Brain Bites

March in an important time for us here at Brain or Shine – as it is Brain Injury Awareness Month here in the UK. This is a chance to raise awareness, share stories, and shine a light on a journey that so many people are walking, often invisibly. To ...

If you’ve experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI), chances are you’ve had moments where staying focused feels almost impossible. You sit down to do something simple like read an email, make a cup of tea or have a conversation, and suddenly your m...

Happy New Year to you all. If you’re reading this feeling like you’ve just about made it through December in one piece, please know you’re not alone. For many people living with a brain injury, the festive season can be one of the most draining time...

Can you believe it’s December already? The lights are going up, the Christmas songs are creeping into every shop, and suddenly the calendar looks a lot fuller than it did a few weeks ago. For many people, this time of year is filled with excitement ...

Every year in the UK, nearly one million people visit A&E following a brain injury. While many recover quickly, countless others are left with long-term challenges that change their lives forever. Yet despite how common brain injuries are, there...

A brain injury can turn your world upside down overnight. The routines and relationship you shared with your partner are no longer the same. It feels like, all alone, you have to run the house, care for your partner, care for your kids (if you have ...

Navigating life after a brain injury is both a blessing and a curse. Not only for the victim, but for us partners too. You’re incredibly grateful they’re alive, but their behaviour, mood and memory can all change. This will more than likely impact y...

One of the most common topics that comes up when we talk about life after brain injury is memory, or more precisely, the struggles that come when something that once felt effortless suddenly becomes difficult, or even impossible. If you’ve been foll...

When Mark sustained a brain injury, I had no idea how much our lives were about to change. I remember sitting by his hospital bed, hoping for his recovery, but not yet realising that even after we were discharged, there would be a long road ahead. B...

When I first sustained my brain injury, I expected some kind of physical recovery period. Maybe some therapy, rest and follow-up appointments. But what I wasn’t prepared for, and what no one really talks about, are the everyday challenges that conti...

If there’s one thing I’ve learned since sustaining a brain injury, it’s that healing isn’t just physical; it’s emotional, mental, and deeply personal. And one of the most powerful tools I’ve discovered in my recovery isn’t something you can touch or...

After sustaining a brain injury, life changes in more ways than you would think. Emotions may become harder to regulate, reactions may seem extreme, and behaviour may be out of character for the survivor. For many people navigating life after a brai...

If there’s one lesson I’ve learned on my healing journey, it’s this: Learning to set boundaries without feeling guilty is one of the most important things you can do for your wellbeing. After my brain injury, everything changed, and life didn’t quit...

When brain injury becomes a part of your life - whether it’s you or a loved one who sustains it - it’s not just a temporary thing, it’s a complete lifestyle shift. Life doesn’t go back to how it was, and yet no two brain injuries are the same, and n...

Whether you are right at the start of your journey of living with a brain injury, or you are years down the line, it's so important to know and understand the possible behavioural and speech difficulties that you may come across following a bra...