The impact of isolation on families
Brain injuries often affect more than the person recovering - they create a ripple effect that touches family, friends and their entire support networks. Isolation can be one of the hardest challenges, leading to feelings of loneliness and stress for survivors and their loved ones.
line_escaped : <p class="xmsonormal0"><span>Brain injuries often affect more than the person recovering - they create a ripple effect that touches family, friends and their entire support networks. </span><span>Isolation can be one of the hardest challenges, leading to feelings of loneliness and stress for survivors and their loved ones. </span></p> line_encoded : %3Cp+class%3D%22xmsonormal0%22%3E%3Cspan%3EBrain+injuries+often+affect+more+than+the+person+recovering+-+they+create+a+ripple+effect+that+touches+family%2C+friends+and+their+entire+support+networks.%C2%A0%3C%2Fspan%3E%3Cspan%3EIsolation+can+be+one+of+the+hardest+challenges%2C+leading+to+feelings+of+loneliness+and+stress+for+survivors+and+their+loved+ones.%C2%A0%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3EBrain injuries often affect more than the person recovering - they create a ripple effect that touches family, friends and their entire support networks. Isolation can be one of the hardest challenges, leading to feelings of loneliness and stress for survivors and their loved ones.
In collaboration with Anchor Point, a national association of strategic influencers committed to change to improve the lives of families after ABI, we explore how the experience of isolation may differ depending on whether you are a survivor or a family member.
line_escaped : <p class="xmsonormal0"><span>In collaboration with Anchor Point, a national association of strategic influencers committed to change to improve the lives of families after ABI, we explore how the experience of isolation may differ depending on whether you are a survivor or a family member.</span></p> line_encoded : %3Cp+class%3D%22xmsonormal0%22%3E%3Cspan%3EIn+collaboration+with+Anchor+Point%2C+a+national+association+of+strategic+influencers+committed+to+change+to+improve+the+lives+of+families+after+ABI%2C+we+explore+how+the+experience+of+isolation+may+differ+depending+on+whether+you+are+a+survivor+or+a+family+member.%3C%2Fspan%3E%3C%2Fp%3EIn collaboration with Anchor Point, a national association of strategic influencers committed to change to improve the lives of families after ABI, we explore how the experience of isolation may differ depending on whether you are a survivor or a family member.
See more here.
line_escaped : <p class="xmsonormal">See more <a href="https://www.sameyou.org/news">here</a>.</p> line_encoded : %3Cp+class%3D%22xmsonormal%22%3ESee+more+%3Ca+href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sameyou.org%2Fnews%22%3Ehere%3C%2Fa%3E.%3C%2Fp%3ESee more here.
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In The News
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SameYou Advocate Chiara speaks at the UK Stroke Forum
SameYou Advocate Chiara speaks at the UK Stroke Forum
SameYou Advocate, Chiara Beer, took part in a panel discussion focused on young stroke survivors at the UK Stroke Forum, outlining the challenges to healthcare professionals.
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Spread some holiday cheer during our gift appeal
Spread some holiday cheer during our gift appeal
Brain injury happens in an instant. It doesn’t just happen to the brain but to the whole person - and everyone around them. Whether it's a one-time or recurring gift, your contribution through SameYou's Gift Appeal supports our vision to transform the way brain injury survivors and their loved ones are helped through emotional, mental health and cognitive recovery services.
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Raising awareness of young survivors in an ITV interview
Raising awareness of young survivors in an ITV interview
SameYou co-founder Jenny Clarke MBE, raises awareness for young stroke survivors in an ITV interview.
Survivor Stories
Many of you have written to SameYou about your experience of brain injury and told us how you identified with Emilia's story. There was a common feeling of relief about hearing a familiar story from someone young, and speaking out to normalize the injury. People were comforted that Emilia had gone through something similar to them or to a family member or loved one.
The overwhelming emotion was of gratitude that Emilia was breaking her silence and that enabled and emboldened so many others to tell their brain injury story - some for the first time. It was as if people now have permission to speak out about their story.
I get days when I just want to give up. But after hearing your story it has made me realize, I'm not on my own!
You have told us that by sharing your stories, and reading other people's, offers hope, comfort and much needed peer-to-peer support that is often hard to find.
SameYou have created this support resource called Portraits to tell the untold story of brain injury. If you would like to share your story, you can submit your story via our Share your story page.
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Portrait: Kat
Portrait: Kat
I first started working in mental health at the age of 18 and then gradually climbed the ladder to working within psychiatric secure units across Scotland. I worked with a wide range of individuals - one of the most memorable experiences being the five years I worked for BIRT, now called Brainkind, as a rehabilitation support worker.
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Portrait: Katie
Portrait: Katie
I am Katie, a 37-year-old mum of two.
Almost two and a half years ago, just a week after my 35th birthday, I suffered a series of 3 mini strokes caused by a neck injury which led to my blood vessel bending and stopping the blood flow to my brain.
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Portrait: Sarah
Portrait: Sarah
My name is Sarah Lacertosa. I am currently Mrs. Monmouth County International 2025. I have an experience to share with you in the hope that it will bring awareness around the often overlooked Vertebral Artery Dissection (VAD), a common cause of strokes in patients under the age of 45.
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Portrait: Joan
Portrait: Joan
My name is Joan. I’m 49 years old from Sheffield, England. In October 2017, I suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage. I was fit, healthy and had no symptoms. I simply left my workplace as normal at 5pm on a Friday afternoon, climbed into my car and all I remember is a huge clap of thunder in my head. Then, I found myself looking at the car key in my hand and laughing, thinking, “I don’t know what to do with this!”
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Portrait: Terry
Portrait: Terry
My name is Terry and in December of 2020 I had a stroke due to complications with COVID-19. It was diagnosed as an acute ischemic right middle cerebral artery stroke, and was described to me as “you had 5 mini-strokes at one time.”
This short film tells the stories of brain injury survivors from the survivors themselves
We asked them to tell us how they feel. Some of them have done this for the very first time. We applaud their courage for speaking out. We invite everyone to hear and understand the lived experiences of brain injury and find out what has helped people recover and what is needed to help so many more.
Brain injury doesn’t only happen to the brain…
Brain injury happens to the whole person: body, brain and spirit. So we have developed a range of resources to help you find your SameYou.