Experiencing Mental Health Issues After a Brain Injury? It May Not Be a Coincidence

brain injury

While any type of injury should always be taken seriously, brain injuries are especially important to keep a close eye on. These injuries, commonly referred to as traumatic brain injuries (or TBI), can cause serious damage to your brain and may even impact your personality.  

For many people who suffer from TBI, these changes are temporary, going away after a period of time. Unfortunately, though, for others, these changes may be permanent. What many people fail to realize is that suffering a TBI can actually have a great impact on your mental health. However, there are certain factors that determine the likelihood of this:

  • The location of the injury in the brain;
  • The severity of the injury; and
  • The individual’s mental health status prior to the injury.

These three factors can all play a part in the resulting mental health of the individual post-TBI.

Changes to Your Mental Health

One of the main mental health issues that people experience after suffering a TBI is changing moods. Mood swings can often be wide-ranging and uncontrollable. An individual may go from happy to sad to angry or aggressive on the turn of a dime. The severity of the injury alone does not determine whether you will have changing mental health issues. Even those with less severe TBI can experience serious changes due to changes in how the brain communicates, stress on the autonomic nervous system, and how your brain reacts to physical and emotional trauma after the event. 

Areas of the Brain May be Impacted Differently

When you suffer a brain injury, the neurons and blood vessels that provide them with what they need may be disrupted. This is called neurovascular coupling. When this occurs, areas of your brain may be under-or over-working themselves. 

Those who experienced mental health issues before the TBI are more likely to experience new or worsening symptoms after the injury. Such symptoms may include:

  • Anxiety;
  • Depression;
  • Mood swings; and
  • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Don’t Wait; Ask for Help

When you experience mental health issues after a TBI (or even without a TBI) it is so important that you seek help from a mental healthcare professional who understands the brain and can work with you to overcome these issues. 

Mental health issues are never your fault. They are not a moral issue or an indicator of your strength or abilities. You are never alone in this experience and you deserve to seek proper care to get better. 

Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC Can Help Those in VA Who Have Been Suffered a TBI Due to Someone Else’s Negligence

When you have suffered a traumatic brain injury, it can impact almost every aspect of your life. You should be able to put your time and energy into healing. You should never have to pay for someone else’s negligence. This is why it’s in your best interest to consult with a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorney who has experience dealing with these types of cases. 

At Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC, we will fight to get you the compensation that you deserve. To learn more or to schedule a consultation, contact us today!

Posted in: Brain Injuries, Personal Injury