Substance Use and Brain Injury Connection Brought to Light at Rays of Hope
This year’s Rays of Hope conference for survivors and caregivers, held on May 13, 2022, in at the Desert Willow Conference Center in Tempe, was an overwhelming success in many ways, perhaps the most important being the most intangible.
Dr. Suzanne O’Connor, a neuropsychologist and presenter at the conference, summarized a common feeling expressed among attendees of the annual Brain Injury Alliance event, which was back in-person for the first time in two years: “People walk away feeling value from being here and spending time with others, and reconnecting in person.”
“Individuals are not alone while in recovery from brain injury and substance abuse issues.”
Substance Use and Brain Injury Connection Brought to Light at Rays of Hope
This year’s Rays of Hope conference for survivors and caregivers, held on May 13, 2022, in at the Desert Willow Conference Center in Tempe, was an overwhelming success in many ways, perhaps the most important being the most intangible.
Dr. Suzanne O’Connor, a neuropsychologist and presenter at the conference, summarized a common feeling expressed among attendees of the annual Brain Injury Alliance event, which was back in-person for the first time in two years: “People walk away feeling value from being here and spending time with others, and reconnecting in person.”
“Individuals are not alone while in recovery from brain injury and substance abuse issues.”
This is far from Dr. O’Connor’s first rodeo with the Brain Injury Alliance. Her first Rays of Hope presentation in 2016 was called Drop Kicked into Sobriety. From 2020-2021, she taught The Next Frontier for the Opioid Crisis with the Alliance via virtual webinars. Now, she facilitates the Families of Brain Injury (FOBI) monthly virtual support group, along with the Alliance’s Director of Care Coordination, Brittany Sweeney-Lawson.
“Working with Dr. O’Connor, whether virtually or in-person, is always such a great experience,” Sweeney-Lawson confirms. “She has a wonderful calm about her that just puts you at ease. She’s also an incredible source of information about substance abuse as a cause and consequence of brain injury, and is able to make a complex subject comprehensible.”
This year, Dr. O’Connor led two sessions: one was an in-person version of the FOBI support group, while the other, entitled, Teachable Moments: Understanding the Connection between Brain Injury and Substance Use, emphasized that at-risk substance use can be the cause of a brain injury, the outcome of medical needs, or the result of self-medication for limited emotional adjustment.
However, the number one message she wanted to convey was, “Individuals are not alone while in recovery from brain injury and substance abuse issues.”
Dr. O’Connor also contends that the biggest roadblock faced by these individuals is that “people outside the brain injury community don’t know how to help survivors; there’s a stigma. So we try to find the best communication style for each individual to reduce frustration for all involved.”
That often involves finding the right terms of expression, especially when dealing with somebody with a limited vocabulary. “A few right words can make all the difference,” Dr. O’Connor emphasizes.
Another key is empathy and learning to sit with someone’s sadness, and not try to fix it. “That’s my job,” she reassures. “Anger and guilt are often part of the process, but not too much.”
Over the past two years, COVID affected how she has provided treatment to patients, both positively and negatively. One advantage she notes— increased connectivity. “I like having more accessibility via Zoom, especially for people who live in rural areas or have trouble getting out,” she shares. “I believe this pandemic has given the rest of the world a newfound empathy for people who are isolated.”
So what else does the current science in her field suggest? Dr. O’Connor likes the trend of looking at all individuals holistically by emphasizing adequate sleep and nutrition. Another key is connectedness, where, as she puts it, “All you need are two really good friends and maybe a group of peers who understand you. Connection is important for healthy aging.”
As her field practice expands, so does Dr. O’Connor’s admiration and respect for survivors of brain injury, their families, and caregivers. “I’m honored to be part of their journey.”
For more information on the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona’s Families of Brain Injury support group, contact resources@biaaz.org or call (888) 500-9165, ext. 103.
ABOUT BRAIN INJURY ALLIANCE OF ARIZONA
The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona (BIAAZ) is the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of adults and children with all types of brain injuries through prevention, advocacy, awareness and education. BIAAZ also houses the Arizona Brain Health Resource Center, a collection of educational information and neuro-specific resources for brain injury survivors, caregivers, family members and professionals.
What began in 1983 as a grassroots effort has grown into a strong statewide presence, providing valuable life-long resources and community support for individuals with all types of brain trauma at no charge.
The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona:
- Works with Congressional Brain Injury Task Force
- Houses Arizona Brain Health Resource Center
- Hosts Statewide Opioid Use Disorder & Cognitive Impairment Workgroup
- Has Statewide Opioid Use Disorder & Cognitive Impairment Response team with peer support, training, and family wraparound services
- Facilitates Brain Health Advisory Council
- Manages statewide Neuro Info-Line: 888-500-9165
