More than 64 million Americans report having experienced a brain injury in their lifetime — nearly 1 in 4 people. While many individuals go on to make a full recovery, more than 11 million people in the U.S. are living with a permanent brain injury-related disability.

Every brain injury is different. There’s a familiar saying in the brain injury community: “If you’ve seen one brain injury, you’ve seen one brain injury.” The circumstances leading to the injury, the care received, the survivor’s life before and after the injury, and how the brain changes over time all contribute to a journey that is deeply personal and often complex.

Living with a brain injury is not a straight path. It can be one step forward, two steps back. Symptoms may evolve. Progress may fluctuate. Supports that worked once may need to be adjusted. It takes extraordinary resilience to navigate a journey without a clear endpoint.

For survivors of domestic violence, that journey can be even more complicated.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is one of the most common — and least recognized — consequences of intimate partner violence. Assaults to the head, face, and neck, repeated blows, violent shaking, and strangulation can all cause brain injury.

Research indicates that survivors of intimate partner violence experience high rates of head injury and strangulation, often repeatedly over time. Yet brain injuries caused by abuse frequently go undiagnosed.

Unlike a broken bone or visible bruise, a brain injury is often invisible.

Survivors may experience:
• Chronic headaches
• Memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Mood swings and emotional dysregulation
• Sensory sensitivities
• Fatigue
• Cognitive processing challenges

These symptoms can be misunderstood by systems, providers, employers, and even survivors themselves. Too often, they are mislabeled as “non-compliance,” emotional instability, or lack of follow-through, rather than recognized as possible signs of neurological injury.

When brain injury intersects with trauma, the effects compound. Trauma responses and TBI symptoms can overlap, making accurate identification and support even more critical.

Strangulation is one of the most dangerous forms of abuse. Even without visible marks, restricting oxygen to the brain can cause significant neurological damage.

Symptoms may not appear immediately. In some cases, survivors experience cognitive or neurological challenges years after the assault, complicating diagnosis and access to care.

Strangulation is also a strong predictor of future lethal violence. Recognizing its connection to brain injury is not just about recovery — it is about safety and prevention.

At the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NYSCADV), we know that awareness is only the first step. Education must lead to action.

Advocates, healthcare providers, law enforcement, legal professionals, and community partners all have a role in recognizing the signs of brain injury and responding appropriately. Screening tools, trauma-informed communication, flexible service delivery, and safety planning that accounts for cognitive challenges are critical.

When we understand brain injury within the context of domestic violence, we can:
• Reduce survivor-blaming
• Improve access to medical and neurological care
• Strengthen safety planning
• Adapt advocacy approaches to meet cognitive needs
• Support long-term healing

Survivors are not “difficult.” They are navigating trauma and potentially neurological injury often without recognition or support.

Brain Injury Awareness Month reminds us that no one is defined solely by their injury. Survivors are more than their diagnoses, more than their trauma histories, and more than what was done to them.

Every brain injury story deserves to be told. Survivors of domestic violence who are living with brain injury deserve systems that listen, believe, and adapt.

This month, we encourage you to:
• Share accurate information about brain injury and domestic violence
• Learn the signs and symptoms of TBI
• Support survivor-centered advocacy
• Amplify campaigns like #MoreThanMyBrainInjury
• Share your own brain injury journey at biausa.org/MyBrainInjuryJourney

The more we talk about brain injury — especially in the context of domestic violence — the fewer misconceptions will persist.

Healing from brain injury and domestic violence is not linear. It requires patience, informed support, and systems that recognize complexity.

By fostering safe spaces, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, and dismantling the systems that perpetuate violence, we can better support survivors navigating both trauma and neurological injury.

As we observe Brain Injury Awareness Month, let us stand united in our commitment to unveil the unseen epidemic of brain injuries within the context of domestic violence. Together, we can break the silence, challenge misconceptions, advocate for education and prevention, and support survivors in reclaiming their narratives.

Click here to access campaign materials.

Resources:

Brain Injury Association of New York State 

The Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS) has developed resources for education, rehabilitation, community re-entry, accessibility, and more. Click here to view all available resources from the Brain Injury Association of New York. 

BIANYS also operates the Family Helpline, a toll-free information and resource clearinghouse available Monday - Friday, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM EDT, with a voicemail system for after-hours messages. Whether you are seeking information on traumatic brain injury, looking for resources on rehabilitation, or just trying to find your way, the Family Helpline is there to help! 

BIANYS's knowledgeable staff maintains an extensive directory of services across the State. Call 1-800-444-6443 or send them a message. They have resources for individuals with brain injury, family members, professionals, schools, or other interested parties. 

New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

NYSCADV, in collaboration with BIANYS, presented a series of regional trainings and webinars on "Domestic Violence & Traumatic Brain Injuries, Understanding the Intersections." This recorded webinar provides advocates with an introduction to tools and strategies to help them navigate the intersections of domestic violence and brain injury with the survivors they work with. Participants are provided with:

• An overview and identification of domestic violence-related brain injury 
• Strategies for working with individuals with cognitive deficits
• Community resources for individuals with brain injury

Click here to access the recorded webinar and additional materials.

NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence

The NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence has developed resources for Brain Injury and Domestic Violence Service Providers, including screening tools, safety planning guides, victims in a shelter, and information on The Intersections of Brain Injury and Domestic Violence.

New York State Department of Health

The New York State Department of Health has resources available, including background information on types of brain injuries, prevention, medical care, statistical information on the incidences of traumatic brain injury in New York State, including by county, and much more.

Domestic Violence-related Brain Injury Resources:

Invisible Injuries: Brain Injuries Caused by Domestic Violence

The Ohio Domestic Violence Network: Center on Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Intimate Partner Violence

For Providers: Understanding Domestic Violence as a Cause of TBI

For Providers: It Is Our Responsibility to Recognize Brain Injuries and Intimate Partner Violence in the Women We Serve