Mindfulness Meditation A new study suggests there’s some science behind the claims made for mindfulness meditation. The benefits of mindfulness meditation, increasingly popular in recent years, are supposed to be many: reduced stress and risk for various diseases, improved well-being, a rewired brain. But the experimental bases to support these claims have been few. Supporters of the practice have relied on very small samples of unrepresentative subjects, like isolated Buddhist monks who spend hours meditating every day, or on studies that generally were not randomized and did not include placebo­ control groups.

The study published in Biological Psychiatry brings scientific thoroughness to mindfulness meditation and for the first time shows that, unlike a placebo, it can change the brains of ordinary people and potentially improve their health.

Excerpt from New York Times. read the full story here

The Pathways team of professionals has helped thousands of people with brain injuries. We are Dedicated to effective and compassionate care for individuals with neurological challenges.

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The post Mindfulness Meditation Helps Your Mind & Body appeared first on Pathways Neuropsychology Associates.


Source: Pathways Neuropsychology
Mindfulness Meditation Helps Your Mind & Body

What can a neuropsychologist do for you?

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What can a neuropsychologist do for you?

what a neuropsychologist can do for you? brain injury

If you are reading this article, then you have most likely heard of a neuropsychologist. Maybe you have even been to one. But do you know the vast scope of what a neuropsychologist can do for you? As per the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, “clinical neuropsychology is a specialty field within clinical psychology, dedicated to understanding the relationships between brain and behavior, particularly as these relationships can be applied to the diagnosis of brain disorder, assessment of cognitive and behavioral functioning, and the design of effective treatment” (AACN). A neuropsychologist is a clinical PhD psychologist, who has obtained an additional board certification in the specialty of neuropsychology, and has completed expansive post-doctoral clinical training hours across various populations.

How do you know if you need to improve upon your cognitive and behavioral skills? You may not even realize they are impacted for one. One of the signs of cognitive dysfunction is having limited to no self-awareness and insight into your deficits. This is caused by decreased executive functioning. Executive functioning and self regulation skills are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. And that is just the beginning of the explanation.

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury, you may be referred to a neuropsychologist. If you are not referred, you may have found one on your own. Why is this a good idea? Because even if you suffer a mild brain injury, you may find yourself with difficulty focusing, or trouble regulating your emotions. Neuropsychologists can help evaluate and treat those executive functions that might be impaired and impact your return to work, hobbies, and everyday activities.

Even if a person’s brain injury was months or years ago, and was a mild concussion, deficits may still be present. A person may have more trouble concentrating on paying their bills. Maybe you know a student who’s grades are slipping after a soccer injury. Or, you may notice a personality change in your loved one, and it has made your relationship strained. All of those scenarios may lead you to seek help, and neuropsychologists are available to provide that help with any of those hardships.

Pathways Neuropsychology Associates provides clients with access to neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists, social workers, speech pathologists, and most importantly, access to help, and a listening ear. Contact us today at 732-930-2242.

The following link is a post to a discussion regarding neuropsychology testing following tbi from brainline.org, an online community made by people who have suffered brain injuries, for patients and their loved ones. >learn more

by Kristen Schreier M.A., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist

The Pathways team of professionals has helped thousands of people with brain injuries. We are Dedicated to effective and compassionate care for individuals with neurological challenges.

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The post What can a neuropsychologist do for you? appeared first on Pathways Neuropsychology Associates.


Source: Pathways Neuropsychology
What can a neuropsychologist do for you?

You Can Be Smart and Have ADHD

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You Can Be Smart and Have ADHD

adhd evaluation & testing

Many believe that an ADHD diagnosis is a reflection of one’s intelligence or potential to thrive academically. Dr. Thomas E Brown, a world leader in ADHD at Yale University, asserts that this is unequivocally not the case in Smart But Stuck. In fact, he notes that there are many adults and teens that have superior intelligence, especially in verbal IQ scores. Dr. Brown argues that ADHD is a complex syndrome that features compromised use of one’s executive functions to self-manage activation, focus, effort, emotion, memory, and action. Under this model, one can be extremely bright but fail to modulate actions and emotions in a successful manner. (To learn more about ADHD, click here).

While ADHD can adversely affect academic and social pursuits, the good news is that proper management, with or without pharmaceutics, can help a “smart but stuck” individual become “unstuck”. In his book, Dr. Brown relays the stories of multiple individuals that sought therapy after disappointing performances at work. One story follows a young student that excelled in high school only to severely struggle passing and attending courses at a prestigious university. Another recollection tells the tale of a thirty year-old computer programmer that loses his job and wife despite being a brilliant computer scientist. Each case is a nonfictional account of those who are objectively intelligent, but experience severe setbacks or shortcomings. In short, it is not enough to be smart in order to succeed.

In addition to giving the reader a personal account of his patients, Dr. Brown highlights the source of the patient’s problems and shortcomings. Specifically, the context of one’s personal history and disruptions in executive functions are highlighted. Organization, working memory, focus, and emotional regulation are independent of intelligence. However, to become “unstuck”, it is imperative to address the impairments of executive functions. Most often, this requires the assistance of professional help.

Dr. Brown ends each chapter with a bullet point analysis of actions that resulted in patients becoming “unstuck”. While it can be challenging to overcome the obstacles presented by ADHD, counseling can lead to successful outcomes. Smart But Stuck showcases the stories of students and employees achieving at a high level in competitive universities and jobs. Fundamental to becoming “unstuck” is proper diagnosis and management of ADHD. At Pathways, Dr. Jay Gordon runs a comprehensive ADHD evaluation and management program. With a strong team of experts, Pathways is more than happy to help smart individuals become “unstuck” by arranging testing (IQ/ cognitive abilities) and personalized management that may include therapy and, if necessary, medication.

Smart But Stuck on Amazon:

The Pathways team of professionals has helped thousands of people with brain injuries. We are Dedicated to effective and compassionate care for individuals with neurological challenges.

LET’S GET STARTED

The post You Can Be Smart and Have ADHD appeared first on Pathways Neuropsychology Associates.


Source: Pathways Neuropsychology
You Can Be Smart and Have ADHD

ADHD diagnosis

ADHD Testing – Assessing ADHD

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Find a trained professional specializing in ADD/ ADHD with whom you feel comfortable. An evaluation for ADD/ADHD should be comprehensive. The evaluation should include taking a comprehensive history including; symptoms, medical history, social history, and family medical history. When evaluating a child, the evaluation should include observations of the child. Behavior questionnaires which provide an objective behavior sampling in at least two settings are generally utilized. In some cases, psychological and/or neuropsychological testing is used to rule out other concurrent cognitive, psychological, or learning problems, and to assist with treatment planning.

Get started with Dr Gordon. We have treatment and solutions available online, by phone, and in our offices.
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