Head and Brain InjuriesTBI Part 3: Emotional Effects of Brain Injury

April 17, 2017by Aaron Allison

Emotional Effects of Brain InjuryThe brain is the center of operations for the whole human body. So, when a brain injury occurs, it can be hard to predict exactly what the effects are going to be. People who research TBI tend to group symptoms and effects into three categories: physical, emotional and cognitive. We blogged last week about the cognitive effects. Let’s look at some of the emotional ones.

Emotional Complications Related to TBI

  • Inability or reduced capacity to control emotions. One of the most common side effects of TBI is mood swings. Sudden, rapid onset of different feelings like anger, sadness and happiness are all possible. The medical term for mood swings is emotional lability, and it can be the result of damage to the parts of the brain that process emotion. Sometimes, these mood swings have triggers. Sometimes, they do not. They don’t even have to be related to how a person is feeling. Someone who is depressed might not be able to stop laughing, for example.
  • Speaking of depression, it is another prevalent effect of TBI. Sometimes, the depression is the direct result of damage to the brain and the biochemical and physical changes that can produce. Or, it can result from the struggle as that person recovers, especially if that person is disabled in the long-term.
  • Fear, nervousness and paranoia unrelated to the TBI sufferer’s environment can manifest after the injury. Sometimes, these feelings are the result of being emotionally overwhelmed, which is something TBI sufferers deal with frequently.
  • The struggles of recovering from TBI and dealing with disability as a result can lead to temper flares, sometimes out of nowhere. Physical outbursts, verbal threats, cursing, screaming, increased frustration – all common after certain brain injuries. Over two-thirds of TBI sufferers experience some form of irritability.

Next week, we’ll round off the series with a look at physical complications.

Aaron Allison

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Aaron Allison

Aaron Allison, a second-generation personal injury lawyer from Austin, follows in the footsteps of his father, who founded their firm in 1978. Admitted to practice by the Texas Supreme Court, the Federal Court for the Western District of Texas, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court, Aaron brings extensive legal expertise to his clients.

Specializing in personal injury cases, Aaron offers a distinct advantage for Texas workers injured on the job. With Texas workers' compensation laws leading many attorneys to avoid these cases, Aaron is one of only 40 lawyers among 95,000 in Texas who represent injured workers in straight workers' compensation cases. His firm continues to provide dedicated support for those suffering catastrophic work injuries, maintaining a proud tradition of advocacy spanning decades.