p) Case studies

Some of the stories from Synapse:

Battling with Fatigue : I have long struggled with fatigue and low motivation but only recently found the name for the condition, 'adynamia', in a book on head injury

Challenges of a carer Three months after I turned forty, my new life began. In 1986 my husband had a serious accident whilst pursuing a life-long hobby of photographing steam engines and was diagnosed with ABI.

Getting back to work As a survivor of a severe brain injury, Nicole has a hard time with the word 'impossible'. Once told she would never work full time, she is now finishing her degree in Rehabilitation Counselling and works as a support worker with other survivors.

No sense of direction Topographic disorientation (TD) is one of many disorders that can arise after a brain injury, where the person will experience difficulty to find one's way in familiar surroundings.

Ingredients for recovery Understandably the biggest issue after acquiring a brain injury for many is the extent of recovery that can be expected. In the hospital estimates can be based on various medical factors such as the length of coma and post traumatic amnesia. But there are other factors that have a significant influence.

Coping with Behaviours Managing the challenging behaviours that can arise after a brain injury can be very stressful for families or partners. Nathan's family is one that demonstrates the patience, consistency and willingness to develop strategies that can manage Nathan's behaviour.