A traumatic brain injury can cause a tremendous change in both the life of the individual that has been injured, and the family of that individual. When there is an injury to a physical part of the body, like a broken leg, it heals fairly quickly, and life moves on back to the way it was in a generally short amount of time. With a traumatic brain injury, life can change dramatically, and can impact so many components of an individual’s life, that things may never return to what they once were.
The hardest part may be that the individual that once was, no longer exists. This may be a tremendous burden for both the individual and the family to adjust to; often times this becomes a life-long transition to adjust to what many people refer to as the “new normal.”
Emotional impact of a traumatic brain injury on the individual
Following a traumatic brain injury, there can be many factors that impact an individual during their recovery. Once the acute (new and critical) stage of the injury has passed, the long term healing process begins. Depending on the location and type of brain injury, there are different types of recovery processes that need to occur – physical, emotional, mental and cognitive impairments take different amounts of time to recovery, and need different types of intervention during the healing process.
One of the most significant focuses of brain injury recovery is the emotional healing that needs to occur following a traumatic brain injury. Whether there is a loss of physical function, or new memory loss and cognitive impairments, the emotional turmoil that can be felt by someone following a brain injury can be significant. When an individual begins to grasp an understanding of how life has changed, and what they may now struggle to do each day, there can be an incredible sense of loss and frustration. This loss can quickly become overpowering, which can limit the recovery process and outcome.
The feelings of loss following a traumatic brain injury are normal, and are monitored by the team of clinicians during the recovery process. When an individual begins to show signs of “giving up” or talking about quitting, clinical teams may shift to a focused approach to deal with the emotional well-being of this person. Working through those feelings of loss, and focusing on working towards future goals and progress can help to reduce the negative impact that the emotional strain of recovery may bring to the recovery process.
Physical impact of traumatic brain injury on the individual
Emotional stressors are not the only issues that an individual may face following a traumatic brain injury. Following this type of injury, there can be various types of physical injuries that may be present. These injuries can range from some weakness or balance problems, to severe limitations in the ability to walk or move. Each person has unique physical challenges based on the area and the severity of the injury to the brain.
Physical injuries can be minimal or devastating – numbness in the fingers or toes, difficulty writing or doing things that need fine motor control, or having weakness in one area are just some examples of injuries that may not take long to recover. Injuries such as these may heal themselves over time, or they may stay constant for years. Larger injuries, such as being unable to walk, talk or stand, can also take years to improve, although for some individuals, these symptoms may never return.
Emotional Impact of traumatic brain injury on family members
Brain injury does not just have an impact on the person with the injury – a brain injury impacts the family as well. When an individual suffers a brain injury, the family can be devastated by the injury itself during the initial phases. Just like any other type of injury, the moments immediately after the injury are filled with fear and sadness. Coming to terms with what has happened, understanding that a brain injury and physical injuries heal very differently, and worrying about the future can cause tremendous stress on family members.
As healing progresses, there comes a time where the family realizes that the physical injuries and that healing process is very different from the brain injury healing. With a brain injury there may a bigger sense of loss due to the changes in who a person is when the brain is injured. With personality changes, memory loss, decrease in abilities to problem solve and participate in conversation and life, a brain injury can be a loss that has no true end. Families must come to terms with the fact that although their loved one is present and may look like they did prior to the accident, that person may have a new personality that has traits that may be very different from who they were prior to the injury.
The emotional toll on families can be extensive – it is important that the family and loved ones work together with health professionals to ensure that everyone understands the needs and limitations of the individual with the injury, and the ways that that person can be supported while recovering. Families that engage in supportive problem solving groups to focus on the changes and needs while care-giving an individual with a brain injury tend to exhibit less depression and anxiety than those that attempt to move forward without support.
Physical impact of brain injury on family members
Along with emotional struggles and stressors, there can significant physical implications for those that love and care for individuals with brain injuries. Depression, weight loss or gain, exhaustion and pain are just some of the symptoms that individuals that are primary caregivers can exhibit. Family members often become so involved in the care of the other person that they forget to care for themselves.
When this occurs, the person that is caring for the other can become so worn down that they are unaware of the damage that is being done to them. It is important for families to ask for help and resources when living and working with someone with a brain injury – if the person that is acting as the caregiver becomes ill, there will not be anyone to be there to take care of either of them.
