The effects of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can remain with someone long after the physical symptoms seem to have disappeared. That’s why it’s crucial if you’ve suffered a TBI in any kind of accident to determine just what part of the brain was injured and how the injuries can affect your life.
Aside from common physical symptoms like headaches, sensitivity to light and sound and dizziness, a TBI can cause changes to a person’s ability to process experiences, their reactions to events and their overall mental health. This can be exacerbated by any physical pain they’re in and cognitive impairments caused by the injury that affects their memory and even their ability to process language.
What kind of psychological symptoms can someone display?
While the brain affects motor skills and cognitive skills, it also affects how people perceive and react to even everyday situations. If what’s known as the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is “dysregulated,” someone can have an overactive “fight or flight” response, for example.
Those who have suffered TBIs and their loved ones often describe the psychological effects of the injury as “personality changes.” For example, someone may display some of the following:
- Increased anger and irritability
- Increased social anxiety
- Fast and significant mood swings
- Impulsiveness
- Hyperactivity
- Becoming easily overwhelmed
While the injury to the brain that causes these changes is physiological, the extent of a person’s mental health challenges after a TBI often depends on whether they previously suffered from anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental health conditions.
Appropriate care and treatment is necessary
While these psychological symptoms can be temporary, there’s no way of knowing how long they will last. Treatment is often necessary to get back to a normal life. That’s why people need to treat their mental health as well as their physical health. This may involve medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, neurorehabilitation and other types of therapy, depending on the mental health challenges a person is facing.
This all costs money, of course. That’s why it’s critical that if you or a loved one has suffered a TBI due to another party’s negligence or in a work-related accident, you ensure that this care is included in any settlement or benefits claim. Having legal guidance can help.