Brain Injury Association of Arizona

06/02/2026

06/01/2026

💙 REMINDER for our support group this week! 🤝

🖱️ Register online at https://biaaz.org/survivors-and-family/ (scroll to middle of the page)

❓📞 For more information or assistance registering, reach out to [email protected], call our Helpline at 888-500-9165 or text 520-310-3301

🙌🏾 Please consider supporting BIAAZ with a donation so that we can continue to offer vital resources and information like these support groups to the brain injury community. https://biaaz.org/donation/

06/01/2026

Welcome, June! ☀️

The Brain Injury Association of Arizona is excited to step into a new month filled with meaningful events, community connections, and opportunities to support individuals and families impacted by brain injury.

We wish everyone a safe, joyous, and uplifting month ahead. And with Arizona temperatures heating up, remember to stay hydrated, take breaks from the sun, and look out for one another.

Here’s to a great June! 💙

Calendar of Event https://biaaz.org/biaaz-events/

Virtual Brain Basics Class with Janice https://biaaz.org/brain-injury-basics-self-care-after-injury/

Nine Virtual and In-Person Support Groups https://biaaz.org/survivors-and-family/

Survivor-Only Think Tall Virtual Classes https://biaaz.org/think-tall-dont-fall-series/

Phoenix In-Person Mindful Connections https://biaaz.org/event/mindful-connections-self-care-after-injury/

East Valley Movie Club: Power Ballad https://biaaz.org/event/lets-go-to-the-movies-power-ballad/

Tucson Survivors Lunch with Cerebrations, LLC https://biaaz.org/event/tucson-brain-injury-survivors-social-lunch/

Game Night with Will https://biaaz.org/monthly-game-night-for-2026/

AI Skills for Everyday Life https://biaaz.org/ai-skills-for-everyday-life/

05/31/2026

At the Brain Injury Association of Arizona, we make over 950 referrals every month. One of the community providers that we refer to is Cerebrations, LLC.

How your brain is wired, or rewired after trauma, injury, or life transitions, affects the way you think, feel, and respond. You have everything you need to thrive instead of survive. Cerebrations empowers you to tap into that potential and make it a reality.

Website: https://cerebrations.org/

Thinking is an art, as individualized as you, your experiences, your beauty, and your strengths. At Cerebrations, we understand the importance of each individual’s unique brain, life, and story and how to tap into that power to create a life that cuts through the noise in your brain, calms the mental chaos, and creates meaningful connections with your family and friends., and story and how to tap into that power to create a life that cuts through the noise in your brain, calms the mental chaos.

“You have everything you need to thrive instead of survive. Cerebra...

05/30/2026

May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month.

At the Brain Injury Association of Arizona, we recognize the strength, courage, and resilience of brain tumor survivors and the caregivers who walk alongside them.

A brain tumor diagnosis can change life in many ways — physically, emotionally, cognitively, and financially. No survivor or caregiver should have to navigate that journey alone.

We are here to provide support, connection, resources, education, and services for survivors and their families across Arizona. Whether someone is newly diagnosed, in treatment, recovering, or adjusting to life after a brain tumor, our community is here to help.

This month, we honor survivors, uplift caregivers, remember those we have lost, and raise awareness about the ongoing impact of brain tumors.

05/29/2026

For many patients, surviving the ICU is not the end of the story — it’s the beginning of a new and often difficult reality.

A recent article from KJZZ highlights post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), a condition that can leave ICU survivors struggling with memory problems, trauma, depression, fatigue, cognitive changes, and even basic daily tasks long after discharge.

What stood out most to us is the growing recognition that caregivers are part of recovery, too.

Caregivers are often the people spending the most time with survivors after discharge. They see the exhaustion, confusion, emotional changes, sleep disruption, and challenges that may not be visible to others. Recovery impacts the whole family.

BIAAZ has long believed in being honest about the realities of brain injury, neurological trauma, and caregiving — not because recovery is hopeless, but because support starts with truth.

We are encouraged to see more ICU recovery programs and rehabilitation clinics building caregiver education and support directly into their care models. Caregivers deserve resources, validation, and community, too.

Read the full article here:
https://www.kjzz.org/2026-05-28/medical-commentary-for-many-patients-surviving-the-icu-is-a-new-kind-of-beginning

If you or someone you love is struggling after an ICU stay, BIAAZ is here to help.

🌐 [www.biaaz.org](http://www.biaaz.org)
📧 [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
📞 Help Line: (888) 500-9165

05/26/2026

May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month — an important reminder that respiratory health can also affect brain health.

