Although some things frequently occur, it is important to remember that every child is affected differently. Your child may display some of the things listed, some things that aren’t on the list, or show no changes at all.
Some common sibling reactions:
- School performance may drop off dramatically
- Siblings who share a bedroom may no longer feel safe
In addition, siblings may:
- Feel uncomfortable bringing friends home
- Feel guilty about their reactions and feelings toward the injured child
- Wet their bed or other immature or outgrown behaviors
- Be jealous of the time, energy, and resources directed toward the sibling with the injury
- Be embarrassed if the injured child says or does something inappropriate in public
- Feel that parents are unfair because the injured child is allowed to “get away with” more than they are
Changes in the family environment to accommodate the injured child may impose restrictions and hardships on siblings with active schedules.
Excerpted from: BROTHERS AND SISTERS: BRAIN INJURY IS A FAMILY AFFAIR by Carolyn Rocchio