Synapse Blog

Did you know that the health of your stomach/gut can play a role in brain recovery? Research has shown that the gut and brain are connected, this relationship is called the gut-brain axis. For individuals recovering from brain injuries, maintaining good gut health can support brain healing and emotional wellbeing.  

Engaging in puzzles, brain games and classic games like Bingo can be more than just a fun activity. They can also help improve brain function, memory and mental agility.

This week we take a moment to celebrate and acknowledge the incredible efforts of those who care for someone living with a brain injury for National Carers Week.

In early 2022 action star Bruce Willis publicly announced that he had aphasia, the condition was thrown into the public eye as everyone tried to work out what was happening to one of Hollywood’s biggest stars of all time. 

Migraines and headaches are extremely common in people who have experienced a brain injury, with 30 – 90% of people reporting symptoms.

We know that of the half a million people in Australia who live with a brain injury, more than two-thirds of them are men.

The raw picture of domestic violence in Australia is not a pretty one, with one report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare revealing 1 in 6 women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15 – roughly 1.6 million women. 

“1 in 5 Australians aged 45 and over are living with persistent, ongoing pain.”

The process of ageing is a normal part of life, but it can impact people living with a brain injury differently. Older individuals with a brain injury can often experience poor memory and can have periodic forgetfulness.

It’s important as we age that we get the support we need, to help us achieve the most independent and fulfilling life possible.

Jayden was in a motorcycle accident in 2017, which saw him suffer a brain injury. In 2019, two years after his injury, Jayden met his now wife Milena.

Brain injury and sex can still carry a great deal of stigma. Yet, it's important to talk about how sex and sexuality changes after a brain injury.

No matter what the month there’s always a great excuse to focus on true friends and strengthening your connection with them. This article explores how you can help your friends better understand you after your brain injury and ways you can explore new friendships.

Brain injury is an invisible or hidden disability, so many of the impacts aren’t visible and often rely on the person disclosing this information when applying for, starting, or during their employment.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) has a profound impact on individuals from birth and as they age. Understanding FASD as a brain injury is instrumental in achieving better outcomes for people.

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of brain injury. When you live with a brain injury, the tiredness you feel is often cognitive fatigue. In this article, we’ll discuss what cognitive fatigue is and how you can manage and combat it in everyday life while living with a brain injury.

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) was recognised 3rd Dec. In this article, we explore what you can do to create and influence positive change in Australia.

As individuals navigate the complex landscape that is recovering from a brain injury, they often find themselves in need of specific information and services to better understand and manage the cognitive and physical impacts.

Brain injury is a known risk factor for developing a mental illness, yet the two are not the same.

The issue of brain injury while incarcerated is complex and disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners. Brain injury currently receives relatively little recognition in the criminal justice system.

Misconceptions about the causes and impact of brain injury can be damaging and stop older Australians from seeking the support they need. Ageing Australians do not need to struggle in silence.

We’re so happy to have championed another Brain Injury Awareness Week to raise awareness of brain injury and its impact across Australia. Thank you to each person and company who came along side Synapse to share and highlight the week.  

Our Reconnections support groups provide those impacted by brain injury the opportunity to chat, provide support, play games as well as share some of your challenges, your victories, and tips & tricks.

Relationships are so important as they make us feel supported, connected and loved. In this article we’ll talk about how a brain injury may impact the different relationships in someone’s life.

Our BrainBank Panelist Jayden is a proud dad of two beautiful girls. He sat down with our team to talk about how he worked to be an active and engaged parent and dad while living with a brain injury.

This article explores what you can expect at different stages of accessing and using you NDIS plan as someone living with a brain injury.

ABI The Facts is a comprehensive brain injury resource for professionals, individuals and families. It provides simple explanations of complex medical terms and delivers guidance for every stage of the brain injury journey.

Synapse helps health professionals stay up to date with the latest research and developments through brain injury training.

With the right support and resources, you can successfully transition back into the workforce after a brain injury.

Find March and April support groups for those impacted by a brain injury. Support groups can be critical in helping cope with a brain injury.

The changes people can experience when living with a brain injury can sometimes make caring for them overwhelming.

The NDIS made participant booklets available in 17 different languages, including digital braille and Auslan.

