Lasting Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries on Mental and Physical Health
Individuals who sustain traumatic brain injuries often suffer from a range of both short and long-term symptoms. These symptoms can affect not only a person’s physical health but also their mental and emotional well-being. These long-term effects of traumatic brain injuries must be taken into account when factoring and compensation amounts if another individual or entity was responsible for causing the injury.
Physical Long-Term Effects of a Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries can have profound effects on a person’s physical health. Our brains control every aspect of our bodies, and if the brain is damaged, it can impact the ability to send signals to and from the brain to the rest of the body. This can impact physical movement as well as internal bodily functions.
The long-term physical effects of a traumatic brain injury will depend on the overall severity of the initial incident as well as the effectiveness of the recovery process. Some of the severe long-term traumatic brain injury effects could include:
- Memory loss
- Persistent headaches
- Seizures
- Changes in vision
- Fatigue
- Problems with balance or coordination
- Reduced motor skills
- Reduced language skills
- Noise and light sensitivity
- Sleep disturbances
- Changes in taste or smell
Mental Long-Term Effects of a Traumatic Brain Injury
The physical effects of a brain injury are only one aspect of this overall recovery process. Individuals can experience long-term mental and cognitive problems as well. Again, similar to the physical effects, the long-term mental effects of a brain injury will depend on the severity of the incident and the recovery process. Some of the most common mental long-term effects of a brain injury include:
- Becoming easily distracted
- Feeling overwhelmed constantly
- Getting lost
- Irritability
- Low energy or motivation
- New and unexpected mood or personality changes
- Impulse control
Physical and mental effects of brain injuries are typically intertwined together. Individuals who experience brain injuries can suffer from a range of psychological and emotional issues, including anxiety and depression. These mental issues can arise as a result of changing brain chemistry caused by the traumatic brain injury, as well as a person understanding that they can no longer function at the same level that they could before.
The challenges associated with the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury can significantly contribute to a decline in relationships between the brain injury victim and those closest to them, including their friends and family members. The brain injury victim can feel like they are no longer themselves, and those closest to the brain injury victim may feel like they or involved with someone completely different, not the person they knew before the injury occurred.
Recovery After a Traumatic Brain Injury
The recovery process after a traumatic brain injury is different for everybody. Individuals who receive prompt medical care and continue physical therapy and rehabilitation are often able to make nearly complete recoveries, but this is entirely dependent on the severity of the brain injury. Some brain injuries are so severe, or they affect certain areas of the brain, that no amount of therapy or medical treatment will lead to a complete recovery. Often, individuals who sustain brain injuries and their family members need to learn how to handle a “new normal.” Contact our Atlanta brain injury lawyers today.