Hi Jenny, yes I agree, the more we tell our stories, the more we raise awareness and understanding. Plus I think it helps other survivors to know that they aren’t the only one experiencing a particular symptom.

Since my brain injury I’ve lost my history, of course I didn’t remember ALL of it but I could tell you mostly what year we went on holiday to where & loads that we did (SUCH hard work to try do this now), what years I was at art college (I took year/s out) and when I did (year/months) all the different jobs I did. I can still remember loads of all the places I’ve rented to live in (and house number) but now forget some (varies) but not always now WHEN that was, months/year = all my past has been muddled up (before & after my brain injury) so I have no sense of the continuity of my life any more and this can be very disorientating – it was so solid before, now it is like shifting sands, islands that appear then disappear under the waves with no compass or sense of direction, everything fluid and in flux.

I think people under-estimate the ‘invisible’ effects this has on us – including our confidence (& having to try to be alert about whether what we say is true or saying different to what I know = yes I DO that sometimes, awful and NOT on purpose.

I noticed after op (where/when I got my brain damage & other injuries) that the clock on the wall would either be still, hands didn’t move for ages when it felt like hours had passed or else time had flown by without me feeling/knowing it and suddenly hours had passed when I looked at the clock but I felt as though only a few minutes had passed – SO confusing and weird and I haven’t found this spoken or written about anywhere after brain injury – I can’t be the only one so I assume people haven’t got the words, aren’t believed, or it isn’t considered an important symptom of anything (especially brain injury) so is dismissed and not even written down = or ALL those at different times for same person or different for each of us, but I BET lots of us went through this (and some still do) but if even more injured than me wouldn’t even notice or be able to say.

Lets’ change all this and help everyone learn about common (?) but less-known (because of neglect & discrimination?) symptoms of acquired brain injury – however the brain damage was caused, thank you.