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The emotional recovery from a TBI

By Ken Gibson on March 17, 2022

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can have long-lasting consequences that impact various aspects of your life. People who are suffering from a TBI often require extensive medical care to recover.

TBI victims may suffer severe psychological and emotional distress. It’s essential for friends, peers, and family members to provide TBI victims with the emotional support they need to get through this difficult time.

What is a TBI?

A TBI, or traumatic brain injury, is caused by a blow or other injury to the head that may result from a fall, vehicle collision, sports injury, physical altercation, gunshot wound, or explosive blast. Sadly, many of our veterans are currently living with TBI from injuries that occurred during their time in combat.

Primary brain injuries occur during the initial head trauma. Secondary brain injuries refer to destruction of brain tissue that continues over time. Brain injuries may cause the following types of negative consequences:

  • Cognitive. Symptoms include confusion, shortened attention span, slurred speech, cognitive difficulties, and memory loss.
  • Motor. Symptoms include poor balance, tremors, weakness, paralysis, and reduced coordination.
  • Functional. Symptoms include impaired daily habits such as dressing, driving, and paying bills.
  • Perceptual. Symptoms include loss of sensation or heightened sensation of body parts and changes in vision, hearing, taste, touch, or smell.
  • Social. Symptoms include problems maintaining relationships and difficulty recognizing nuances of personal interaction.
  • Psychological. Symptoms include apathy, mood swings, irritability, anxiety, personality changes, aggressive behavior, and depression.

The emotional consequences of a TBI

Living with a TBI can be frustrating for victims and the people they love. Many of life’s daily tasks may become more difficult or even impossible. In some cases, people who suffer from TBI won’t be able to go back to work, or they may have to seek less-demanding employment.

People with TBI often suffer from a host of issues that compound their symptoms. For example, the personality and cognitive changes a TBI victim experiences may increase their feelings of anxiety. For veterans and people who were traumatized by their accident, anxiety can also be exasperated by PTSD. People with PTSD may experience nightmares and flashbacks that cause severe distress.

Depression is a frequent symptom of TBI. People who are depressed may feel sad or hopeless. They may lose interest in their favorite activities, find it difficult to sleep, feel lethargic, and withdraw from people close to them. Intense mood swings are another unfortunate consequence of TBI. People may be having a good time when they suddenly get depressed and start crying. Or they may start to laugh at an inappropriate moment.

Getting help for the long-term effects of TBI

People who are suffering from the adverse long-term effects of TBI need the support of the people around them. But this isn’t always easy. No matter how much they try to push you away, it’s essential to stand by your loved one with TBI and make an effort to get them the professional help they need.

It will often require a team of professionals to provide the assistance necessary to recover from the physical and emotional strains of a TBI. This may include the following types of specialists:

  • Neurologist
  • Psychologist
  • Psychiatrist
  • Case worker
  • Rehabilitative nurse
  • Physical therapist
  • Occupational therapist
  • Dietician
  • Pastor

Were you injured in an accident in Virginia?

If you or someone you love is experiencing the long-term effects of TBI due to an accident, our team at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys is ready to help. Our Virginia brain injury lawyers will fight to get you a settlement that covers the cost of your medical expenses.

At GibsonSingleton, we understand what it’s like to undergo a traumatic life-changing event. Call (804) 413-6777 today and see what we can do for you. And ask about our Zero Fee Guarantee. We get paid when you get paid.

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Prevention, empathy, and diligence are hallmarks of everything we do at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys. Our community can see these ideals lived out in our work to prevent personal injuries from happening.

  • Safety Education
    GibsonSingleton launches a “Texts=Wrecks” campaign to reduce the number of people injured or killed by distracted drivers.
  • Annual Coat Drive
    During the fall, our team works to distribute coats to people in need in our community.
  • Hands-on Service
    John and Ken join the Gloucester Point Rotary Club in cleaning up the community.
  • Supporting Local Schools
    The Gibson family participates in Gloucester’s Botetourt Elementary Shuffle fundraiser.