When the brain’s regular functioning is disrupted by a severe blow to the head, it is said to have suffered a traumatic brain injury. In addition to hurting one’s ability to learn and think, it may create psychological and emotional issues if the damaged areas are those that process emotions and thoughts.
Anxiety and sadness are widespread among TBI survivors, according to one research. Emotional and psychological concerns, such as anxiety and depression, may be linked to pre-existing emotional and mental impairments, such as TBI, in certain situations. They might also be the consequence of difficulties adjusting to life following a traumatic brain injury.
Psychological and personal effects of head injury.
Anxiety:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) might cause people to worry in ways they never have before, or at least to increase their previous levels of anxiety. They often experience anxiety and are unsure of what is causing it.
Several scenarios, such as being hurried, adapting to unforeseen changes, or being in huge groups, may be difficult for individuals to cope after a TBI. Since a result, individuals have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, as they worry about all the things that may go wrong.
Depression:
After a TBI, sadness, frustration, and loss are frequent. Traumatic brain injury survivors often experience these emotions once they’ve had time to understand their long-term predicament. Although these sensations are natural, they may become debilitating if they stand in the way of healing.
It is possible that TBI might cause signs of depression (such as a lack of interest in once-enjoyable activities, withdrawal from social contacts, and a general sense of hopelessness). As a result, they are not always a sign of depression. However, if these symptoms appear months after the accident, it is more probable that the patient is suffering from depression.
Fatigue:
Some 70% of TBI survivors report experiencing exhaustion (physical, mental and emotional) as a result of their injuries. Thus, they are less capable of thinking and acting rationally.
People who are exhausted don’t have the energy to take care of themselves or have fun. Mood, attention, focus, memory, and communication all suffer as a result of this. As if that wasn’t bad enough, overexhaustion may have a negative impact on one’s physical health.
We don’t know what causes tiredness after a traumatic brain injury. A lack of “efficiency” in the brain’s ability to do basic actions like eating or talking may lead to weariness.
Frequent mood changes
Emotional lability refers to when individuals run through their emotions fiercely and swiftly with no lasting consequence. For example, people readily become furious but also get over it fast.
Things to do after a TBI:
TBI survivors should contact a psychologist or neuropsychologist to assist them deal with the mental health issues they’ve experienced. However, there are also things you may do to improve your situation.
- Make a list of the things that cause you to feel overwhelmed. If you know what caused you to break into tears, you may better prepare for or avoid it in the future.
- It’s not easy to be aware of your thoughts and actions all the time. To keep an eye on your overstimulated state, enlist the help of a family member or close friend if you feel safe doing so. Some of the signals you missed may have been picked up by them. As a bonus, they can remind you to take care of yourself when you forget.
- Have a strategy in place in case you find yourself feeling overstimulated. Destimulation techniques include hiding in a quiet place or just shutting your eyes for a short period of time. When you discover what works best for you, don’t stop working at it.
- To let your feelings out, write them down in a diary. It’s a means for you to work through your feelings and ideas at your own pace.
Final thoughts
If you or a loved one has been in an accident and is suffering from a brain injury, you should get in touch with a brain injury lawyer in Bothell so that you may get the appropriate compensation for your injuries. They will walk you through the appropriate steps, gather the evidence that is required, and assess the circumstances so that you may get the appropriate financial benefits in accordance with the Bothell Brain Injury Law.
