Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can put the body through a great deal of physical pain and distress. But less commonly acknowledged are the emotional and mental issues that can arise over time.
Rehabilitation, physical pain, healthcare fees, and lengthy legal issues can add to the burden of coping with TBI. To heal these physical and emotional wounds, it is crucial to understand the psychological impact TBI can have on an individual.
1. Anxiety
Anxiety evokes a feeling of fear and nervousness that often arises without the sufferer knowing why. Sudden onsets of anxiety can lead to panic attacks so debilitating that they have no control or awareness of their surroundings.
Victims of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may think they are reliving the experience that caused the injury.
2. Depression
Depression usually presents itself as feelings of prolonged sadness. Individuals can become overwhelmed by even the smallest efforts and feel a sense of worthlessness.
Other symptoms include sleeping for long periods, changes in appetite like under- or overeating, withdrawing from others, apathy, and suicidal thoughts.
3. Temper outbursts and irritability
TBI can often result in temper outbursts and heightened irritability. The injured individual could feel the constant urge to yell or even become violent in stressful situations.
This is the result of the injured brain’s inability to control emotional expression. A loss of independence and frustration may also bring on these behaviours.
4. Emotional instability
With the loss of one’s ability to control emotions comes mood swings and emotional instability. TBI can cause sudden episodes of crying or laughing, or the injured individual might have difficulty assigning the correct emotional response to a particular situation.
5. Apathy or fatigue
Someone with TBI might feel overwhelming exhaustion, fatigue or apathy. Physical or psychological fatigue makes it difficult for the person to express themselves or carry out simple activities.
6. Mania
Mania refers to short-term periods of great excitement, euphoria and/or delusion, during which individuals might experience energy spikes and communicate nonsensical ideas.
The effect of mania is usually short-lived; then the individual will once again feel depleted and apathetic.
In conclusion, TBI has numerous psychological impacts on a sufferer’s wellbeing. Many of the above symptoms will go away in time, but it is important for the individual to seek professional help to facilitate healing.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the founder of Psychreg. Connect with him on Twitter @dennisr_howell.