> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pigpen.page/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Change and neuroplasticity - URL: https://www.pigpen.page/change-and-neuroplasticity/ - Published: 2026-09-24T07:40:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-24T09:55:05.000Z - Description: Why your brain is built for change, and what that means after trauma. - Author: Pauline - Tags: Brain Injury, Mental health, #Research, Concussion Many things can upend our lives: a diagnosis, an accident, or a loss. In the midst of upheaval we often long for the way things were. Neuroplasticity suggests our brain is built to adapt. > Neuroplasticity is [the concept that the brain can rewire itself](https://nrtimes.co.uk/how-new-tech-and-an-old-concept-are-shaping-stroke-care/?ref=pigpen.page). ## Change is inevitable The COVID-19 pandemic showed adaptability at scale: millions of people now feel they have a pre-event, and post-event self. Who they are now, feels different to who they were then. This is familiar to anyone with a brain injury. Often, too much has happened to a brain injury survivor for them to be the same person they were before. Instead, there is a pre-injury self and a post-injury self. The desire to return to 'normal', to our pre-injury or pre-event self, is strong. Many brain injury survivors grieve the person they used to be. This is known as ambiguous loss and is a valid reaction to the changes after brain injury. [Spoon Theory & Willpower: Navigating Change & Ambiguous LossExplore how spoon theory and ambiguous loss shape our willpower and resilience. Learn to navigate change, chronic illness, and daily energy limits with practical insights![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/67/5e/675e2faa-5154-4452-8625-c3fad84083c5/content/images/icon/pigpen-logo-tx-background-2-97d04df8-0fee-4370-b051-f6119c6f455d.png)PigPen | Pauline O'ConnorPauline![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/67/5e/675e2faa-5154-4452-8625-c3fad84083c5/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1611091025025-f77ada738688-4491191b-0749-447b-a212-9abae027059b.jpg)](https://www.pigpen.page/change-ambiguous-loss-and-spoons/) ## What is Neuroplasticity? Neuroplasticity is "[the concept that the brain can rewire itself](https://nrtimes.co.uk/how-new-tech-and-an-old-concept-are-shaping-stroke-care/?ref=pigpen.page)". Or, as Dr Seemungal puts it in my brain injury memoir, "[the brain can change in response to training](https://www.routledge.com/Living-with-Mild-Brain-Injury-The-Difficulties-of-Diagnosis-and-Recovery/OConnor/p/book/9780367524081?utm%5Fsource=individuals&utm%5Fmedium=shared%5Flink&utm%5Fcampaign=B011121%5Fdm1%5F1au%5F1aj%5Fd741)." This makes sense, as change is not new. Change continually happens. Usually, it causes a little ruckus and then we become used to it. Our brain becomes used to it. This happens on small time scales, for instance the first week after school holidays is a struggle and then a routine sets in. Or it can happen over a longer time, as we become more fluent in a language or adept at a musical instrument. ### How neuroplasticity can help We know that the brain can change in response to training. So the question is, how are we training our brain? Are we training it consciously, by trying to build the habits that we want? Or are we training it accidentally with each unconscious decision (doomscrolling, reacting with anger) teaching our brain to continue to react in that way? Just as a brain injury survivor can find hope in neuroplasticity, so can someone rebuilding during and after other trauma. Buy me a cuppa ā˜• ā€” your support helps keep this blog free, and helps to me write about PKU, brain injury & mental health. [Buy Pauline a cuppa ](https://donate.stripe.com/14keYi5dp9E26Oc9AA?ref=pigpen.page) ## Hope for the future I like the concept of neuroplasticity as it is proof that we can change. Whether we need to adapt to a small thing such as a new exercise routine or something larger like adjusting to a new society, our brains can do it. Scientists have discovered why [our brains are large.](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/mar/24/scientists-discover-why-the-human-brain-is-so-big?ref=pigpen.page) We learn more about how brains work, [age](https://www.nrtimes.co.uk/breakthrough-in-understanding-brain-ageing/?ref=pigpen.page), and react to training and injury every day. There is an exciting future in brain research out there. We know that change is constant. Iā€™m glad to know that neuroplasticity will help me to adjust.