It is important for families to engage with the available resources to ensure that they are all supported in the long-term process of healing and recovering. Without these services, the emotional and physical toll that can be felt by the loved ones living and caring for those with a traumatic brain injury can be devastating.
The hardest part may be that the individual that once was, no longer exists. This may be a tremendous burden for both the individual and the family to adjust to; often times this becomes a life-long transition to adjust to what many people refer to as the “new normal.”
Emotional impact of a traumatic brain injury on the individual
Following a traumatic brain injury, there can be many factors that impact an individual during their recovery. Once the acute (new and critical) stage of the injury has passed, the long term healing process begins. Depending on the location and type of brain injury, there are different types of recovery processes that need to occur – physical, emotional, mental and cognitive impairments take different amounts of time to recovery, and need different types of intervention during the healing process.
One of the most significant focuses of brain injury recovery is the emotional healing that needs to occur following a traumatic brain injury. Whether there is a loss of physical function, or new memory loss and cognitive impairments, the emotional turmoil that can be felt by someone following a brain injury can be significant. When an individual begins to grasp an understanding of how life has changed, and what they may now struggle to do each day, there can be an incredible sense of loss and frustration. This loss can quickly become overpowering, which can limit the recovery process and outcome.
The feelings of loss following a traumatic brain injury are normal, and are monitored by the team of clinicians during the recovery process. When an individual begins to show signs of “giving up” or talking about quitting, clinical teams may shift to a focused approach to deal with the emotional well-being of this person. Working through those feelings of loss, and focusing on working towards future goals and progress can help to reduce the negative impact that the emotional strain of recovery may bring to the recovery process.
Physical impact of traumatic brain injury on the individual
Emotional stressors are not the only issues that an individual may face following a traumatic brain injury. Following this type of injury, there can be various types of physical injuries that may be present. These injuries can range from some weakness or balance problems, to severe limitations in the ability to walk or move. Each person has unique physical challenges based on the area and the severity of the injury to the brain.
Physical injuries can be minimal or devastating – numbness in the fingers or toes, difficulty writing or doing things that need fine motor control, or having weakness in one area are just some examples of injuries that may not take long to recover. Injuries such as these may heal themselves over time, or they may stay constant for years. Larger injuries, such as being unable to walk, talk or stand, can also take years to improve, although for some individuals, these symptoms may never return.
Emotional Impact of traumatic brain injury on family members
Brain injury does not just have an impact on the person with the injury – a brain injury impacts the family as well. When an individual suffers a brain injury, the family can be devastated by the injury itself during the initial phases. Just like any other type of injury, the moments immediately after the injury are filled with fear and sadness. Coming to terms with what has happened, understanding that a brain injury and physical injuries heal very differently, and worrying about the future can cause tremendous stress on family members.
As healing progresses, there comes a time where the family realizes that the physical injuries and that healing process is very different from the brain injury healing. With a brain injury there may a bigger sense of loss due to the changes in who a person is when the brain is injured. With personality changes, memory loss, decrease in abilities to problem solve and participate in conversation and life, a brain injury can be a loss that has no true end. Families must come to terms with the fact that although their loved one is present and may look like they did prior to the accident, that person may have a new personality that has traits that may be very different from who they were prior to the injury.
The emotional toll on families can be extensive – it is important that the family and loved ones work together with health professionals to ensure that everyone understands the needs and limitations of the individual with the injury, and the ways that that person can be supported while recovering. Families that engage in supportive problem solving groups to focus on the changes and needs while care-giving an individual with a brain injury tend to exhibit less depression and anxiety than those that attempt to move forward without support.
Physical impact of brain injury on family members
Along with emotional struggles and stressors, there can significant physical implications for those that love and care for individuals with brain injuries. Depression, weight loss or gain, exhaustion and pain are just some of the symptoms that individuals that are primary caregivers can exhibit. Family members often become so involved in the care of the other person that they forget to care for themselves.
When this occurs, the person that is caring for the other can become so worn down that they are unaware of the damage that is being done to them. It is important for families to ask for help and resources when living and working with someone with a brain injury – if the person that is acting as the caregiver becomes ill, there will not be anyone to be there to take care of either of them.
It is important for families to engage with the available resources to ensure that they are all supported in the long-term process of healing and recovering. Without these services, the emotional and physical toll that can be felt by the loved ones living and caring for those with a traumatic brain injury can be devastating.
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