Recently, actor Evangeline Lilly shared something on her Instagram account that many people living with brain injury will recognise: the need to adjust to a brain that works differently.
A few months earlier, she wrote openly on her Substack account about an injury she sustained. She described the cognitive changes she continues to live with, such as feeling slower and needing more time to process information.
Her openness, and that of other public figures such as Emilia Clarke, helps raise brain injury awareness, as it helps people to understand the condition itself without stigma. As a result, it shines a light on challenges that many face quietly and allows brain injury survivors to feel able to acknowledge their needs.
Emilia Clarke’s article “A Battle for my Life” on The New Yorker Magazine
Brain injury isn’t always visible
It’s possible to need genuine support even if the person looks fine and sounds fine. In fact, they may still do many of the things they did before. The difference now may be that the effort required to perform regular activities has changed.
Excessive fatigue is one of the most common effects of brain injury. It’s normal to need more rest breaks and feel overwhelmed when everyone talks at once, as the person who suffered a brain injury is probably also managing unseen impacts on thinking and emotions.
One of our former clients, Lucy, describes this perfectly in her testimonial:
“The biggest obstacle I’ve found is other people understanding that something is different about me now. From the outside, I look exactly the same as before my accident”.
Different experiences
The effects of brain injury can be wide-ranging and depend on a number of factors such as the type, location and severity of the injury. Sometimes the differences can be quite subtle, other times they may be more obvious.
A brain injury affects each person in a unique way and symptoms can include:
Physical
- Weakness or paralysis
- Epilepsy
- Fatigue
- Movement & co-ordination problems
Emotional
- Anxiety & depression
- Apathy & loss of motivation
- Impulsivity & disinhibition
Cognitive
- Memory problems
- Reduced speed of information processing
- Impaired understanding of language
- Reduced attention & concentration
- Impaired insight & empathy
- Difficulty recognising faces or objects
Why brain injury awareness matters
When public figures speak openly about brain injury, it makes a real difference.
It encourages empathy from employers, friends and family. It inspires people to seek support earlier rather than struggling alone. And it shows that brain injury can affect anyone, regardless of age, profession or lifestyle.
If any of this sounds familiar, whether you’re living with brain injury yourself or supporting someone who is, you’re not alone, and support is available.
About Us
Headway Thames Valley is a Henley-on-Thames charity that supports local people helping to improve life after brain injury. We work with adults of all ages, providing help through a range of services and support. Whether it’s at our Centre in Henley-on-Thames, or through our courses and groups, we are dedicated to making a positive impact.