Emotional Issues After a Brain Injury

Emotions and Brain Injuries
When someone suffers a brain injury it may eventually alter the way they express their emotions, or the way they feel about themselves or other people. Someone with TBI ( Traumatic Brain Injury) can have a wide variety of emotional issues. Here are a few that are quite common:

Anxiety
Someone with a brain injury may feel nervous or anxious without clearly knowing why. Many times they are overwhelmed with worry, fear, and extreme self-criticism thinking they are a failure. Quite often, these emotions are normal if many tasks or situations seem harder to perform or deal with after a traumatic head injury. Other uncomfortable situations may also include being in large crowds, adjusting to unexpected changes in plans, or being rushed by others.

Mood Swings and Emotional Control
Some people may feel certain emotions rather intensely but only in the short-term. For instance, they may get upset very easily, but a moment later they’re fine. Frequently, they experience a roller coaster ride of emotions – peaceful one moment, and depressed or angry the next. This is what psychologists refer to as emotional liability.

Depression
Feeling down and depressed is a typical response to the changes a person goes through after TBI. Feelings of frustration, loss, or sadness are quite common after a serious head injury. These particular feelings generally appear in the later stages of the recovery process, after the person is more aware of their long-term circumstances. If their feelings begin to overwhelm them or start to interfere with their recovery, it could develop into full-blown depression. Symptoms may include:

• Feeling sad, depressed, or worthless
• Changes in appetite or sleep
• Lethargic or sluggish
• Withdrawn from family and friends
• Difficulty concentrating and general loss of interest
• Thoughts of suicide and death

Support
Help can come from anywhere – not just professionals. Sources may include:

• Seek support from family members, friends, or perhaps clergy members
• TBI Support Groups
• Check with your local area TBI Association chapter to learn more. Also, there are many reputable organizations online as well that can help.
• Peer Mentoring – talking to someone who has experienced the same challenges is often a great source of support.
• For legal support, contact Milwaukee, WI attorney Randy Rozek for legal representation.

Have you or a loved one experienced a serious brain injury?  Call Randy Rozek today at 414-374-4444