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A person can be seen through a wall of water, reflecting blue and green light

A woman with long hair, a black top and dark framed spectacles poses for a photo in front of a reflective wall of water
The term "brain fog" doesn't come close to capturing the feeling of having lost myself.(ABC News: Danielle Bonica)

Jennie Ponsford, who has short brown hair and is wearing a charcoal blazer and white shirt, poses for a photo
Until recently concussion has been regarded as a "fairly innocuous condition", says Professor Jennie Ponsford.(Supplied)

Sarah Hellewell, who has short blonde hair and is wearing a spotted cream top, poses for a photo holding a blue model of a brain
Brain injury is understudied in women but there's "no excuse" for researchers to keep excluding female subjects, says Dr Sarah Hellewell.(Supplied)

Barry Willer, a man wearing a navy blazer and spectacles, poses for a photo on a black treadmill
At the very least, GPs need "basic" training in how to manage concussion, says Professor Barry Willer.(Supplied: Douglas Levere, University at Buffalo)

A woman with short curly hair, wearing dark framed spectacles and a navy blazer, walks along a tree lined path
"Losing my capacity to work especially was hard, and I put a lot of pressure on myself," says Melissa Clark.(ABC News: Danielle Bonica)

A woman with short curly hair, wearing a navy blazer, sits by a small water feature, looking up to the trees
Melissa Clark suffered from migraines for months after her concussion.(ABC News: Danielle Bonica)

John Olver, who's wearing a blue shirt and navy jacket, poses for a photo in his office, an eye chart on the wall behind him
The majority of concussion patients can make a full recovery, or at least big improvements, says Professor John Olver.(ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough)

Natalie Foley, a woman with short dark brown hair and who's wearing a white shirt, poses for a photo, smiling, at a sunlit bench
Ultimately, people struggling with concussion symptoms just "want to feel like themselves again", says Natalie Foley.(ABC News: Jack Fisher)

Natalie Foley, who has short brown hair and is wearing a white shirt, sits at a table with a pencil and several pages of paper
Natalie Foley sees many concussion patients who have been told it's "their fault" they're not recovering.(ABC News: Jack Fisher)

Terence O'Brien, a man wearing a charcoal suit and pale blue shirt, poses for a photo
We need more research on mild traumatic brain injury in Australia, says Professor Terence O'Brien.(Supplied)

A woman with long hair, wearing a black top and dark framed spectacles, looks to her left
I did several months of vision therapy with a behavioural optometrist as part of concussion rehab.(ABC News: Danielle Bonica)

A woman with long hair and a black top and jeans sits on a metal bench next to a yellow bike
This past year has tested me like no other challenge I have faced.(ABC News: Danielle Bonica)

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