Follow us: hu Improving life after brain injury Need to talk? 0808 800 2244 Donate Home About brain injury Individuals Brain injury and me Lauren Walkington Q&A Share your story Share your story with us to help others affected by brain injury Lauren Walkington Q&A Blogging helped me better understand myself In September 2016 Lauren Walkington sustained a traumatic brain injury in a high-speed road traffic collision. After being sedated at the scene and flown to Leeds General Infirmary by air ambulance, Lauren’s family were told to prepare for the worst. Remarkably Lauren pulled through and she now writes about her experience of brain injury in her blog That Muddled Girl. How long have you been blogging and what made you start? I started the blog around a year following my accident, in July 2017. I felt like people didn’t understand, but I didn’t want to force things onto them. I thought it was a good way for me to get that information out there so that people could make the choice to find out more if they wanted to. How has blogging helped you following your brain injury? It has helped me to better understand myself and everything that was going on and gather my thoughts in a collective way. Where do you get your inspiration from? I love quotes! They really inspire me. Long or short, they can change your mindset/perspective so quickly and that can make all the difference. Lauren and her Grandad Do you get any positive feedback from the people who read your blog? I don’t actually care too much about feedback as I use the blog more as a way of me getting my thoughts out there. Initially it was only me who could see it. However, my friends and family who have read it are all very complimentary. What advice would you give to an aspiring blogger? Be honest. Be relatable. My saving grace going through all this is knowing that I’m not alone because it can be a very lonely world. How has Headway helped you? Headway Harrogate and District was set up at the perfect time for me. I was just coming out of rehab and needing that support. It allowed me to meet people who just ‘got it’. And I mean really got it. I regularly help out at the monthly cake stall to raise funds and bake for the local hospital. It’s really helped me with confidence and it makes me happy to know that I’m giving something back to the group that supports me so well. What’s the most frustrating thing about your brain injury? Definitely not being able to do the things I once could. They said it was good that I had insight but sometimes it doesn’t feel like that because I’m aware of the things I once could do. What makes you happy? Walks in beautiful places and good conversation. What is your most treasured possession? My memories! Especially of the three months I spent in America prior to the accident. They are what have kept me going. What is the most important lesson life has taught you? Never take anything for granted. Appreciate everything because you could die tomorrow. Back to stories index Traumatic brain injury Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain caused by a trauma to the head (head injury) Find out more In your area Find brain injury support in your area by searching our directory of local Headway groups and branches, specialist solicitors, approved care providers and charity shops. Find out more Helpline The Headway helpline is a free, confidential service available to anyone with a question about brain injury - from survivors and carers to students and professionals. Find out more Friends of Headway Individual membership Join/Renew Contact Us t: 0115 924 0800 e: enquiries@headway.org.uk Help us improve life after brain injury. Donate Improving life after brain injury 0808 800 2244 Call our free helpline 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday. Or email helpline@headway.org.uk Join our online Community 27k Likes 25k Followers 3k Subscribers Privacy policy Cookies Terms & Conditions Accessibility Contact Us Resource centre Find a Headway Approved care providers Charity shops Fundraising comments, feedback and complaints Vacancies Join our mailing list Headway - the brain injury association is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Charity no. 1025852) and the Office of the Scottish Regulator (Charity no. SC 039992). Headway is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England no. 2346893. © Copyright Headway 2021 - Site designed and developed by MEDIAmaker By clicking 'Accept All Cookies’ you agree to the storing of cookies on your device. This will help us to offer the best possible experience and develop more of the information you need. Accept All Cookies Cookies Settings