Positive Minds: Language
Communication works in two directions – understanding what someone is saying and expressing yourself. Professor Jon Evans explains how brain injury can impact this crucial system.
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Communication works in two directions – understanding what someone is saying and expressing yourself. Professor Jon Evans explains how brain injury can impact this crucial system.
Being able to see, recognise and name an object may seem like a simple task. But it involves many different brain processes. Professor Jon Evans explains how perception is not just about seeing or hearing, but the ability to understand and interact with things in your world.
Brain injury can disrupt connections in your brain and affect how fast you can process information, making it harder to act and think quickly. Professor Jon Evans explains.
Professor Jon Evans talks through the different kinds of attention and concentration. For example, focusing attention (like finding your favourite toothpaste in the supermarket) and dividing attention (like walking through the shops while talking to a friend).
We have lots of different brain processes that allow us to function in the world – like thinking, learning and communicating. Professor Jon Evans introduces how they can change after a brain injury and the impact that can have on your daily life.
Dr Emma Hale suggests what to do when managing strategies aren’t working – including taking a break from what you’re doing, walking away from a conversation to pick it up later, and reaching out for extra help.
Soothing your nervous system can help manage irritability. Relaxing activities, gentle exercise, managing fatigue and practising mindfulness are just some of Dr Emma Hale’s helpful suggestions.
Dr Emma Hale describes simple ways to help you avoid overload and manage irritability – including completing one task at a time, turning the TV off before having a conversation, and writing lists.
Dr Emma Hale explains how to begin managing your irritability, starting with talking to someone else about it – even if it feels like the hardest thing in the world to do.
When your brain has too much information to process, you reach cognitive overload. That’s when irritability can show up, especially in noisy or busy places. Dr Emma Hale explains how – with a glass and some water.
Professor Andrew Kemp explains how positive health behaviours - such as engaging in regular exercise and adopting a healthy diet - complement psychological interventions for improving wellbeing following brain injury.
After brain injury, it can take more energy to carry out tasks, or even to have a conversation. So you’ll have less energy available to regulate your emotions. Dr Emma Hale explains how this, and fatigue, can contribute to irritability.
Fight or flight is a primitive response of the nervous system to danger. After brain injury, this system can be triggered when there’s no real threat. Dr Emma Hale explains how.
Irritability is a common symptom after brain injury – just like memory or physical difficulties. Whether it takes the form of anger, aggression or frustration, you are not to blame. Dr Emma Hale introduces some ways to help manage it.
Dr Emma Hale talks through the reasons why you might experience irritability after a brain injury and why it can be harder to moderate your emotions.