♥️♥️🧠 Love Love Brain

The last few weeks have been really difficult for Adeline.

A friend hurt her deeply, and she found herself dealing with emotional pain on top of the challenges she already experiences after a traumatic brain injury.

She shares something important in this video: even when you are in the middle of a really difficult moment, there may be more help and more people who care about you than you realize.

💔 When Someone Lets You Down

Adeline talks openly about being deeply hurt and disappointed by a friend.

She also recognizes that having a traumatic brain injury can make her more forgetful, sensitive, and emotional. But she makes an important distinction: being a brain injury survivor does not mean that every painful experience is simply because of the injury.

Sometimes, someone really does hurt you.

Brain injury can affect the way we process emotions and situations, but that does not mean our feelings are not real.

🧠 The Many Challenges After Brain Injury

Adeline describes several challenges she has experienced during her recovery, including:

😴 Hypersomnia in the past, followed later by insomnia

🧠 Retrograde amnesia and forgetfulness

💬 Aphasia and difficulty finding words

🗣️ Slurred speech

👁️ Visual-spatial difficulties

🧭 Executive function and decision-making difficulties

🦴 Neck and lower back pain

🤕 Headaches

🌧️ Emotional triggers and difficult days

She also describes noticing, from her own experience, that her pain can feel worse when she is confused, upset, sleep-deprived, emotional, or triggered.

This is Adeline’s personal observation, not a medical conclusion. If you notice changes in pain, sleep, speech, memory, or other symptoms, talking with your healthcare team can help you understand what may be happening.

🤝 You Don’t Have to Recover Alone

One of the most powerful parts of Adeline’s message is her reminder that there are people and organizations available to support brain injury survivors.

She mentions groups and programs that have helped her, including Jodi House, TBI Bridge, and a St. Jude’s acquired brain injury program.

Through these types of programs, she has been able to participate in activities such as puzzles, reading, and learning with other people.

She also says that these groups have helped her improve with finding words and communicating.

Recovery can feel incredibly isolating, especially when other people don’t understand what life after brain injury is like.

Finding people who understand can make a meaningful difference.

📝 Make Your Own Support List

During a particularly difficult period, Adeline wrote down the groups she could join and the people she could call or text.

She initially thought there might only be one or two names.

Instead, she needed another Post-it note.

That small discovery reminded her that she had more support than she realized.

When you are overwhelmed, it can be difficult to remember who is available to help. Writing those names down ahead of time can make it easier to reach out when you need support.

Your list might include:

🤝 A trusted friend

💗 A family member

🫶 A caregiver

🩺 A therapist or healthcare professional

🧠 A brain injury support group

💬 A peer support group

🌱 A community organization

💙 A mental health resource

You don’t have to wait until your hardest day to make your list.

🤍 Tiny Little Steps

As Adeline begins feeling better, she decides to do something small and different.

She normally wears black, but that day she chooses to wear white.

It may seem like a tiny thing.

And that’s exactly the point.

Recovery does not always begin with a huge change.

Sometimes it starts with changing what you wear.

Calling someone.

Joining a support group.

Writing down a few names.

Getting some rest.

Doing one activity you enjoy.

Taking one small step toward feeling like yourself again.

🌱 Small Changes Can Matter

Adeline describes these as “tiny little steps.”

That is a powerful reminder for anyone going through a difficult period.

You don’t have to solve everything today.

You don’t have to know exactly what the next month will look like.

You can start with one small step.

And then another.

💗 Love Love Brain Note

If you’re going through a difficult time after brain injury, please remember that you are not alone.

When everything feels overwhelming, it may be hard to recognize the people, programs, and resources that are already around you.

Try making your own small support list when you are feeling well. Write down the people you can call, groups you can join, and professional resources you can reach.

And if today is a hard day, your next step doesn’t have to be big.

Sometimes, one tiny step is enough for today. 💗

🎥 Watch the Video

Watch the video that inspired this blog post:

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Note: Every brain injury is different. This content is for education and support, not medical advice.