Memory loss after brain injury

This animation was produced in response to the findings of a survey conducted by Headway – the brain injury association, which found that 72% of brain injury survivors feel that the people in their life don't understand their memory problems.

Launched at the start of the charity’s 'Memory Loss: A campaign to remember', which focuses on memory loss after brain injury, the animation aims to raise awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by those affected.

It tells the story of Tony, a father who sustained a brain injury in a car accident. After waking from a coma, he didn’t recognise his family and closest friends.

The animation goes on to explore themes of relationship breakdown and the frustration of not remembering everyday events, while taking the viewer along a journey as Tony and his family try to get to grips with a new way of life.

Importantly, the animation gives brain injury survivors and their loved ones guidance on seeking support - whether that be through ringing Headway’s nurse-led, freephone helpline or accessing information on coping strategies within its factsheets and booklets.

[redmanjones]

I am experiencing this issue since recovering from cardiac arrest and coming out of coma. I couldn't remember my children, siblings or parents. It is taking time to adjust. I am thankful to have survived and not be a vegetable. My goal is to better myself 1% each day!

[safarisoldier]

Brings tears to my eyes- i felt exactly the same and still do after being in a 3 day coma (with ventilator), unconcious for 7 days altogether after an RTA where a drunk woman ran into me... it *does* get easier but you learn a new way to be. Good luckk to all who have suffered 🙂

[jennyhughes]

Thank you for this. Sadly Tony lost even more memories than I did/have. 

At the start everyone looked different & I wasn't sure when I saw who I thought was my neighbour at the postbox whether it WAS her or not so i didn't know whether to say hello, I kept staring at her trying to work out if it was her or not, awful. Now 14 years after my brain injury I'm still realising how many memories I've lost: it isn't until I think (remember what to try to remember!) that I know more of the missing things; for me memories from my childhood are clearer than more recent ones, I think (I read) that it's because old memories have become more consolidated over time; but there are holes everywhere in my memory, scattered, far far worse than before my brain injury and when I try to find them it feels HUGE work and exhausting, and then I get sometimes get very sad and cry. 

I had no idea about all this until it happened to me so thank you for helping to educate us all - when people belittle it/us and say things like "welcome to getting older" it makes me feel SO bad because mine happened one day BAM, not like gradually from getting older.

[JoeGibbons-xfmt]

I maintained a lot of my long-term memories and Lost a lot of my short-term memory capability my younger brother would tell me a couple of jokes every evening and I would try to remember at least one to you tell my coworker the next morning when I got to work sometimes I be able to sometimes I wouldn't over the course of a couple of years I'm not entirely sure how many exactly that's where my memory does not work well at all even to this day but I was able to memorize a lot of different jokes😊 I was 21 when I got injured I'm 37 now my short-term memory has improved a lot but I still have days there are harder than others 😓 it's nice to know there are other people out there that are struggling with similar things it's tough looking normal on the outside butt fighting your brain every day you wake up and every night you try to go to sleep. I'm honestly not sure which would be a tougher one to deal with losing so many of your long-term memories or remembering so much about who you were and realizing that person died in the accident and the person you are now is what you have.

[KamikazeNinja]

This is my life/nightmare after getting hit in the face with a folding chair at a training event. Turned on it's edge. It reversed my personality and I'm aware. It's professionally embarrassing to sometimes reintroduce myself to people I work with. I even forget what I'm talking about mid-sentence more often than I care it admit.

[tayloralvidrez]

Reading books really helped improve my memory loss after my TBI

[micah_tilton]

My dad had a heart attack a few years ago. He woke up barely recognizing anyone in the room. He struggles with short term memory loss and substance abuse. I don’t know how to help him. He has a hard time walking maybe that was due to nerve damage so it is very hard for him to stay active. With the memory loss it is hard to follow a routine and stick to it. I want to help him but he does not like talking about his problems. He is very closed off emotionally due to his rough childhood and I don’t think anyone could really talk to him without overwhelming him. I don’t know what to do.

[corinebamrick]

Trauma brain...to lose all my loved ones... my memory loss has caused massive about of distress...how to say goodbye to you... when I can remember only parts of time..
I guess time waits for no man..

[eveoakley]

I had a TBI back in March 2023. The majority of people have not a clue 😡

[astrangerwhocares]

I wish my boyfriend would stop accusing me of being a liar when my memory is bad :'( I am sick of suffering from my head injury. 2 years i just want to be set free.

[RoadRunnergarage]

Traumatic Brain Injury. . The Invisible Disability.

[adarshpatel]

My gf met with an accident today she got injured in her back side of head and now she is forgetting everything slowly what should I do will it get cured?? Please tell

[sarahgillanders]

This is an excellent video. Are there plans to make more videos about other cognitive impairments after brain injury?

[jilltraver]

I have to use sticky notes for everything after a bad fall and possible lightning strike now I have post concussive symptoms and amnesia :/

[bigghub]

Good day to every one, i have some questions, if someone know or had this before please help me, my girlfriend had a brain surgery two weeks before, now she woke up from coma and can't recognise me, she knows everything but not the last one year where we was together she even don't know me and my name, so question is : is it possible to forget some memories not all ?, and how long it will take to be normal again?, is it possible to bring all memories that was lost? please guys if you know pm me in this comment thank you

[gusancheti]

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