We know art offers the chance to explore ideas and creative concepts. For people living with brain injury, it also provides an incredible opportunity to process and express their experiences – from the early stages through to the challenges and successes of recovery and day-to-day life.

We were joined by the team from Carer Gateway during National Carers Week to discuss the wide range of support that is available. 

If you missed Tim Cudmore’s Afternoon Shift talk on Brain Injury’s invisible disabilities on November 3rd, the recording is now available.

National Carer's Week is upon us! Here are some top tips from our community for self-care.

Improving emotional regulation after an ABI can be very challenging. UWA School of Psychology recently presented some tips on retraining the way we think.

Older people are acquiring brain injuries at an alarming rate. So why on earth is this happening and what can we do about it?

We learned how to get our hands and feet drumming in our regular Coffee with Jay.

On August 17, we had an art therapy workshop in our Peer to Peer support group. 

When we talk about country it's about a connection to both land and culture - more than just place. Country is who our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are and where they get their strength from.

We know that for many living with brain injury, it can be difficult to find and connect with others who have similar experiences. Our online peer group chats have become an important and meaningful way for our communities to connect over a cuppa.

We hosted a free online Chair Yoga class with our guests Julie Clark and Claire Cunneen (All Ability Yoga). Yoga is for every BODY. Join in for this 30 minute yoga and 15 minute meditation for all abilities. 

Cindy speaks about adapting to the role of carer and how she stays connected with friends and takes care of herself.

 Christmas can be overwhelming at the best of times, but living with ABI can make the chaos of shopping, noise and lights unbearable.  

If you or someone you care for has an ABI, there are a few ways you can help prevent Christmas cheer descending into seasonal struggle.  

When brain injury impacts your life or the life of someone you care for, there can be a lot of complex circumstances and systems to navigate. Between adjusting to life with a brain injury and finding suitable support, knowing where to start or who to turn to can be difficult.

We recently hosted Alexa Locke from Greenlight Human Capital who spoke with our Reconnections group on the topic of developing job interview skills and disclosing a brain injury. You can watch the session recording to learn more.

A few weeks back members of the Reconnections community met online to participate in ‘Dance with Ability’. This therapy-based dance program was great fun for everyone and showed how dance can build self-confidence and general health. You can re-watch the session and get moving to some great tunes with Shane and Keri.

We recognise how important it is for people impacted by brain injury to connect with others who understand. Our Peer program is making this a reality for people across a range of activities, in-person and online

Synapse Community Partnerships Manager Sonya Green and our Family Liaison Officer Damien Mowle discuss the importance of communicating your brain injury to others.

Synapse Local Engagement Officer Robyn Howard sits down for a chat with Glenda who cares for her husband David who has a brain injury.

Picture this: You’re stuck at home. Your normal routine is gone, and there’s limits on what you can do and you can’t do. You’ve watched more TV recently than you ever have before in your life. Your life usually has structure – work, study, hobbies, going out with friends, and without that, you’re feeling bored and frustrated. When will this end?

The journey of recovery following a brain injury looks different for everyone. Coming to terms with your injury can be challenging and complex as you learn about what’s changed in yourself and life around you.

Before Jayden’s accident he spent most of his free time either motorbike riding, playing footy or playing the drums in a cover band with his mates. After his accident, he found that these were not an option for him anymore.

This year most of the world is experiencing what it is to be socially isolated, which is something that people with brain injury often experience. We asked the members of our Reconnections support groups to share with us their experiences with social isolation and what they did about it.

Reintegrating into society after chronic illness is a challenge that Sarah faced after years of living with a brain injury and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME).

Behaviour changes are part of brain injury for most people, but it’s an aspect that often isn’t fully apparent until you return home and life outside of the hospital routines begins.

Everyone wants to be loved, it's a fundamental human need. We all need people to talk to and laugh with, spend time with, share ideas, worries and joys. But after brain injury our relationships with partners, family and friends can often change quite significantly.

Adjusting to a different life and finding your new normal after brain injury can be a difficult time. People in our Reconnections group often share that it feels like no one around them understands what they are going through.

Our convenient e-learning courses provide insights into brain injury and its effects on individuals, communities, and society as a whole.