Mindstorms: Living with Traumatic Brain Injury [Paperback]

John W. Cassidy MD (Author), Lee Woodruff (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 23, 2009

If your loved one has experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you know that its effects can be devastating and often difficult to understand It may feel as if your world has shifted on its axis, and you’ll never get your bearings. Navigating your way through the morass of doctors, medical terms, and the healthcare system can be daunting, especially when you want only what’s best for the person you love. Dr. John Cassidy has devoted the past twenty-five years to helping families cope with traumatic brain injury; Mindstorms is his compassionate, comprehensive manual to demystifying this often frightening and life-changing condition.

More than 6.3 million Americans live with a severe disability caused by a traumatic brain injury. In fact, because it’s so commonplace, but little talked of, TBI is often referred to as the “silent epidemic.” In these pages, Dr. Cassidy walks you through the different types of brain injury; explodes the common myths surrounding it; demonstrates the ways in which TBI may affect memory, behavior, and social interaction; explores the newest options in treatment and rehabilitation; and shows you how to hold on to your own sense of self as you journey through. Along with the practical information you’ll need, Mindstorms offers a constellation of instructive, moving stories from families and patients who are slowly, but surely, finding their way back. Their experiences are sure to inspire you and yours.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Library Journal, Xpress Review, 6/12/09
“A genuinely supportive, well-written, and information-laden guide for caregivers.”

Birmingham News, 2/11/10
“Cassidy’s book is a down-to-earth discussion of a complicated subject. Clear advice and grounded explanations make this a valuable book for anyone who wants to know more about traumatic brain injury.”

Metapsychology Online Reviews, 6/10/10
“A straightforward book…[Cassidy] writes in clear language using many examples from real life, and he is able to explain quite complicated information in simple terms…The book does provide hope that with determined effort, patience, the right medical and rehabilitation resources, and with a great deal of help from their families, people with severe TBI can succeed in their goal to make good lives for themselves.”

About the Author

John W. Cassidy, MD, an award-winning neouropsychiatrist and former Harvard Medical School professor, founded the traumatic brain injury program at Boston’s McLean Hospital and cofounded its neuropsychiatry unit. He is currently the president of Nexus Health Systems and lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Lifelong Books; 1 Original edition (June 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738212474
• ISBN-13: 978-0738212470
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,055 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #36 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Disorders & Diseases > Nervous System

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Traumatic Brain Injury, February 6, 2010

By 

M. Wirth "Chey" (Tucson USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mindstorms: The Complete Guide for Families Living with Traumatic Brain Injury (Kindle Edition)

My daughter suffered a traumatic brain injury last September. She has made tremendous progress since then however, there are still many issues she is faced with. Her courage and determination is astounding.

Mindstorms is informative, well written, and yes, encouraging. The author goes into the many facets of brain injury in simple language. He explains the hardships that the patient endures to reach his or her greatest potential. The author brings understanding to the lay person and care giver from the medical and patient perspective.

For those whose loved ones or friends have gone through traumatic brain injury this book gives great insight into the issues involved with TBI.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Overview Available, July 9, 2010

By 

Garry Prowe "Author of Successfully Surviving... (Gainesville Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mindstorms: Living with Traumatic Brain Injury (Paperback)

It's unfortunate that Mindstorms has so few reviews here. In my opinion, it is the best overview of brain injury available today. In just over 200 pages, it covers every aspect of brain injury, from the emergency room through rehabilitation to reentering the real world. It even has a chapter that reminds family members to take care of themselves. Mindstorms is clearly written. Vignettes of real-life patients treated by the author--who as a neuropsychiatrist is intimately acquainted with brain injury--illustrate and humanize the topics addressed. At times, however, the reader is challenged by medical discussions and terminology. Perhaps most importantly, this book paints a realistic picture of the permanent life-altering aspects of brain injury, while offering the hope that comes from knowing that countless survivors of a brain injury live full, happy, and productive lives.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for family education of TBI's, May 10, 2011

By 

Meghan K Durkin - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mindstorms: Living with Traumatic Brain Injury (Paperback)

Amazing book...would highly recommend it to anyone working in the field of brain injury and anyone who has a loved one who has suffered a head injury!!!