Asthma attacks and severe allergic reactions can sometimes limit oxygen delivery to the brain. When oxygen deprivation becomes prolonged or severe, it may contribute to acquired brain injury and lasting neurological complications.

According to the CDC, approximately 25 million Americans live with asthma, including millions of children. Asthma contributes to hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and emergency room visits every year.

In Arizona, environmental factors like dust, ozone, allergens, and wildfire smoke can increase asthma risks and trigger respiratory distress. The Arizona Department of Health Services continues to identify asthma as a major public health concern across the state.

For brain injury survivors, these issues can carry additional risks. Respiratory distress, chronic inflammation, sleep disruption, and oxygen-related complications may worsen cognitive fatigue, emotional regulation difficulties, and other neurological symptoms.

Since its founding, the Brain Injury Association of Arizona has supported survivors and caregivers facing complex health challenges. BIAAZ facilitates support groups, safe and affordable social outlets, educational programming, and connections to trusted professionals throughout Arizona.

If you or someone you love is navigating brain injury alongside chronic illness, support is available.

Connect with BIAAZ:
Call: 888-500-9165
Website: biaaz.org
Email: [email protected]

Learn more about asthma and allergy awareness:
https://aafa.org

Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/data-research/index.html
https://www.azdhs.gov/prevention/womens-childrens-health/asthma/index.php
https://aafa.org/asthma/asthma-facts/

05/22/2026

Mental health challenges after a brain injury are often invisible—but they are real, common, and deserving of support.

Depression, anxiety, emotional changes, and social isolation can affect survivors long after the initial injury. Recovery isn't just physical; it's emotional, too.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we're reminding survivors and families that no one should have to navigate these challenges alone. Through support groups, social activities, educational programs, and resource navigation, the Brain Injury Association of Arizona helps connect individuals and families with understanding, community, and hope.

💚 Read more: https://biaaz.org/brain-waves/mental-health-awareness-month/

If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally after a brain injury, BIAAZ is here to help.

📞 (888) 500-9165
📧 [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
🌐 BIAAZ.org

05/20/2026

Have you ever been told your vision is “fine” because you have 20/20 eyesight — yet still struggle with headaches, fatigue, dizziness, brain fog, or trouble focusing after a brain injury?

A fascinating new episode of the podcast Neuroscience of Coaching explores why vision is much more than what the eye sees. In *Vision Is a Brain Process: 20/20 Isn’t the Whole Story*, neuroscientist Dr. Irena O'Brien interviews neuro-optometrist Dr. Lisa Chow about how the brain processes visual information — and how issues with that system can show up as anxiety, fatigue, poor concentration, or sensory overload.

Dr. Chow has worked with more than 30,000 patients over 15+ years, including many recovering from concussion and other brain injuries. Her work highlights something many survivors don’t hear often enough: visual challenges after brain injury are real, common, and treatable with the right specialists.

🎧 Listen here: [Apple Podcasts episode](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vision-is-a-brain-process-20-20-isnt-the-whole-story/id1732768629?i=1000766594069&utm_source=chatgpt.com)

If you or a loved one is experiencing lingering vision changes after a concussion, stroke, or other brain injury, BIAAZ can help connect you with vetted brain injury professionals, including neuro-optometrists and neuro-ophthalmologists.

Help Line: (888) 500-9165
[BIAAZ website](https://www.biaaz.org?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

05/19/2026

May is Mental Health Month, and it’s important to recognize that mental health is deeply connected to brain injury recovery.

For many survivors of traumatic brain injury, concussion, stroke, or other neurological injuries, the challenges are not only physical or cognitive. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, emotional dysregulation, and isolation are all common concerns that can emerge after injury.

The CDC reports that traumatic brain injury remains a major cause of disability in the United States, with more than 214,000 TBI-related hospitalizations in a recent year. Long-term effects may include depression, anxiety, personality changes, and difficulty regulating emotions.

Mental health concerns affect Arizona communities as well. Recent CDC data show that roughly 1 in 5 U.S. adults have been diagnosed with depression or anxiety disorders, and Arizona continues to face significant mental health care access challenges.

Since its founding, the Brain Injury Association of Arizona has helped survivors and families navigate these realities. BIAAZ facilitates support groups, creates safe and affordable social outlets, connects survivors with vetted professionals, and provides resources for caregivers and loved ones.

If you or someone you know is struggling after a brain injury — even a concussion that was “walked off” — support is available.

Connect with BIAAZ:

Call: 888-500-9165
Website: biaaz.org
Email: [email protected]

Learn more about mental health support and advocacy:
https://www.nami.org

Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/about-data/conditions-care.html
https://www.cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/about/potential-effects.html
https://www.cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/data-research/index.html