Mental Health Awareness Week starts today, and this year the theme is 'kindness'.
Tell us about the acts of kindness that have helped you cope after you or a loved one sustained a brain injury.
Whether it's someone helping you with your shopping during lockdown, a healthcare professional who went the extra mile while you were in rehab, or someone who was there for you when your loved one was in hospital, we'd love to hear your stories.
It looks like the consensus is that we all had a pretty rough time from injury to "recovery"
I can't think of any acts of "kindness" at any point since my injury everything has been a battle with medical professionals, family and friends. I can't think of anyone whom has said "I will do that for you ....." without being asked first.
Head injuries have a completely different acceptance level. If you break a bone, most people will go "poor thing, hope it gets better soon". Tell someone you have a head injury and it is " ah well" and the conversation moves on.
The only true "kindness" that is regular and doesn't want anything back in return are some of the fellow supporters and contributors of this forum. Whilst many of us continue to struggle with our own issues, many find the time to help others on their Head Injury journey. Whether it is sharing our joint experiences, advice, kind words of support in the dark hours or even a wacky post to make a smile. Each contribution in its own way is a small act of kindness. And long may it continue
Ditto Sospan and Twice (apart from closest family). Maybe many of us try too hard to appear unimpaired, so pass as self sufficient ?
Sad though how we're not seeing any stories of kind deeds. 🤔
Counter to the others I did experience kindness, clearly GP where a bit hit and miss, though the GP who was looking after me was lovely, in hindsight and clearly did understand that I didn’t!
But mainly I was struck by the kindness from strangers, as someone who is and was physically fit, plus determined/denial! I did stuff long before I should of, and got myself into difficulty.
For example a month or so after my injury I went to visit my parents on my own, it’s a 5/6hr journey with at least 3 trains and a bus. Not unsurprisingly by time I’d got to the 2nd train I was done, and was feeling very wobbly, getting strange looks from folks, I’d booked a seat on the train but I couldn’t reach it so ended up slumped between carriages, some woman kept me company/checked I was okay.
I did this trick a few times over the years, getting a bit out of shapes traveling via public transport. And was offered help by generally young folks, no difference in gender, I’m assuming older folks thought I was drunk or what not.
As I’ve got used to, and understood my injury plus the rehabilitation I’ve managed generally to avoid going full zombie for last few years!
I was though impressed how the COVID-19 drive though testing Center didn’t blink at all when I explained that I had a brain injury and had no way of remembering the instructions, and just talked me through step by step. I still required few days to recover as per normal for any vaguely medical thing.
Help needed to support my daughter after her recent brain injury
memory loss an eyesight 
Would you share your experience of Rehab Units Please?
Mild or moderate survivors in North Derbyshire or South Yorkshire
